A museum in Preston is set to receive an additional £450,000 in grants as restoration and renovations of the Grade I listed building continue.
National grant-makers, Wolfson Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation, have offered their monetary support to the Harris Museum.
The two grants will be added to the existing £10.2 million ‘#HarrisYourPlace’ project, supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund, and will go towards additional works on the second floor galleries.
Currently closed for capital works to get under way, the new-look Harris will re-open in spring 2024 with historic entrances opened, visitor facilities upgraded, and accessibility throughout the building improved – providing accessible and welcoming spaces for everyone to enjoy.
The museum, which opened in 1893, will be completely refurbished to make it a community and cultural hub for Preston and Lancashire.
Their remarkable collections and changing displays will tell stories of The Harris, Preston, and the world across three floors.
Support from both Garfield Weston Foundation and the Wolfson Foundation, pending council approvals to accept, will provide a significant contribution towards the capital project and a key cultural institution within Preston and Lancashire.
Councillor Peter Kelly, Cabinet member for culture and arts at Preston City Council, said: “Preston City Council’s Harris team are delighted that these generous grants have been awarded from Garfield Weston and the Wolfson Foundations.
"Their support will enhance Harris Your Place with additional funds to complete works to the second-floor galleries of the Harris and help realise our ambition to reach new audiences and have more of our collections on show.
"The ambitious Harris Your Place scheme forms part of the wider Towns Fund projects, aiming to breathe new life into some of the Harris Quarter’s heritage assets, key buildings and open spaces to create a diverse culture, leisure and employment offering for Preston.”
Greta Krypczyk-Oddy, Chair of Friends of the Harris, said: “This is great news for the Harris and a significant contribution towards achieving the aims of Harris Your Place.
"Friends of the Harris is very proud to support the Harris and these grants from two National trusts and foundations will help to revitalise this historic building for generations to come.”
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