Thousands of people sign petitions calling to save the Royal Cornwall Museum
Cornwall Council has promised talks after pulling funding
Thousands of people have signed online petitions which are calling to save the Royal Cornwall Museum after its council funding was pulled.
The Truro building is at threat of closure after the local authority announced it was not successful in its bid for Culture and Creative Investment Programme funding.
The boss at the museum told us they usually receive around £79,000 a year from the council and they are reliant on its support.
Now the local community is desperately trying to save the historic Cornish attraction.
One petition, titled Save The Royal Cornwall Museum, has had over 4,000 signatures.
A second one, called Support The Royal Cornwall Museum, has been signed by over 1,000 people.
It reads: "Cornwall Council has decided to abruptly cut off funds to support the Royal Cornwall Museum and Courtney Library in Truro.
"The Library contains some of the most significant collections of Cornish manuscripts anywhere in the world--including the archive of POLDARK author Winston Graham.
"This museum was founded by The Royal Institution of Cornwall in 1818 to promote excellence in science and the arts. It welcomes over 30,000 visitors a year.
"We, the undersigned, wish to voice our protest at the abandonment of the Royal Cornwall Museum and Courtney Library by the Cornwall Council."
Last week, Cornwall Council promised a meeting with the Royal Cornwall Museum to discuss its future and funding opportunities.
Cornwall Council has issued a new statement saying it is committed to working together with the museum, alongside other partners, to find a long-term solution to keep the museum running, supported by appropriate funding.
We're told a meeting between the council and RCM will be held to discuss the immediate impact of the change in the way that the council funds creative and culture organisations.
The authority says then, over the summer, in a bid to find a sustainable solution to the funding needs of RCM, a meeting with other strategic partners will take place to develop a plan for the long-term future and success of the museum.