Funding from the fourth round of the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has just been announced, seeing 29 museums up and down the country receiving a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings including Dorchester Museum & Art Gallery.
The fund is part of the Government’s long-term plan to support local economies, allowing them to grow. It will support capital projects at museums, fund important repairs, and improve the visitor experience. Awards from £50,000 to £5 million will ensure local history in places across the country has a home for years to come.
In the South West over £4,523,000 has been awarded to four museums in total. Three of those museums are in Dorset and will receive their share of more £3,816,000.
Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, owned by the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, houses internationally significant collections, including 4 million artefacts in archaeology, palaeontology, the Thomas Hardy archive, and the Elisabeth Frink collection. MEND Round 4 will replace the roof over the Victorian Hall, library, and offices, while also repairing the leadwork and windows. These repairs were identified as urgent within 24 months in the quinquennial survey of January 2024. Since the roof is at the end of its service life, it’s strongly recommended that all repairs be done together to avoid further damage.
Claire Dixon, Executive Director, Dorset Museum & Art Gallery said:
“We are hugely grateful to Arts Council England and our funding partners National Lottery Heritage Fund and Dorset Council, for enabling us to invest in the long-term stability of our buildings. Without this financial support we would have faced closure of the hall and library, which were the original, custom designed centrepieces of Dorset Museum & Art Gallery. This work will put us in the best position to secure a sustainable future for our organisation, bring globally significant collections out from our stores and tell new stories and engage our audiences.
“We would like to thank our partnership funders, National Lottery Heritage Fund and Dorset Council, for providing the additional funding for this £1.2m project. This will enable us to address essential repairs and re-interpret the Victorian Hall, restoring it to its original purpose with new displays, stories and collections not currently accessible to our visitors. We are delighted to be working with architects Crickmay Stark, especially as it was G. R. Crickmay that originally designed the Victorian Hall, when it was purpose built as Dorset County Museum, opening in 1883.
“We are also really pleased that this is part of a wider investment in Dorset, with Nothe Fort and Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum also receiving funding. Together we will be working hard to showcase the wider benefits of this important investment and raise the profile and awareness of Dorset’s globally significant history and culture.”
The Museum Estate and Development Fund, provided by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, enables museums to deliver a better experience for visitors and staff, make access and environmental improvements, unlock income-generating opportunities, and continue to protect treasured buildings and collections for future generations. The grants are administered, awarded and monitored by Arts Council England – the national development agency for arts and culture.
Details of the recipients of the fourth round of MEND comes as part of a major announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which includes news of investment to boost growth and cement Britain’s place as a cultural powerhouse. The Arts Everywhere Fund will provide over £270 million for arts venues, museums, libraries and the heritage sector in major boost for growth.
Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said:
“We’re thrilled to announce a £4.5 million funding boost for museums across the South West. Museums are more than just buildings—they hold a mirror to the world, allowing us to reflect on our individual and collective experiences. From Cornwall’s historic clay works to Bournemouth’s international art collections and Dorset’s military and archaeological treasures, our region is home to some of the country’s top artefacts. By investing in essential repairs now, we’re not only safeguarding our cultural heritage but also ensuring greater public access to these treasures for years to come.”
Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England said:
“Today’s a good news day for arts organisations, museums and libraries. We know how much cultural places and spaces are valued in towns and cities across the land. For years to come, this new investment will help more people in more places to flourish by finding joy and connection with high quality culture close to home.”
For more information on Dorset Museum and Art Gallery see https://www.dorsetmuseum.org/
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