Discovery Museum to receive £3 million grant for roof repairs

Image: Exterior view of Discovery Museum, showing section of roof to be repaired

Discovery Museum, Jarrow Hall and Newcastle Libraries are among the organisations across the North East that are set to receive nearly £8 million through the Government’s Cultural Investment Fund.

The funding will support important upgrades to museums and public libraries which will ensure they can continue to be assets to their communities and improve the visitor experience.

Several museums in the North East will receive funding including over £3 million — the largest award in the country — which has been awarded to the Discovery Museum in Newcastle for repair and refurbishment works. 

Keith Merrin, Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, said:

"We're very grateful for the offer of funding from the MEND programme administered by Arts Council England towards this crucial maintenance work at Discovery Museum.

"Dating back to 1899 the Victorian building now needs essential repairs to its roof. This funding will be used to repair the roof over the magnificent Great Hall which is used for events, some of which provide vital funding for the running of the museum.

"It will also ensure that the collections housed in the museum stay protected from potential water damage to be preserved for the future and that the museum can continue to offer a fantastic day out for over 200,000 visitors each year."

Over £500,000 has been awarded to Jarrow Hall’s Anglo-Saxon Farm, Village and Bede Museum which will be used for repairs to the roof and to improve environmental conditions. Both Killhope Museum in Bishop Auckland and Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool have been awarded almost £500,000. Killhope Museum focuses on the lead mining of the North Pennines, showing new generations the living and working conditions of Victorian lead miners. Its project will make targeted repairs to the buildings and structures needing urgent works to protect our industrial heritage.

Heugh Battery Museum is the site of Heugh Gun Battery, which has been a military position since the 17th century. It now preserves the only First World War battlefield in Britain. The project will undertake essential repairs to its buildings to prevent further deterioration of construction materials and protect the collections from environmental instability. This includes improving surface water drainage and ventilation of underground structures.

Nearly £400,000 has been awarded to Newcastle Libraries to create a new reading facility in a disused part of the Walker Activity Dome. It will also support increased opening hours and create a flexible community space.

Sunderland City Council’s Libraries Uplifted scheme has been awarded £230,000 which will be used to enhance the digital and ICT offering, providing access to creative labs and makerspaces in comfortable, captivating spaces for library users of all ages to be inspired.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council Libraries Service has been awarded nearly £400,000 for a project which will see the reimagination and redevelopment of Guisborough Library to transform it into a vibrant hub set right in the heart of the community.

Arts and Heritage Minister Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay said:

"As I’ve had the pleasure of knowing all my life, there is so much incredible culture and history on offer across the North East of England — and always more to discover and enjoy.

"I’m delighted that this important new funding will help these brilliant libraries and museums continue to shape the lives of more people across the North East for generations to come."

All regions of England have received funding, which comes through the Museum Estate and Development Fund and the Libraries Improvement Fund, two parts of the Cultural Investment Fund.

Libraries Improvement Fund

The £20.5 million Libraries Improvement Fund transforms public library services in England by helping them upgrade their buildings and improve digital infrastructure, so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people are using them. Local authorities can bid for the money on behalf of their library services.

Museum Estate and Development Fund

The £86 million Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) helps fund urgent museum maintenance and infrastructure works. It is open to museums accredited by Arts Council England that are not directly funded by DCMS. This is the third round of funding, bringing the total amount of investment so far to more than £62 million for 93 museums.