Museums confident of a brighter future after celebrating a cash windfall

MUSEUM visitors across Northumberland are set to reap the rewards of a £281,544 grant which has been announced as part of a new round of Government funding.

Yesterday’s announcement of the award from the Culture Recovery Fund brings muchneeded support for the county’s historic attractions which have suffered during the lockdown.

The knock-on effect will also mean that, when museums reopen, returning visitors will benefit from a raft of new improvements and experiences - including plans for a new take on the Northumberland Miners’ Picnic.

The money, from the second round of CRF awards, goes to Museums Northumberland, the service which cares for historic sites and collections across the county.

In October it received £238,100 to help in the initial crisis as it suffered an 80% loss of income due to the pandemic.

Museums Northumberland is made up of Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, Hexham Old Gaol, Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum and Woodhorn Museum which means they all will be receiving a helping hand to recover and reopen this year.

The grant, from a round administered on behalf of the Government by the Arts Council, will cover lost income but will also be used to develop new on-site and online experiences, providing greater access to the stories each venue tells.

Upcoming plans include a digital Northumberland Miners’ Picnic and a new exhibition by artist Jonny Hannah across four sites.

Rowan Brown, chief executive of Museums Northumberland, said: “We are absolutely delighted with this lifeline from the Arts Council, who have already provided incredible support throughout the pandemic.

“As we work towards reopening our museums we can do so confidently and creatively with funding in place to work with communities in new ways.”

Another local beneficiary is Northumberland arts charity November Club, which receives a £45,000 grant.