Manchester Museum receives grant from Government’s Culture Recovery Fund

15 Dec 2020

The Museum has been awarded a Capital Kickstart grant of £1,304,489 as part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, enabling the Museum to push forward with its hello future capital project despite the financial challenge caused by the Covid-19 crisis

Manchester Museum is one of 74 organisations receiving grants totalling £58.9 million. The Capital Kickstart grants programme helps organisations cover costs added to capital projects such as building works, refurbishments, and large-scale equipment purchases by pandemic-related delays or fundraising shortfalls.

Hello future is Manchester Museum’s transformational capital development, dedicated to establishing the UK’s most inclusive, imaginative and caring museum. Scheduled to open in August 2022, the £13.5m project combines an ambitious, two-story new extension, with extensive redevelopment of existing areas, in order to create: a new Exhibition Hall dedicated to major temporary exhibitions and extraordinary projects; a flagship new South Asia Gallery – the first in the country to explore the stories, experiences and contributions of South Asian diaspora communities; The Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery - building understanding and empathy between the UK and China; a new entrance and improved visitor facilities with a focus on inclusive, age-friendly and accessible design.

Having already commenced construction work on site in 2019, the new funding awarded now will be critical in enabling the Museum to overcome the financial challenges to the capital project caused by the pandemic; as well as incorporating new design considerations in response to Covid-19 and to support post-pandemic recovery; and ensuring even better facilities for our future visitors in the long-term.

Director of Manchester Museum Esme Ward said: “We are thrilled to receive such tremendous support from the Capital Kickstart Fund. Undertaking such a major new capital building project as hello future is a hugely exciting privilege, but we have faced wide-ranging practical and financial challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This funding guarantees the long-term success of our plans. It means that we can remain fully on track to offer outstanding new facilities and experiences to our audiences; and ensure that, in the years ahead, the Museum can bring joy, inspiration and care to our communities, at a time when we all need it most.”