Museum wins funding to improve accessibility

Derby Museums is celebrating after being awarded a grant to make one of its museums more accessible.

It has been awarded £71,700 from the Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, created by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Wolfson Foundation.

The money will support a project by Derby Museums called The Reimagined Home: Changing views of Home, Work and Family for an Inclusive, Digital Age.

The project aims to improve accessibility at the Grade I listed Pickford’s House to help the museum use virtual reality to bring the house to a wider audience.

Dr Cathy Putz, director of programming at Derby Museums, said: “We are thrilled that Derby Museums has been awarded funding.

“The project will enable us to develop Pickford’s House – we will explore what Derby residents would like to know about the Georgian townhouse and will place our communities at its core as the site becomes a local hub of activity.

“We will make material improvements to the display, interpretation, and collections at Pickford’s House to enhance visitor experience, improve accessibility and enhance the civic value of this site.”

Derby Museums is one of 33 museums and galleries nationwide to receive a share of £4 million from the fund – and is the only venue in the East Midlands to be awarded cash.

The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.

Paul Ramsbottom, chief executive of the Wolfson Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to continue our longstanding partnership with DCMS, which has now awarded over £50 million to outstanding museums and galleries over the past two decades.

“While the projects funded are many and varied, they will all improve access to the treasures of our museums and galleries – allowing more people to enjoy and learn from these impressive collections, as well as safeguarding them for the future.”