Herefordshire Council to receive £750,000 from Arts Council England

[Hereford Voice]

Herefordshire Council will receive £750,000 from Arts Council England, thanks to its Government-funded Capital Investment Programme.

The funding is going towards supporting the major refurbishment and extension of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, located on Broad Street, to create a state-of the-art museum and art gallery for Herefordshire.

The redevelopment of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is a flagship project for the Herefordshire Council and Stronger Hereford. Once complete, the redeveloped museum and art gallery will significantly enhance the county’s cultural offer, support community engagement and attract new visitors to the area.

The project will extend and transform the Grade II-listed museum building on Broad Street. The new museum and art gallery will include new galleries and display spaces, temporary exhibition spaces, the restoration of the historic Woolhope Club Room and new commercial areas. All areas of the museum will be fully accessible with lifts and full flat access throughout.

Councillor Harry Bramer, cabinet member community services and assets, said:

“This funding will enable us to continue providing high quality creative and cultural experiences for people in Herefordshire. Museums are no longer just repositories of artefacts; they are dynamic spaces for learning, creativity and social connection. This funding will ensure that our county museum is the cultural centre it has always aspired to be.

“When it opens, the new museum and art gallery will offer visitors a new experience with a variety of exhibitions and events, and showcasing remarkable collections such as the Herefordshire Hoard. We are grateful for the support of Arts Council England and our other funders, whose investment is enabling the transformation of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery.”

The refurbishment of the museum and art gallery has also received funding from Herefordshire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Stronger Towns Fund.

The Capital Investment Programme supports the Arts Council’s mission to ensure communities across the country have the infrastructure where creativity for everyone can thrive.

Darren Henley, Chief Executive, Arts Council England, said:

“This infrastructure investment will help a whole range of different cultural organisations across England to flourish, increasing opportunities for people to enjoy creatively excellent cultural events close to where they live. It’s particularly important that we’re making this happen in communities where cultural investment has historically been low.”

Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Minister for Arts, Heritage and Libraries, said:

“Cultural venues enrich our lives, and it’s vital that their infrastructure matches the excellence of the creative work that goes on inside them.

"Our funding is helping both to create new venues and to adapt existing ones to make them more accessible, helping to deliver the Government’s plan to make sure that everyone, no matter where they live or what their background, has access to excellent, life-changing cultural opportunities.”