Harris granted £800,000 from government's cultural heritage fund

The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library in Preston has secured £803,249 of government funding to support its major renovation project.

The funds come from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, delivered by Arts Council England, which has made a £48m Cultural Investment Fund available to improve people’s access to the arts, safeguard cultural assets for future generations and power economic growth through culture. Harris has secured its money through the Museums Estate and Development Fund strand.

This funding will further the Harris Your Place project which has already secured backing through the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Towns Fund investment and grants from Garfield Weston Foundation and Wolfson Foundation.

Work has already begun on 'reimagining' the iconic Grade I listed building, through structural works and layout improvements. 

At 130 years old, it lacks accessibility options and conservation is needed to reveal currently hidden original architectural details and to tackle the leaking roof and damp basement which pose a threat to preserving the Harris’ collections.

This latest funding allows the project to extend the scope of works and further invest in improving the Harris, carrying out additional works to the second floor and basement that were originally outside the scope of the project.

Coun Peter Kelly, cabinet member for culture and leisure services at Preston City Council, said: "We are enormously grateful to Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sports, and to Arts Council England for this fantastic support, which represents more important funding for the Harris and enhances our delivery of Harris Your Place.

"This is fantastic news for the Harris and for Preston. It means we can make much-needed repairs to the external stonework of the Harris as part of the wider Harris Your Place project, and welcome our visitors back to a fully renovated building in 2024.

"The additional funding, from DCMS once again demonstrates the faith and commitment national funders have in the Harris Your Place project and the wider City Investment Plan vision."

Darren Henley, chief executive officer, Arts Council England, said: "Our artists, arts organisations, museums and libraries are experts in making villages, towns and cities better places to live, work, visit or play. This investment means they’ll be able to help more people across England to lead happier, more creative lives."

"The Museum Estate and Development Fund helps fund museum and local authority infrastructure projects and urgent maintenance works beyond their day-to-day budgets.”