Museum of Liverpool gets major grant

£11.4 million earmarked for new museum

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced today an earmarked grant of £11.4* to support the fit out of the Museum of Liverpool. This news, which comes as work started on site this month with an archaeological project, means that Liverpool will soon have a new world class museum dedicated to telling the story of this incredible city. This brings the total funds raised to over £50 million.

The Museum of Liverpool, with a budget of £65m, will be one of the world’s leading city history museums reflecting Liverpool’s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture.

Building on the incredible success of the Museum of Liverpool Life, the new museum will draw on National Museums Liverpool’s vast wealth of collections, many of which have never been on public display. As a vital part of the legacy of 2008, when Liverpool becomes European Capital of Culture, it will express Liverpool's confidence as a great 21st century European city.

The new national museum will be an exceptional learning and community resource as well as a high quality contemporary public building giving unprecedented access to over 10,000 objects from National Museums Liverpool’s collections. The family visitor attraction will provide 8,000 square metres of public space and will attract 750,000 visits a year.

Carole Souter, Director of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: ‘The Museum of Liverpool will provide a particularly exciting new opportunity for people to learn more about the city and the significant role it plays in British and world history.  We’re delighted to be able to support this ambitious project which will bring the city’s complex story to life, particularly as this year Liverpool is celebrating the 800th-anniversary of its founding charter.’

David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool said: ‘The Heritage Lottery Fund earmarked grant means this new museum will be produced to the highest quality enabling an incredible array of objects and exhibits to go on display for the first time. The museum, which will open in 2010, will attract people from far and wide, and will be a brilliant learning and recreational resource for the local community and visitors alike. Anyone interested in the history of this great city can look forward to a feast of displays and activities, and admission will be free of charge.

I would like to thank the Heritage Lottery Fund and also extend my thanks to the many people who have shown support for the project, including our other funders.’

Content
The museum will focus on four main themes: Port City, Global City, People’s City and Creative City.

Port City will explore how Liverpool created its own success, transforming itself from a small tidal inlet into one of the world’s great ports. Key exhibits will include Lion, a 1838 steam locomotive which ran on the Liverpool – Manchester Railway and an original third class Overhead Railway carriage, suspended above the gallery at its working height.

Central to Global City will be The Liverpool Story, an unmissable show experience created by Liverpool film makers, writers and artists, using local voices to tell the rollercoaster story of Liverpool’s history.

People’s City will focus on the rich history of diversity in the city from the Stone Age settlers who left their imprints in the sand in Formby through to migrants and seafarers arriving to look for employment from all over the world. The gallery will include themes such as housing and health, opportunity and deprivation, social reform, religion and trade unionism and a key exhibit will be the model of the proposed Liverpool Catholic Cathedral by world-famous architect Edwin Lutyens.

Creative City will uncover the unique and creative character of Liverpool exploring why the city has produced such an amazing roll call of writers, performers, comedians and sportsmen. The gallery will include some unique Beatles objects, including the original stage on which John Lennon’s band, The Quarrymen, played in 1957. The story of the history of the Merseyside football clubs will explore how they have become such a cornerstone of the city’s identity and a special immersive experience in the gallery will capture the excitement, passion and intensity of the game through the fans’ eyes.

Notes for editors

* *A ‘Stage One Pass’ means that money has been earmarked by HLF for the project in question. Competition at this stage is tough, and while a Stage One Pass does not guarantee funding, it is an indication of positive support, and money for the scheme is set aside. The applicant can then progress to Stage Two and submit a further, fully developed application to secure the full grant.  On occasion, at Stage One, funding will also be awarded towards the development of the scheme. 

* HLF enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. They have supported more than 18,600 projects, allocating £3.6billion
across the UK.  Website: www.hlf.org.uk.  For further information, please contact Katie Owen or Sam Goody, HLF press office, on 020 7591 6036/33.

* In November 2006 the Garfield Weston Foundation pledged £1 million towards the project.

* In July 2006 Museum of Liverpool was awarded a £5 million European grant from the Merseyside Objective One programme. Earlier in the year the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) announced a grant of £32.7million to support the development of the project.

* Danish architects 3XN have been working on designs for a new landmark building for the Mann Island site on Liverpool’s famous waterfront since the end of 2004. They have created a plan for a dynamic, open and accessible structure that grows out of its riverside site and responds to its context.

* Planning permission was granted by Liverpool City Council on 20 December 2005. An archaeology project started on site this month and the main contract is due to start in March 2007. The building is due for completion by 2008 and the exhibition fit-out by 2010.

* Museum of Liverpool contractors include:
 Architect: 3XN, Denmark. Principal Kim Neilsen
 Main contractor: Pihl Galliford Try
 Exhibition Design: BRC Imagination Arts, USA Principal Bob Rogers
 Engineer: Buro Happold
 Project Management: Mott MacDonald
 Cost Management: Turner & Townsend

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