Arts Council grant to Ellesmere Port museum
THE National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port was among 28 successful collections to be awarded Designation Development funding supported by the National Lottery.
It will receive £33,451 for its project, which will draw on the specialist knowledge of a diverse selection of Canal and River Trust staff, inland waterways experts, enthusiasts and academics to develop the NWM’s knowledge and understanding of its object collection.
CRT’s head of collections and archives, Graham Boxer, said: “We are delighted to be awarded the Arts Council grant to unlock the hidden stories in the museum collection and share how these have impacted and influenced work today in looking after our waterways.
“The museum collection contains over 10,000 artefacts including more than 60 boats that tell the story of people that lived and worked on our inland waterways. Among these artefacts are fascinating stories that resonate with many roles of staff and volunteers today.”
He added: “Throughout the project, we will draw on the years of experience and specialist knowledge within the trust and among our stakeholders to engage both internal and external audiences to rediscover the past, through our collection.
“We think this will provide a fascinating insight for visitors to understand the important work of the Canal & River Trust today.”
Other recipients included the Black Country Living Museums Trust and the London Transport Museum.