A leading North West museum has been awarded a major Capital Kickstart grant from the UK Government £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.
Looked after by the University of Manchester, Manchester Museum has been injected with more than £1.3 million worth of funds – which is set to support the historical visitor experience move forward with its Hello Future Capital Initiative amid COVID 19.
The Capital Kickstart programme has been introduced to help organisations cover the costs for refurbishments, building works and major equipment purchases – with Manchester Museum set to use the funds to establish the experience as a next-generation inclusive and imaginative museum.
With the overall project costing £13.5 million, the transformation will include a two storey extension, major refurbishment of existing galleries and a new innovative Exhibition Hall dedicated to renowned temporary exhibitions.
A South Asia Gallery is set to be a new centrepiece of the experience, along with a Chinese Culture Gallery which explores the unparalleled rapport between the UK and China.
Building works are now underway at Manchester Museum
A new welcoming entrance and better facilities to support an easy-to-navigate experience around the museum completes the transformation works, before a scheduled opening in August 2022.
Construction for the transformation and new facilities commenced last year, with the Capital Kickstart grant proving vital to help Manchester Museum overcome the tremendous financial challenges in the midst of the pandemic and beyond.
Commenting on being awarded the UK government grant and the Hello Future Capital project Esme Ward, Director at Manchester Museum said: “We are thrilled to receive such tremendous support from the Capital Kickstart Fund. Undertaking such a major new capital building project as hello future is a hugely exciting privilege, but we have faced wide-ranging practical and financial challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
“This funding guarantees the long-term success of our plans. It means that we can remain fully on track to offer outstanding new facilities and experiences to our audiences; and ensure that, in the years ahead, the Museum can bring joy, inspiration and care to our communities, at a time when we all need it most.”
Elsewhere, we spoke to Jo Whitworth of Association of Cultural Enterprises to delve into the success of Museum Shop Sunday and the future museum outlook.
