Historic Temple Newsam House nets museum cash

The fund is aimed at providing urgent support to museums which are owned and directly maintained by local authority funding, helping them deliver projects to safeguard vital community engagement and ensure continued public access to museums and their collections.

The crucial funding will support a total of ten inspiring projects being planned by Leeds Museums and Galleries, which is one of the country’s largest local authority run museums and galleries services.

Projects which have secured funding include a strategic review of Leeds Museums and Galleries, which will engage communities in finding out what they value most about museums, review operating models and help set the future direction of the service.

Another project will focus on Abbey House Museum, producing a long-term development plan that will work towards safeguarding the museum’s future.

Leeds Museums and Galleries will work with a design and architectural specialists to reimagine the visitor experience and embed play at the heart of the museum, as well as improving accessibility throughout.

Also benefiting from the funding award will be Leeds Art Gallery. Building on a visioning study and proprietary plans to redevelop the gallery and create a larger world-renowned site, these funds will support the creation of an accompanying business plan and market analysis.

Other projects which can progress thanks to the funding include a new social enterprise café at Leeds Industrial Museum, a study into the best use of space in Leeds City Museum, and research into sustaining the visitor experience at 500-year-old Temple Newsam House.

David Hopes, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ head of service, said: “We are so grateful to Arts Council England for their continued support and these essential funds to help stabilise our future.

“These development projects will see us make long term plans with the people of Leeds for the sustainability of their museum service, as well as providing fantastic visitor experiences and meaningful engagement for the people of the city and beyond.”

Earlier this year, an economic impact report compiled by Leeds Museums and Galleries revealed that council-run sites in Leeds generated a massive £47.3m boost to the local economy over the past year.

The service’s eight sites also welcomed an impressive 939,494 people in the same period, with 105,501 children and adults taking part in family activities, 46,349 school pupils visiting, as well as 38,855 visits from vulnerable adults and young adults.

Against an annual budget of approximately £5m, the figures showed that every £1 invested in museums and galleries in turn generates £9.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “This funding award is fantastic news for our museums and galleries and a massive endorsement of the superb work they are doing to showcase history, heritage and culture to hundreds of thousands of people every year.

“Securing this hugely important funding will support our dedicated and passionate teams on site to form exciting plans for the future, creating a series of new, and engaging experiences for our visitors and showcasing Leeds as a top cultural destination.”