Museums across the East of England are set to benefit from a major government funding boost, with over £2 million awarded to support heritage and cultural venues across the region.
During a visit to Luton on Tuesday, Museums Minister Baroness Twycross announced a £20 million national investment to help preserve and enhance local museums throughout England. The funding will help venues across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Peterborough, and Suffolk safeguard jobs, maintain opening hours, and secure their futures.
Baroness Twycross explained that the government aims to provide additional support to local and civic museums that tell the story of the places people come from. The funding will focus on protecting jobs, keeping museums open, and helping them become more sustainable by exploring new ways to increase their income.
One of the minister’s stops was the Hat Works in Luton, an arts and exhibition space operated by the Luton Culture Trust. The Trust, which also manages other local venues, will receive £530,528 from the fund.
Billy Hussain, a trustee of the Culture Trust, described the grant as an exciting and vital boost to help keep the arts alive. He noted that arts, culture, heritage sites, and museums are struggling across the country and need resilience and support to continue their work.
The Hat Works currently features a range of local artworks, including pieces by artist Abu-Yahya, whose vibrant, expressionist paintings are displayed in the venue’s gallery.
Other museums across the region also stand to gain from the funding package, including several in Norfolk and Suffolk.
Funding recipients in the East of England include:
- Luton Cultural Services Trust – £530,528
- Norfolk Museums Service – £360,000
- Chelmsford City Council – £236,297
- Ware Museum CIO – £58,337
- Southend Museum Service – £39,794
- The Cromwell Museum, Huntingdon – £240,300
- Peterborough City Council – £168,000
- Colchester City Council – £126,200
- The Food Museum, Stowmarket – £351,112
- St Albans Museum – £85,000
- Discover Bucks Museum – £314,000
Baroness Twycross added that the investment aims to ensure that cultural spaces continue to inspire and educate future generations while remaining at the heart of their communities.