Museums across the UK have declared that despite increasing visitors, they are beginning to feel the effects of the recession.

Museums across the UK have declared that despite increasing visitors, they are beginning to feel the effects of the recession.

While a third of museums surveyed by art charity The Art Fund said they have had a rise in visitors, more than 60% have had budget cuts in the last six months and a similar number expect a further drop in funds this year.

About 300 museums in the UK were surveyed, with more than 30 in Scotland replying on a confidential basis.

The results, released yesterday, found that 35% of institutions in the UK have seen a rise in the number of visitors, but in Scotland it is only 18%.

Museums have also used a lull in the art market to buy new works. Around 50% say they have purchased an object in the last six months and almost half of those achieved a discount of more than 10%.

However 15% of museums who answered the poll have seen redundancies and 9% have seen pay freezes.

A local authority museum in Scotland said: "Budget cuts led to cancellation of a conservation programme and the loss of a purchase budget for at least the coming year."

Another said: "Two curatorial staff vacancies (out of five) are unlikely to be filled."

The survey covered the period between September 2008 and March 2009.

David Barrie, director of The Art Fund, said: "It's not good that so many museums have suffered or expect cuts, but the fact that visitors are on the up shows how much museums matter to people."