Delight as Blackpool Museum Project Allocated £8.4 Million of Funding

Blackpool Council is thrilled to announce that the Blackpool Museum Project has been awarded a multi-million pound award by the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund, and a development grant from the National Lottery.

The award from the Heritage Lottery Fund will mean £400,000 up front to support the development of the project, with the prospect of a further £4 Million to actually make the Museum a reality.
 
In addition the Northern Cultural Regeneration Fund has allocated £4 Million towards the project.
 
Cllr Gillian Campbell, Deputy Leader of Blackpool Council, said: “This is great news and we are delighted to have secured such significant funding. This is a major step forward to help deliver this exciting project.
 
“These announcements are extremely welcome and are critical pieces in a £13 million funding jigsaw.  We are now seeking additional funding from the Growth Deal and Coastal Communities Fund to help complete the funding that needs to be achieved. We will continue to work hard to complete this complex funding jigsaw.”
 
The Museum will explore the extraordinary and rarely told stories of Britain’s largest seaside resort - the place that has played an unrivalled role in the development of British popular entertainment over the past 150 years.
 
But this will be no conventional museum – it will be a dynamic and celebratory space - a blend of museum and visitor attraction, filled with artefacts, film, music and performance. It will be immersive, participatory and inclusive. It will have a strong personality with a memorable and distinctive take which is true to the lively spirit of Blackpool.
 
The Museum will be located in the landmark and historic Palatine Building on the Golden Mile, next door but one to Blackpool Tower. Known until recently as the Sands Venue, the Palatine Building is being transformed into Blackpool’s first 5* hotel and leisure complex. The Museum will be part of this important redevelopment.
 
Blackpool’s new museum was selected by the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP) last year as the county’s preferred project to be put forward for NCRF funding.
 
This followed a rigorous and independent assessment process which saw eight proposals from different parts of Lancashire independently appraised by external consultants.