Alnwick museum 'run on a shoestring' hopes to tap into government culture fund

Bailiffgate Museum and Gallery, which plans to reopen on September 1, relies heavily on volunteer support.

Jean Humphrys, chairman of trustees, said: “We welcome the news of a £1.57bn package of Government aid in the form of emergency grants and loans to support the arts, culture and heritage sector in the UK.

“This fund will provide opportunities for these organisations to continue their important contributions to the UK economy, through vibrant and enriching culture and heritage activities and events which make a huge contributions to our wellbeing, our sense of who we are and the richness of the world around us.

“This country has a worldwide reputation for its theatres, museums and galleries, all of which are at the heart of our strong tourism industry.”

She added: “Bailiffgate runs on a shoestring, relying heavily on volunteers to remain buoyant. We have managed to stay afloat because of these people, all of whom are passionate about Alnwick and its history.

“We have around 10,000 visitors each year and they make a significant contribution to the local economy. If as a small volunteer run museum and gallery we are able to benefit from this funding it will help us to secure a more sustainable future for our unique award-winning attraction.”

Bailiffgate is an award-winning people’s museum, where fascinating stories of the past are told about Alnwick and district.

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