Controversial SA Museum plans scrapped as leader falls on sword and new funding announced

Intense lobbying has dashed controversial SA Museum plans threatening research and the beloved Egyptian room, the institution instead thrown a multimillion-dollar lifeline.

Katherine Todd and her children Ruby, four, Rocco, seven, and Isla, eight, welcome news the South Australian Museum’s Egyptian room will be kept safe. Picture: Ben Clark

Controversial plans threatening the South Australian Museum’s future are officially scrapped by the state government as a high-profile leader resigns and the institution is thrown a multimillion-dollar lifeline.

Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the results of a comprehensive review of museum plans that triggered widespread protests, saying its bid to slash research funding that threatened up to 27 jobs, was now “off the table”.

The announcement also means fears are allayed over the future of much-loved displays like the Egyptian and Polar exhibitions, that were deemed “outdated”.

Instead, the Victorian-era museum has won a $4.1 million injection of new funding over two years, along with a new chair to lead its future direction.

After months of protests, Premier Malinauskas announced that the “suite of proposed change being driven by the board are now withdrawn in totality”. Picture: Kelly Barnes

After months of protests from high-profile scientists and concerned South Australians, the Premier announced that the “suite of proposed changes … being driven by the board are now withdrawn in totality”.

Kim Cheater has resigned as SA Museum board chair and will be replaced by Professor Robert Saint AM, a distinguished geneticist and molecular biologist.

Prof Saint recently retired as vice president and deputy vice chancellor of research at Flinders University.

Business leader and high-profile critic of the former plan Robert Champion de Crespigny has also been drawn into the fold after previously claiming axing of world-class researchers would make the state “the laughing stock of the scientific world”.

The former SA Museum chair has been asked to provide strategic advice to the museum, particularly around philanthropy.

“We are having a reset, a recalibration and anticipate a new future for the museum,” Mr Malinauskas said in a press conference.

The announcement was welcomed by Katherine Todd and her three children Ruby, Rocco and Isla who were visiting the museum today and were happy to hear the Egyptian room would be retained.

Numerous concerns were raised about the restructure plan initially revealed by museum chief executive officer Dr David Gaimster, who started in the role last year.

Dr Gaimster previously drove visitation numbers at Auckland Museum from about 650,000 to one million over six years.

Dr David Gaimster was appointed chief executive officer of the South Australian Museum last year. Picture: Supplied

He claimed the SA museum was losing relevance and he wanted to hunt for more investment and to develop a new master plan to overhaul exhibits and install digital technology.

Widespread protests included 350 prominent Australians signing an open letter to the Premier criticising proposed changes to research and collection.

The Premier said Mr Gaimster would continue in his role as the new strategic plan for the museum is developed.

New funding would be used to develop a future strategy, support the marketing and promotion of an international exhibition and to assist in museum operations.

Mr Malinauskas assured the new strategic plan for the museum will be developed with staff, donors and museum supporters.

And there is a commitment “that no functional or structural changes will be proposed to the museum’s research and collection priorities and business models” until it is finished.

“I want to thank the Premier and the Minister (Arts Minister Andrea Michaels) for listening to the museum community,” Mr Champion de Crespigny said.

“The events of this year have demonstrated the deep affection that South Australians hold for their museum. I’ve never seen the museum community more united.”