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

By Tim Aldred

15 Mar 2022

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.”

Enjoyed this? Read more from Tim Aldred

Latest news

1

Businesses should look at Net Zero as an 'opportunity, not a challenge' Lancashire Net Zero Conference 2025

Businesses should look at Net Zero as an 'opportunity, not a challenge'

20 Jun 2025

2

£4m investment across East Lancashire power network EV electric vehicle Electricity NW

£4m investment across East Lancashire power network

20 Jun 2025

3

Your time to shine in the Lancashire Tourism Awards Winners Of The Lancashire Tourism Awards 2024 Held On Tues 11 Feb 2025

Your time to shine in the Lancashire Tourism Awards

19 Jun 2025

4

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy Ben Harrison

Employer event to help keep region’s workers healthy

19 Jun 2025

5

Plan to get Lancashire working Lancashire Combined Authority

Plan to get Lancashire working

19 Jun 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers
WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion copy.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
02 Apr 2025 - 08 Oct 2025

RISE - The Academy for Female Leaders and Managers

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:00 - 15:30

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
23 Jun 2025 - 23 Jun 2025

Emergency First Aid at Work – June 2025

FGH Training 3rd Floor, Storey House, White Cross Business Park,, Lancaster, LA1 4XQ

09:00 - 16:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

North West Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880456273-4862066883-1-original.20241022-105445.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
24 Oct 2025 - 24 Oct 2025

North West Business Expo 2025

Bolton Stadium Hotel, Bolton, BL6 6SF

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin