The Museums Association (MA) has said that government cuts to the Renaissance programme will "banish regional museum collections back to the basement".

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) launched the Renaissance scheme in 2002, and since then visitors to regional museums have increased by 40 per cent.

An MA survey to assess the potential impact of cuts to Renaissance has found that collections care and access will suffer if the programme is axed.

Museums warned that a 25 per cent decrease in funding would mean "fewer loans, fewer temporary exhibitions, exhibits banished to the storeroom and tired, unchanging displays".

The research also indicated that almost half of museums facing such cuts would consider introducing or increasing charges, which would further restrict public access to collections.

Mark Taylor, director of the MA, said: “Renaissance funding has transformed England’s great regional museums but now I fear a return to the pitiful days of collections stuck unused and deteriorating in basement stores.

“Regional museums will lend and borrow fewer things, making it far harder for people to see nationally important treasures near to where they live.”

The survey also found that over two fifths of museums would be forced to reduce opening hours following 25 per cent cuts. They would also have to cut back on events such as lectures, study days and late openings, and a third would close sites or parts of sites.

Taylor added: “Museums won’t have enough money and staff to bring the collections to life. 100 per cent of responding museums said they would be forced to reduce school visits, events, activities and outreach.”