Museums and heritage sites to benefit from new funding
Above; The Postal Museum, Phoenix Place, London WC1
A number of museums and heritage sites are among the 67 organisations to benefit from the second round of Arts Council England’s (ACE) Capital Investment Fund.
The institutions will receive a share of £24.2m handed out to support building works, and the purchase of equipment and other assets to improve access, maximise technological opportunities and reduce environmental impact.
Poole Museum in Dorset was awarded £450,000 towards new exhibition galleries as well as improvements to digital infrastructure, accessibility, and sustainability.
The museum is currently closed for a £7.7m redevelopment and will reopen in spring 2025. Andy Martin, portfolio holder for culture at Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, said: “With investment from Arts Council England, our remodelled and improved galleries and spaces represent a significant cultural opportunity for the local area.
“We are committed to first-rate, ambitious, and inclusive programming that will see Poole Museum thrive as an outstanding cultural venue and be more sustainable and resilient in the future. There will be much more on offer for everyone ensuring many, many more people can take part and be creative.”
The Postal Museum in London has received £400,000 to improve the accessibility of its Mail Rail underground railway for disabled visitors and anyone unable to ride, and support the museum’s environmental sustainability goals.
Hereford Museum and Art Gallery will use its £750,000 grant towards a major refurbishment and extension of the site to create a state-of the-art museum and art gallery for Herefordshire.
The former Durham Light Infantry Museum & Art Gallery will receive £500,000 to reopen as a significant cultural centre in the Durham Innovation District, showcasing high quality exhibitions by local, national and international artists and curators.
The Bronte Society in Haworth, Yorkshire, has been awarded £100,000 to install fully accessible, environmentally sustainable toilets.
The projects are intended to “secure the creative future” of towns, villages and communities across England, including in places where cultural investment has previously been too low.
ACE chief executive Darren Henley said: “This infrastructure investment will help a whole range of different cultural organisations across England to flourish, increasing opportunities for people to enjoy creatively excellent cultural events close to where they live. It’s particularly important that we’re making this happen in communities where cultural investment has historically been low.”
Arts and heritage minister, Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, said: “Cultural venues enrich our lives, and it’s vital that their infrastructure matches the excellence of the creative work that goes on inside them.
“Our funding is helping both to create new venues and to adapt existing ones to make them more accessible, helping to deliver the Government’s plan to make sure that everyone, no matter where they live or what their background, has access to excellent, life-changing cultural opportunities.”
Funded museums and heritage organisations
The Postal Museum £400,000 to improve the accessibility of the Mail Rail ride for disabled visitors, and anyone unable to ride, and support the London museum’s environmental sustainability goals.
The Garden Museum £125,229 to enable the London museum to make improvements to its digital infrastructure. This will include transforming its website, adding a new booking platform and online shop and increasing their ability to present online exhibitions.
Herefordshire Museums Libraries & Archives £750,000 towards a major refurbishment and extension of the site to create a state-of the-art museum and art gallery for Herefordshire.
British Glass Foundation £249,000 to install solar panels and heat pumps, alongside other energy saving measures at this venue in Stourbridge.
Durham County Council Museums & Collections The former Durham Light Infantry Museum & Art Gallery will receive £500,000 to reopen as a significant cultural centre in the Durham Innovation District, showcasing high quality exhibitions by local, national and international artists and curators.
Silk Museum £165,000 to transform the Macclesfield museum building’s functions and accessibility. This investment will be used to increase the museum’s digital capacity, improve current storage facilities and to lessen the overall environmental impact of the museum.
The Bronte Society £100,000 to install fully accessible, environmentally sustainable toilets at the museum in Haworth, Yorkshire.
St Albans Museums £414,386 to help address structural issues at its two museum sites, the Verulamium Museum and the St Albans Gallery, allowing for their work with the community and young people to continue safely. It will also allow St Albans Museums to reduce its carbon footprint via effective insulation and reduce reliance on humidity control systems.
Maldon Museum of Power £290,833 to help towards several key accessibility upgrades to make this Essex museum a thriving creative space. It will also allow the installation of a 10-space bike shelter to encourage visitors to cycle to the site
BCP Council (Poole Museums) £450,000 to improve the physical and digital presence of Poole Museum in Dorset and its collections. This includes a new temporary gallery enabling national and international touring exhibitions and partnerships, and a dedicated space supporting a programme of artist residencies, workshops, and community activities.
Britten Pears Arts £750,000 to enable the Suffolk music and heritage centre to make the range of buildings it owns fully accessible and environmentally sustainable.