LIVERPOOL.- Liverpool’s National Conservation Centre will close to visitors as a result of government cuts. The city centre venue will close at 5pm on Friday 17 December. National Museums Liverpool, which is funded by central government, received a 15% cut to its budget in October. This was on top of a 3.5% earlier this year. Managers have been working to maintain its world class venues and safeguard jobs as much as possible. After reviewing costs of managing all our buildings, it is no longer possible to afford to keep the National Conservation Centre open as a visitor attraction. Several staff at the venue are likely to be affected. Managers are working with those people to identify any alternative opportunities within the organisation. Since opening in 1996, the Whitechapel venue has served a dual role – as a visitor venue and as a place for museum staff to carefully conserve and restore objects. Behind-the-scenes conservation work will continue and will not be affe