| PHASE ONE OF MUSEUM HUBS KICKS OFF RENAISSANCE IN THE REGIONS |
| By David Prudames |
10/02/2003 |
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 | Left: the magnificent Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is the lead partner for the South West regional Hub. © Jon Pratty. |
The North East, West Midlands and South West have been named as the first regional Hubs to receive government funding in 'Phase One' of Renaissance in the Regions.
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Organised by Resource, the Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, the scheme is aimed at revitalising regional museums and galleries which do not receive any direct revenue from Westminster. It is hoped the £70 million initiative will help attract larger visitor numbers and improve the accessibility and interpretation of collections.
Institutions such as The Bowes Museum, County Durham and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are set to be the first to benefit from the allocated new investment.
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Right: part of the Tyne and Wear Museums organisation, Arbeia Roman Fort, on Hadrian's Wall, will be one of the first institutions to benefit from government funding. |  |
"This new funding will allow these three regional Hubs to prove the enormous capacity of museums and galleries to inspire, inform, engage and educate people of all ages," explained acting chairman at Resource, Mark Wood.
"We are convinced that if we can demonstrate this potential in these three regions we will have a powerful case for additional funding in the government's next spending review, so that museums can deliver these wonderful benefits to communities across the nation."
Altogether the programme is intended to benefit nine regional Hubs. While the other six will receive funding, the initial three have been given priority by a panel whose criteria included visitor numbers, the amount of designated collections and an area's deprivation.
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 | Left: the Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust near Telford has also been longlisted for the £100,000 Gulbenkian Prize. |
Councillor Barney Rice, chair of the Tyne and Wear Joint Museums Committee explained what selection means to the North East.
"This is a vote of confidence in the region and an acknowledgement of our excellent track record of museum provision and our ability to work cooperatively throughout the region. There is no doubt that cultural heritage plays a key role in the region's social and economic prosperity and this new funding will have a major impact."
However, according to some in the museum sector, the announcement will not be universally welcomed, with the suggestion that certain regional institutions have been afforded higher status than others. |
Right: a key factor in deciding where phase one money should go is the number of Designated Collections. © Jon Pratty. |  |
The selected Hubs in full:
North East
Tyne and Wear Museums (lead partner)
Beamish, the North of England Open Air Museum
Hartlepool Museums
The Bowes Museum, County Durham
South West
Bristol Museums and Art Gallery (lead partner)
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery
Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, Exeter
Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
West Midlands
Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery (lead partner)
Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Telford
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
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|  | | Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum | | | Beamish, DH9 0RG, County Durham, England
T: 0191 370 4000
Open: Until 30th March 2007 - open 1000 to 1600, last admission 1500. Closed Mons & Fris.
31st March to 28th October 2007, open daily, 1000 to 1700, last admission 1500.
29th October 2007 to 14th March 2008, open 1000 to 1600, last admission 1500. Closed Mons & Fris.
Closed: Mon and Fri in winter.
Also closed 10th December 2007 to 1st January 2008 inclusive.
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| | | | The Bowes Museum | | | The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, DL12 8NP, County Durham, England
T: 01833 690606
Open: Open Daily 10.00 - 5.00 (Winter closing at 4.00 1 Nov - 29 Feb)
Closed: Closed only 25 & 26 Dec & 1 Jan
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| | | | | Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery | | | Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AJ, Devon, England
T: 01752 304774
Open: Tuesdays-Fridays 10am to 5.30pm
Saturdays & Bank Holiday Mondays 10am to 5pm
(Please note that the Museum is currently undergoing a refurbishment programme and not all the galleries will be open - please check the website for details)
Closed: Sundays and Mondays
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| | | | Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery | | | Queen Street, Exeter, EX4 3RX, Devon, England
T: 01392 665858
Open: N.B. Main Museum building currently closed for refurbishment, re-opens Spring 2010
However, you can visit RAMM in the Library, Exeter Museum's city centre home while the Queen Street building is being redeveloped.
Based next door to Exeter Central Library in Castle Street, Exeter, RAMM in the library has a range of objects on display and there are also hands-on gallery activities. RAMM in the Library is an ideal place for family visits.
RAMM in the Library is Open Mon-Sat 1000-1700, Admission Free.
Please see our listings on 24 Hour Museum website or the Museum's own website for the wide programme of exhibitions, events and activities taking place around Exeter and Devon whilst the main Museum building is closed.
You can also visit St Nicholas Priory - A Tudor Home, at the Mint, off Fore St Exeter. In part of what was once a medieval priory this splendid building was later lived in by the wealthy Hurst family. It is now presented as their Elizabethan town house with replica furniture, sumptuous fabrics and rich colours. Come and feel at home in this historic family home. Open on Saturdays and on weekdays during school holidays 10.00 - 17.00. Admission £2 for adults (£1.50 concessions), children free. All children aged under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. www.exeter.gov.uk/priory
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| | | | Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro | | | Royal Cornwall Museum, River Street, Truro, TR1 2SJ, Cornwall, England
T: 01872 272205
Open: Open 10:00am - 4.45pm Monday - Saturday
FREE ADMISSION
Closed: Closed Sundays & Bank Holidays
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| | | | Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth | | | Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, East Cliff, Bournemouth, BH1 3AA, Dorset, England
T: 01202 451858
Open: Tue-Sun 1000-1700
Summer Bank Holiday Mon 1000-1700
Closed: Mon
Good Friday and Christmas Day.
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| | | | Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery | | | Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, B3 3DH, West Midlands, England
T: 0121 303 2834
Open: Mon-Thurs & Sat 1000-1700
Fri 1030-1700
Sun 1230-1700
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| | | | The Herbert, Coventry | | | Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP, West Midlands, England
T: 024 7683 2386
Open: Mon-Sat 1000-1730
Sun 1200-1700
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| | | | | The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery | | | Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, Bethesda Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 3DW, Staffordshire, England
T: 01782 232323
Open: March - October Mon-Sat 1000-1700 Sun 1400-1700
November - February Mon-Sat 1000-1600 Sun 1300-1600
Closed 24 December-2 January
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| | | | Wolverhampton Art Gallery | | | Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU, West Midlands, England
T: 01902 552055
Open: Mon-Sat 10.00-17.00
Closed: Sun & Bank Holidays
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