One of the city’s most popular museums has been awarded £150,000 of funding to refurbish its exhibition spaces and become the home of the new Fashion Galleries.
Awarded from the Department for Culture Media and Sport and Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, this investment will support Lotherton Hall in one of its key ambitions to become a major museum of fashion and textiles. As part of the planned work, several rooms will be refurbished and a new lift installed so visitors can have full access to the much loved country house as well as the exciting modern exhibition spaces.
The redevelopment will create an up to date 21st century gallery space; with modern cases, improved lighting and the chance to utilise technology, which will allow opportunities to include new elements like film and sound in the galleries.
When completed, Lotherton Hall will become one of the largest spaces in the north of England to provide a regular programme of fashion and textile exhibitions by having a changing show each year. The flexibility of the new galleries will allow for more of the collection to be displayed, with the new modern cases creating greater hanging space for larger textiles. In addition, the improved lighting and security mean Lotherton Hall can now look to borrow other fantastic pieces from other museum’s collections.
Work will begin behind the scenes this summer and the current exhibition, Dressed for Battle will close in September with the view to launching the Fashion Galleries in March 2015 with a debut exhibition showcasing fabulous fifties fashions from the collection.
Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for leisure & skills said:
“It is really fantastic news that one of our city’s most popular visitor attractions Lotherton Hall has been awarded this funding, which will aid our ambition to make the museum a major venue for fashion and textiles.
“A range of refurbishment work will be undertaken as part of the project, and we can’t wait to see the final results when the Fashion Galleries are re-launched at Lotherton Hall in March 2015.”
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive of the Wolfson Foundation said:
“We are pleased to be working with government to fund outstanding projects at museums and galleries across England. The DCMS/Wolfson Fund is an excellent example of how a funding charity and government department can work productively together. The projects supported this round are impressive, and will help inspire visitors to the country’s wonderful museums and galleries.”
