Hull City Council has been awarded £150,000 from The Wolfson Foundation to support the refurbishment of the city’s Maritime Museum basement, part of its recent £1.5m heritage grants round.
The Wolfson Foundation grant will support the creation of a bespoke education room in the refurbished museum, where the Hull Maritime team will deliver a new learning programme for local primary and secondary schools.
This successful application will support the transformation of the museum’s basement, which will be fitted out like the hold of a ship, adding “fun and atmosphere” to school group sessions.
The museum is currently being refurbished as part of Hull Maritime, a £30m project funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Fund. This latest support brings the museum’s fundraising efforts to a total of £1.2m and closer to reaching its £2.6m target.
Expected to reopen in early 2025, the museum’s transformation includes revealing original architecture, opening up more of the building to visitors, and planned exhibitions and displays using previously unseen material.
Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this significant funding from The Wolfson Foundation which will help us deliver our vision for our exciting learning programme.
“Hull is a city built on its maritime past and it is brilliant to see that this project will tell the many stories of discovery, triumph, hope and disaster to young people.”
Chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, Paul Ramsbottom, said: “The Wolfson Foundation aims to support civil society by investing in research and education – surely ever more crucial during this challenging period.
“Our latest round of awards demonstrates the importance of capital funding for communities across the UK. The new buildings, refurbishments and equipment funded by the Foundation will support learning, enhance well-being and advance scientific research. While many and varied, the projects have one thing in common: they are places for people to connect, and they support imaginative and excellent work.”
Hull Maritime is funded by Hull City Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the locally led project encompasses the redevelopment of five historic sites in Hull city centre: the transformation of the Grade II* Hull Maritime Museum and the Dock Office Chambers, the creation of a new visitor attraction at the North End Shipyard and the restoration two historic vessels, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship.
