A Warning To Heretics
Sat 23 Jan 10 - Sun 07 Mar 10
One of the oldest and most intriguing paintings in The Bowes Museum’s collection is the focal point of a new display. The small panel, A Miracle of the Sacrament by ... view details
General News > Full Steam Ahead As Lottery Millions Confirmed For The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is delighted to announce that its £3.3m bid to The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has been successful, meaning proposals which gained ‘Stage One Pass’ in 2006 are set to go full steam ahead.
Money released as part of the initial approval has already allowed grand designs to be drawn up, which will now become a reality.
The transformation will be seen as soon as visitors step into the redesigned entrance hall, which will incorporate easier access to the gift shop and Café Bowes, both of which are to be revamped. A ‘glass’ corridor will be created, along with a visitor operated lift, and long awaited toilet facilities on the ground floor.
Adrian Jenkins, Director of The Bowes Museum, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive confirmation of this generous award from The Heritage Lottery Fund. The Museum is going through a very exciting period and this will allow us to realise our aims of creating better access to the collections while enriching visitors’ enjoyment.”
The exciting changes also include a new gallery celebrating the Museum’s silver and precious objects. This will act as an introduction to the famous Silver Swan musical automaton, which will be interpreted in an innovative and exciting way. The HLF grant not only allows The Bowes Museum to display further silverware collections, it will enable a vast amount of previously unseen pieces to be shown off to best advantage. In addition the capital projects include the creation of a stunning textiles and dress gallery
Those who would like to learn more about the collections can visit a new library, archive and study area fashioned on a mezzanine level on the upper reaches of the Museum, giving glorious views over three counties. A space for lifelong learning is to be shaped on the ground floor with the creation of a new education suite.
All of these developments will take place in a watertight building as the second phase of the roof restoration project is completed.
The HLF award follows on from the recent award of £500,000 from The Monument Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. The Bowes Museum is also working closely with One NorthEast through the County Durham Economic Partnership to achieve further capital investment.
Work will commence in late spring. Meanwhile the Museum continues its programme of exhibitions and events. Opening on Saturday 17 May is Alfred Sisley: Impressionist Landscapes; the first major exhibition devoted to this leading Impressionist to take place outside London in half a century.
The Bowes Museum, Café Bowes and shop are open daily from 10.00am. For further information about events or exhibitions contact 01833 690606 or visit the website at www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk.