Craven Museum and Gallery wins £50,000 Arts Council grant (From Craven Herald)

Craven Museum and Gallery wins £50,000 Arts Council grant

9:00am Saturday 13th October 2012 in News

The Arts Council England has given a £50,000 grant to Craven Museum and Gallery.

The museum – based in Skipton Town Hall and run by Craven District Council – will use the money to produce a business plan that will ensure financial sustainability for the future.

Part of the grant will go towards improving the gallery environment which will allow it to host high-quality touring exhibitions and significantly expand its visitor experience.

The museum – which houses a rare copy of William Shakespeare’s First Folio of plays – will also work with communities and groups to develop new opportunities.

Council leader Coun Chris Knowles-Fitton said: “This grant provides us with an excellent opportunity to build on what is already a well-regarded and popular museum service whilst also allowing us to ensure its future financial sustainability.

“We are grateful to the Arts Council for their help and support and look forward to working with them as this project develops.”

Craven Museum was one of 11 organisations in Yorkshire to share £1,953,071 from the Arts Council’s renaissance strategic support fund.

Cluny Macpherson, the Arts Council’s regional director, said: “Yorkshire is home to a really diverse range of great museums.”

She said the grants would enable the museums “to make the most of their amazing collections and to find new ways for people to enjoy the assets on their doorstep”.

“We will also see museums on a stronger financial footing,” she added.