Museums Northumberland have received a lifeline fund to help recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, Hexham Old Gaol, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum and Wordhorn Museum were forced to close in March due to COVID-19. The closure and now significantly reduced visitor capacities in place, means the museums have collectively lost 80 per cent of their income, which relies heavily on ticket sales.
In the wake of this, Museums Northumberland has received £238,000 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to kickstart the financial recovery. The money will also be used for the museums to look at new innovative ways for visitors to interactive with exhibits, while ensuring the facilities are COVID safe for both guests and staff members.
Millions raised every week for good causes
Funding was made possible by National Lottery Players, who raise £30 million every week to help organisations struggling through the COVID 19 pandemic. This includes those in the museum and heritage sector.
Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive of The National Lottery Heritage Fund is delighted to be helping charitable organisations in need, including Museums Northumberland. Kerslake said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis.
“Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as Museums Northumberland during this uncertain time.”
A lifeline for Museums Northumberland
Commenting on the generous fund Rowan Brown, Chief Executive of Museums Northumberland, said: ““The arts, culture and heritage sectors are some of the hardest hit by the economic impact of COVID-19. The support Museums Northumberland has received from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will help us protect our wonderful buildings, our collections, and ensure we can continue to share Northumberland’s unique stories with even more people than before.”
Find out more how the National Heritage Emergency Funds are helping museums up and down the country here.
Elsewhere, discover the museums marking the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.
