The Department of Culture Media and Sport announced today a grant award of £2.23m towards roof repairs on Southampton’s treasured City Art Gallery.
Administered by Arts Council England, the Museum Estates and Development Fund enables Accredited museums to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance beyond the scope of everyday maintenance budgets.
The work will begin later in 2023 and be completed in 2024, and will involve repairing the failing asphalt roof, air handling and heating plant, historic sky lights and windows which have reached the end of their life.
Leader of Southampton City Council, Cllr Kaur said:
“A massive thank you to DCMS and ACE – we’re absolutely thrilled to receive this funding from the Museum and Estates Development Fund towards the Art Gallery.
We care very much about our cultural heritage and this will help us to preserve this jewel in our city’s crown for current and future generations, both within our city and the many that come to Southampton especially to visit our world class art collection.
Our inward investment from bidding for UK City of Culture now stands at over £15m, all helping to grow our city, put Southampton on the map regionally and nationally, while saving local tax-payers money too.”
Phil Gibby, Arts Council Area Director, said:
“We’re delighted to confirm support for the Southampton City Museum and Art gallery today – the latest cultural investment boost for the city.
At the Arts Council, we believe in more people having access to a range of excellent arts, culture and creativity right on their doorstep – so we’re delighted that the organisations announced today will help us to make that a reality – by helping to grow local economies and safeguard our fantastic collections for the future.”
