Ripon Museums explore the themes of poverty, crime, fairness and justice whilst exploring the roles we all play advocating for justice in today’s world.
Not only are we passionate about protecting our heritage and exploring social inequalities but we are also wanting to engage with more diverse audiences and better connect the past with the social issues of the present.
In December 2021, The National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded Ripon Museum Trust a development grant of £99,396 to develop the ‘Inspiration for a Fairer Future’ project. Since that time the team here, supported by a team of specialist consultants, have been developing a project that will transform the experience at the museums (and fix the leaky roof!).
In May we submitted a delivery phase bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for £2.6m funding towards a £3.3 million project. We find out if our grant application is successful this September.
To achieve our vision for our £3.3 million ‘Fairer Futures’ project, we are looking to secure £2.6m funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Should we be successful, funding will unlock the full authentic Workhouse experience with enhanced and immersive interpretation, greater accessibility, conservation and restoration of collections and original heritage features.
Thanks to National Lottery players, the project would unite the three Ripon museums as part of one thought-provoking visitor experience, bringing to life the heritage of poverty and social justice in Ripon, Yorkshire and beyond.
Essential restoration and transformation
Laura Allen Community Curator said, “This funding is not only essential for protecting and conserving our heritage but it will enable us to transform our visitor experience and community engagement, develop immersive activities and experiences that speak to everyone.”
Long overdue and essential conservation work to the Workhouse building and museum’s collection will ensure it is both safeguarded and better understood for the future. The exciting project will enable visitors to engage physically with new spaces, collections and stories through the Workhouse Museum, contributing to conversations about fairness while doing so.
The project will increase our environmental and financial sustainability and fulfil a key milestone in our ambition to fully transform all three museum sites.
Alexa Vernon, Museums Director said “Through local partnerships, a range of activities will be delivered to engage communities in the museums’ themes, making spaces for the voices that are so often marginalised in society and inviting them to be central to the conversation”.
Ripon Museum Trust’s unique built heritage collectively represents the way law and order has changed over time, affecting the lives of thousands of adults and children within Ripon over the last 200 years. This is an exciting step towards ensuring the museums and the stories they share have a healthy future.
Can you help?
As a registered charity we are working to secure funding towards this project from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, trusts and foundations and other likeminded supporters. – but we still need your help to take us over the finish line by raising the final £200,000.
With your support, we can make this transformational project a reality for the people of Ripon, its visitors and its economy, safeguarding our award-winning Museums for future generations.
Donations at every level will make a difference and is hugely appreciated.
Contact [email protected] if you are able to support us.