Western Daily Press (Saturday)
New home for museum in creative quarter
NOTHING ever stands still in the fickle world of fashion but for nearly 60 years one West institution has stood the test of time.
And although the date has been set for the Fashion Museum’s final day at the Assembly Rooms in Bath, plans are afoot for it to remain en vogue for decades to come.
The museum’s final day at the Assembly Rooms will be October 30, after which the collection will move to temporary accommodation until a new museum and purpose-built collections study centre are created in the city centre.
Plans by the council for the new museum have taken a step forward with the publication of proposals to acquire a leasehold property in Bath’s Milsom Quarter for the new attraction, using grant funding secured from the West of England Joint Committee.
Although the exact location has yet to be confirmed, the Milsom Quarter Masterplan highlights that the Milsom Street core - comprising
Milsom Street and New Bond Street will provide a home to an enhanced fashion museum.
The masterplan also highlights the opportunity for this area to become a nationally renowned fashion destination centred around the new institution, a range of highend retailers and space for makers and creative industries.
The council also plans to open a bespoke new collections study centre to house the collection, to provide new facilities for events and to allow the public to get a closer look at the collection. A purpose-built facility is being proposed at a councilowned site in Locksbrook.
This will adjoin a significant new development by Bath Spa University for all their creative courses.
The council said: “Taken together, these projects form one of the most significant cultural infrastructure investments in the country and will contribute to the wider regeneration of Bath while offering new visitor experiences to tourists and locals alike.
“The study centre and university facility will form a vibrant creative precinct whilst the relocation of the fashion museum is a key part of the strategy for regenerating the Milsom Quarter.”