The City of Leicester Museums Trust
The City of Leicester Museums Trust was set up in 1930 to acquire specimens and exhibits for Leicester City Museums and Galleries, and it continues to carry out this important role today. It relies on private donations and the proceeds of collection boxes at all museum and gallery sites. These funds are often increased in value through successful grant applications to a range of funding bodies when objects are purchased. The Trust is regulated by the Charity Commission.
Leicester Arts and Museums Service is committed to becoming more reflective of Leicester’s present-day communities. The Trust supports this work by purchasing a wide range of objects, covering many subject areas. Recent additions have included:
- A plesiosaur fossil skeleton
- African textiles
- Contemporary craft objects
- A devotional sculpture of the Goddess Durga
- Muktaben Bhogaita and Daughter Alka – a painting by Alan Parker
- Lister two foot gauge railway locomotive
- Original and replica items for Belgrave Hall Dining Room
- Messias – a painting by Ernst Neuschul.
There are a maximum of six trustees and each trustee serves a 5-year term of office. Trustees are persons who through residence, occupation, employment or otherwise are able to make a contribution to the purpose or management of the charity. The role of a Trustee is a completely voluntary one and they receive no remuneration and no expenses. Trustees’ responsibilities include:
- Ensuring that the Trust is run in accordance with the Charity Commission Scheme.
- Ensuring the Trust funds are properly managed and the maximum benefit is derived from them, with the support of Leicester City Council staff and Hayles and Partners Ltd.
- Seek to raise further income for the Trust
- Consider formal purchase proposals submitted to the Trust by museum and gallery staff.
- Ensuring that appropriate purchases are made, in line with the museums and galleries’ collection policies
- Ensuring that those purchases are acquired in a proper manner.
The Trust now seeks new Trustees - find out how to get involved here.