Cllr Carole Jones: Portfolio Holder for Museums
Cllr Carole Jones: Portfolio Holder for Museums

Ipswich Museum is awarded a £4.3m grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund towards a project that will inspire a new generation.

An improved Ipswich Museum, with additional gallery and new educational space, a new café and improved shop area and toilets will be in place by summer 2025 thanks to a £4,324,800 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund that’s made possible by National Lottery players.

The £8.7m redevelopment project will restore, refurbish and improve the purpose-built Ipswich Museum to display more of the town’s collections; refurbish existing galleries and otherwise make things more entertaining for visitors. The Museum will work with Ipswich communities and visitors to reinterpret the collections, gather new stories and create fresh conversations so people gain a sense of pride in Ipswich and understand that not only does the town have a rich history but is also forward-thinking about its dynamic future.

New heating, insulation and lighting will significantly improve the building’s environmental performance. Visitor flow around the Museum will be improved such as by raising the internal floor levels to remove the need for ramps and steps within the ground-floor galleries. A new lift near the main staircase at the front of the Museum will create improved access both up to the first floor and down to new public toilets in the basement.

Ipswich Museum is a late Victorian, Grade II* Listed purpose-built building of exceptional significance as a substantially preserved example of a late Victorian/Edwardian museum and which opened in 1881.

Other funding for the £8.7m project includes £3.6m of Ipswich Borough Council funding, £40k from Friends of the Ipswich Museums, £450k which will be raised through fund raising with Trusts and other charitable foundations plus £300k of various other including volunteer time.

Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Museums, says:

“We are delighted to receive this support thanks to National Lottery players. This redevelopment will do something really special and imaginative with our wonderful collections in a building that was specifically designed to showcase them to the public. We are looking forward to working with the people of Ipswich and the Heritage Fund to inspire a new generation through Ipswich Museum.”

 Anne Jenkins, Director, England, Midlands & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, says:

We are delighted to support Ipswich Museum with its ambitious project to redevelop its museum and reinterpret its collections. With thanks to National Lottery players, this project will enable the museum to bring their amazing collections to life in new ways and be much more engaging for local people and visitors alike.  It will showcase Ipswich’s rich history in a way that everyone can enjoy and be proud of.”

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