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Museums Northumberland is delighted to have been awarded funding of £150,410 from the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), announced today by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). An additional £45,698 has been committed as match funding from Northumberland County Council.
The funding will enable urgent maintenance work at Woodhorn Museum to begin, replacing the boilers, sewage and access in two of the main exhibition, venue hire and education spaces at the museum.
With a failing infrastructure in the historic buildings, the work to replace the boilers and heating system in the Workshop Galleries and to install new boilers, heating, ventilation and sewage plants as well as restoring the lift access in Winding House No.1 will:
Rowan Brown, Chief Executive at Museums Northumberland said: “We are delighted to receive this vital funding which will restore the crucial heating, access and sewage systems at Woodhorn Museum. We are extremely grateful to Arts Council England, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and Northumberland County Council for this financial support. It is nigh on impossible to secure funds for these unglamourous, but essential works – the MEND fund truly is a lifeline for civic museums like ours.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “This investment will help to level up access to arts and culture for everyone, no matter where they live. Culture helps us create lifelong memories with our families and friends, provides entertainment and joy, and allows us to explore the world around us in new and exciting ways. It can also boost tourism, support local business and drive local economic growth. This funding will support brilliant arts organisations to upgrade their venues and create new projects that will be at the heart of their communities.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England said: “Investment in creativity and culture is a catalyst for improving well-being and raising aspirations, reinvigorating pride in communities, regenerating high streets and local economies, and bringing people together. We are pleased to play a part in delivering the Cultural Investment Fund and this £58 million investment will help create new, or improve existing, cultural buildings and spaces in our villages, towns and cities. By doing so it will support recovery and growth and unlock the creative potential of those who live and work in communities across England.”
Notes to Editors
About the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND)
The £86.6 million Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) helps fund urgent museum maintenance and infrastructure works. Arts Council England accredited museums in England that are not directly funded by DCMS can apply. This is the second round of funding, bringing the total amount of investment so far to more than £40 million for 67 museums. Round one of the fund saw support for places including Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and Bletchley Park near Milton Keynes.