Investing for the future
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Our museums, libraries and other cultural buildings are right at the heart of our villages, towns and cities. They occupy not just a physical space but an emotional one too helping to connect people and strengthening their sense of civic pride. They are also a key part of their community’s social and economic growth, bringing visitors to their high streets, providing creative opportunities, developing skills and growing cultural ambitions.
Last week’s £58 million investment through the three funding pots that make up the Cultural Investment Fund is a continued recognition by the government of the benefits that creativity and culture can bring to every corner of our country through supporting jobs, improving wellbeing, promoting the learning of new skills, kickstarting regeneration and economic growth, and awakening the creativity in everyone, wherever they live.
Three funds making one huge difference
In total 71 projects are receiving investment in the latest rounds of the Cultural Development Fund, Museum Estate and Development Fund, and Libraries Improvement Fund that we administer on behalf of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport. In the Midlands, Skegness Pier and The Embassy Theatre will receive £5million. The iconic pier and the surrounding area will be restored to continue to delight visitors and also become the home to new creative businesses. While the Embassy Theatre will be transformed into one of England’s first Culture Houses. Inspired by Scandinavian idea that sees cultural and civic centres offering activities and opportunities to support health and wellbeing, the Skegness Culture House will follow that tradition and also become a hub for cultural education and creativity.
Improving access is how one of the oldest woollen factories in the country, if not the world, is planning to spend the £495,000 its receiving through the Museum Estate and Development Fund. Coldharbour Mill near Uffculme in Devon has housed a working wool museum for more than 40 years and will use the investment to replace wooden stairs, fire escapes and the mill yard’s surface. It’ll help visitors to get around the site more easily.
Growing creative ambitions
Another incredible project which is set to benefit from £3.5 million investment from the Cultural Development Fund is the Docking Station in Medway. The funds will go towards helping to transform the disused Grade II listed Police Section House at the Historic Dockyard in Chatham into a new immersive digital studio focussing on production and education. It’s part of a £13.6 million plan to bring the building back into use by the Institute of Cultural and Creative Industries based at the University of Kent.
Libraries leading the way
Libraries have for so long led the way in showing how cultural buildings are community buildings too, including introducing children to the delights a creative and cultural life can bring. I am really pleased that this investment will help so many continue that great work. Children in Colchester will see the first floor of the library there transformed into an interactive learning and play space thanks to the £337,500 that’s been awarded to Essex County Council. While the £266,066 invested in North Tyneside Council will see the Forest Hall Library refurbished and reconfigured to turn it into even more flexible and accessible community space for library users of all ages. It’ll include better access for visitors from the library to its gardens and external areas.
Previous investment
The projects earmarked for investment this week follow in the footsteps of those announced in previous rounds like the £2.63 million for Stockport’s plans for a Creative Campus. Or Sandwell Library and Information Service receiving £495,000 to install open access technology at more than half of their sites allowing people to use libraries beyond staffed opening hours. And the support that Bletchley Park the home of World War 2 codebreakers received through the Museum Estate and Development Fund to update their water and electrical systems.
The latest projects to receive investment from the three strands of the Cultural Investment Fund will join those that have gone before in improving existing cultural spaces and also creating new ones. And in doing so they will continue make the case for how investing in creativity and culture can revitalise, restore, and reimagine our communities and make the lives of those that call them home, more fulfilled, healthier and happier.
