Museum reopens after £2m refit
CULTURAL gem, The Whitaker Museum, will reopen its doors this Saturday, July 24 after a £2.2 million investment.
National Heritage Lottery funding have enabled a full refurbishment, additional exhibition space and new visitor facilities.
Located in Whitaker Park in Rawtenstall, the museum’s historic stable block has been transformed into additional exhibition space, a new cafe, event and community space, and catering kitchen to support future hospitality events.
Managing director Carl Bell said the revamp will “provide a renewed space for visitors to imagine, explore and unwind.”
He added: “We have certainly missed welcoming visitors to The Whitaker Museum and cannot wait to unveil our fantastic new facilities and enhanced exhibition programme.
“The Whitaker has always been such a special place, built on the foundations of our region’s industrial past and gifted to the people of Rossendale in 1902.
“This amazing new space will allow us to invite more people than ever before, celebrating the rich cultural and natural heritage of our beautiful valley alongside cutting edge contemporary exhibitions.”
The new cafe, event and community space will allow the museum to host an extensive programme of craft workshops, artist talks, heritage activities, film nights and dedicated outreach events for toddlers, children and young people.
Creative director Gaynor Seville, who is leading on the museum and galleries, will work with local and internally renowned artists and crafts people to present a varied and contemporary programme of exhibitions.
Gaynor said: “Two celebrated artists Kara Lyons and David Hancock are helping us to launch the new programme on July 24.
“Kara is an acclaimed visual artist whose exhibition ‘Marginalia’ will feature a drawing exhibition in Gallery 1 and a sculpture exhibition in our new events and temporary gallery space The Old Stables.
“David, who has exhibited in the prestigious John Moores 21 Contemporary Painting Exhibition and the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery, has installed a fascinating exhibition of his paintings, featuring a number of items from The Whitaker museum collection, in his exhibition, ‘A Still Life’.” Funding has enabled the museum to employ their very first new collections curator, who will be dedicated to the care of The Whitaker collections and developing programmes to ensure long term engagement and access to the heritage collections, through exhibitions, use of a special new research room and talks with local people, school groups and students.
Supporting this work is a heritage activity coordinator who will bring to life our heritage and collections through a diverse range of activities including workshops, demonstrations, loan boxes, activity packs and family events both in and outside of the building.
The museum is also launching a crowdfunding appeal to ensure they are able to continue and maintain the high quality exhibitions and leisure and educational events well into the future.
To support this appeal, visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/thewhitaker#start
To explore the museum’s ‘What’s on’ guide, visit www.thewhitaker.org.
AMAN has been arrested in connection to a ‘high value’ burglary and theft at the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery.
Officers were called in the early hours to reports that a large amount of lead had been removed from the roof of the museum on Haslingden Road on Friday, July 2.
On Wednesday morning officers from Rossendale’s Rural Task Force reported that a male had been arrested in connection to the crime.
The male will be interviewed by police and the case will then be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.
In a statement, Rossendale Police said: “In the early hours of this morning Officers from Rossendale’s Rural Task Force have arrested another male who was wanted in connection with a high value Burglary and Theft from Whittaker Park Museum on Haslingden Road that occurred in the early hours of Friday, July 2, where a large amount of lead was removed from the roof.
“The male will now be interviewed in relation to the incident before the case is referred to the Crown Prosecution Service.”
The police force said that it has seen an increase in similar crimes over the last few years as the price of lead and copper has risen.
The increase in value had made Heritage buildings ‘extremely vulnerable’ to theft and burglary.
“The price of lead and copper has risen over the last few years meaning that our heritage buildings are often targeted by criminals for theft of these materials,” Rossendale Police said. “Sadly this makes these buildings extremely vulnerable to heritage based crimes / incidents such as this one.”
The Whitaker Museum, which is set to reopen on Saturday, building dates back to the 1840s when it originally served as the home for textile mill owner George Hardman.
The businessman later donated the property to the people of Rawtenstall for use as a museum.
The museum’s collection features a number of art galleries and natural history exhibits, including a 200-year-old ‘Tiger and Python’.
● MUSEUM reopening - see page seven
“The price of lead and copper has risen – meaning our heritage buildings are often targeted by criminals” Police