I think that there are several problems, which taken together, sadly don't bode well for BCA.
Is it a museum or an archive ? If it's an archive, it doesn't require a fancy public building - it could be tucked away in a cheaper location, available as required for visiting scholars. Even cheaper to become a tenant of some other existing archive (National Archives in Kew ?, British Library ?), where high archival standards are guaranteed. If it's a museum, the exhibition space is too small, being hardly much bigger than my living room. You can see everything in a few minutes. I had imagined that BCA might become a draw for visiting African-Americans, as well as people from all over the UK, but it's just not big enough to be worth the detour.
I think that management may not be up to the job. Paul Reid, the Director, has been around for years, but keeps an underwhelmingly low profile. He doesn't even have a LinkedIn profile or Twitter account. Running an institution of national importance, such as BCA, is a job for a well-networked, academically-credentialed, professional - i.e. someone like the ex-Deputy Director of BCA, Doreen Foster, who recently quit BCA to start a big new job at Warwick. The Chair, Dawn Hill, is a distinguished older lady, but I wonder whether she possesses the skills or sheer relentless drive needed to secure the future of a newly-founded institution. She seems to be in a non-exec type role, while what is needed is an engaged dynamic, exec Chairman, who is a recognisable public figure. There is a big board and a lot of patrons, including Chuka, and indefatigable self-promoter Miranda Brawn, some of whom appear to be connected. I wonder whether they have been instructed to get out there and rustle up some cash.
BCA was over-budget, and late. The capital cost was entirely tax-payer funded (I can't find evidence of private donations) via the GLA, Heritage Lottery Fund and Lambeth. When project management disintegrated into chaos, Lambeth saved the day with more funding, and the deep reservoir of civic competence that it can deploy when at its best. BCA was given four years of operating funding too. And now, suddenly, there's a funding crisis. A friend of mine in this line of work told me that running an institution like this means one thing: endless fund-raising, whether taxpayer-supported or private donation. It's a grinding, all-consuming, never-ending occupation. BCA seems to have a sense of entitlement. Reid et al. have raised little cash over the past four years (see accounts, link below)
BCA seems lackadasical about exploiting its physical assets. The bookshop is small and tucked away. The cafe is (in my lived experience) a bit unfriendly. It's not signposted for passers-by, and is sparsely-provisioned. It looks rather temporary. Rooms are available for hire, but I only found this out when scrutinising the website. I have often thought that the courtyard would be a good place to hold a (lucrative) weekend market.
I have a feeling that BCA will go onto life-support, being closed almost all the time, and sacking its full-time staff. Politically, it's too embarrassing to let it collapse completely.
Doreen Foster appointed new Director of Warwick Arts Centre
Board of Trustees biographies
BLACK CULTURAL ARCHIVES LTD - Filing history (free information from Companies House)
