Virtual model to be created to allow tourists to ‘visit’ Gentleman Jack’s home
A VIRTUAL model of Shibden Hall, the ancestral home of Annie Lister, is to be created to “harness the impact of growing interest” sparked by the television series Gentleman Jack.
Calderdale Council will use part of a £35,000 Arts Council England emergency coronavirus response grant to create the 3D model, which will allow people to visit Shibden virtually from their own homes.
The grant was one of 738 handed out to individuals and independent organisations in Yorkshire from the fund, which was designed to help alleviate the immediate pressures faced by artists, organisations, museums and libraries over the summer. In total, more than £5m was awarded.
Coun Susan Press, Calderdale Council’s cabinet member for public services and communities, said: “We know that many people have been missing the chance to visit Shibden, and with travel restrictions due to the coronavirus, this may continue for some time. As well as providing online access to interior views, the new model will allow disabled visitors to see the first floor areas, where access may be difficult for them otherwise.”
The rest of the money would be spent on retaining and adapting its educational services, which have lost money while schools were unable to visit its museums during lockdown.
In total, 553 Individual artists and creatives have received £1.2m of the money, with the remaining £3.8m split between 185 organisations.
Halifax’s Piece Hall also received £35,000.
Chief executive Nicky Chance-Thompson said: “We are really grateful to the Arts Counci. In conjunction with other support, this additional funding has meant that we could keep the Piece Hall going during this crisis and are able to reopen in the coming months.”