A petition has been launched to prevent the closure of an award-winning museum.
The campaign started in response to a recent proposal to permanently close the Quaker Tapestry Museum in Kendal.
Gaining dozens of signatures in three days, the Save Quaker Tapestry Museum petition hopes to gather enough support to keep the museum open while long term solutions are explored.
The petition states: “Kendal’s Quaker Meeting House, which houses the museum, is a lively building used by the whole community for events, workshops and training sessions and it is still a place of worship for Quakers today. This will all end with the closure.
“The museum has a dedicated team including qualified professionals who possess the skills and knowledge to take care of and conserve the panels, raising concerns about who will look after the panels if staff are made redundant.
“If successful, it is hoped that the museum will remain open in Kendal so that there can be time to look into making the appropriate changes to secure the museum’s future.”
Quaker Tapestry Museum was recently named Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the Cumbria Tourism Awards 2025 in July.
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The closure was proposed in a statement to trustees, citing rising wage bills and running costs as the cause for the extreme measures.
The statement said: “The decision to find a new future for the Quaker Tapestry has not been taken lightly and comes after a thorough review of our financial position and operational realities.
“Our wage bill alone, influenced by rising staff costs, National Insurance, and cost of living increases, now exceeds £125,000. underlying deficit which is projected to be in excess of £80,000 in the coming year.”
The consultation period has begun and an announcement will be made later this year.
