BEDFORD MUSEUM
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Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and
Bedford Museum Redevelopment
Bedford Gallery is scheduled to open in March 2009 with an exhibition of Highlights from Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum. A grant of £2.5 million has enabled the refurbishment of two historic buildings, Bedford Gallery and the Hexagon, and these works form Phase 1 of the overall vision to refurbish Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum, flagship facilities in Bedford’s Cultural Quarter.
Art Gallery and Museum Capital Development.
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum have been successful in securing £2.5 million from the Government through Growth Area Fund 2 to refurbish two historic buildings – Bedford Gallery and the Hexagon. The spaces, originally built in the 1840s have been used for wide variety of purposes including exhibitions and education activities; however, Bedford Gallery closed in the early 1970’s and has not been used since.
Work started on the refurbishment of Bedford Gallery and the Hexagon in July 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008. During the works Cecil Higgins Art Gallery has been closed and collections have been packed to protect them from dust, vibration and other disturbances.
These works form Phase 1 of the overall ambitions to refurbish Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum; flagship facilities in the Cultural Quarter at the heart of the town centre. When complete, they will provide excellent cultural facilities for local people and visitors to enjoy.
Bedford Gallery opens in March 2009
Bedford Gallery is scheduled to open in March 2009 with an exhibition of Highlights from Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum. Details of the remainder of the 2009/2010 exhibition and event programme will be available on the website in October 2008.
Bedford Gallery will provide
over 200m2 of state of the art exhibition space, as well as being a venue for
a wide variety of events and activities, including corporate events, lectures,
meetings and other social functions.
Refurbishment of Art Gallery and Museum
Over the past year the Council has revisited proposals for the refurbishment of the Art Gallery and Museum. Outline plans have now been prepared and a Fundraising Programme was launched in September 2008 to secure funds to support the proposals. Works cannot start until all funds are identified and secured.
The overall cost of the refurbishment of the two buildings including new galleries, collection stores, Learning Spaces, a new joint reception, a café, mechanical and electrical plant, equipment and staff spaces is estimated at £8 million. Current pledges of financial support total £2.3 million leaving £5.9 million to raise.
Funding approaches include bids to Bedford Borough Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund; the outcomes will be known in summer 2009. Subject to the success of the fundraising programme refurbishment works are expected to start in 2010 and completed in 2011.
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
will remain closed whilst collections are protected in store; it is expected
that Bedford Museum will remain open until 2010. More detailed information concerning
the timetable for Art Gallery and Museum works and the re-opening of the facilities
will be able to be prepared once funding for the project has been secured.
Fundraising
The Fundraising Programme started with an exhibition of Highlights from Cecil Higgins Art Gallery at Tate Britain from 13 September 2008 to 4 January 2009. Applications will also be made to a number of Trusts and Foundations that support Arts, Museum and Heritage projects.
If you would like to help raise funds for this project or would like to make a donation please contact John Moore the Director at jmoore@bedford.gov.uk
20 October 2008
Produced by IT Unit
Bedford Borough Council