Trust awards substantial grant to support Shrewsbury’s new Museum and Art Gallery

Shropshire Council’s museum service has been awarded a substantial grant of £100,000 from The Walker Trust to support the development of learning and education activities at the new Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.  

The funding will help the museum team to provide a range of activities and experiences to support cross-curricular learning as well as the development of new skills and courses. 

Councillor Mike Owen, Cabinet member for tourism and culture, said:

“Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery’s future education activities will be focused upon both formal and informal education workshops and courses.  We are extremely pleased that The Walker Trust has committed resources to help us develop this important work for current and future generations.”  

The new Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery (ex-Music Hall) is one of the most important sites in Shrewsbury, strategically positioned in the historic market square at the heart of the town. The complex is a unique collection of buildings and includes the Grade II* listed 13th Century Vaughan’s Mansion, one of only a handful of early medieval defensive Hall Houses remaining in the UK. 

Councillor Andrew Bannerman, local councillor for Quarry and Coton Hill, said:

“This a big boost for the building, which has been under wraps for quite a while, and will be central to the visitor economy strategy when it opens in 2013.  We are all grateful to the Walker Trust, which has been rightly generous to such an important project.  We look forward eagerly to seeing the results of this grant.”    

The main part of the site is occupied by the 19th Century music hall, consisting of assembly rooms and public rooms designed by Edward Haycock in 1839 and Grade II listed.  The complex also includes an old shut, 18th Century prison cells and a 20th Century civil defence/nuclear bunker.  In essence this site is a microcosm of the town’s history. 

The Walker Trust commented,

“We are delighted to support the education programme in the new Museum and Art Gallery that will focus on the interpretation and understanding of Shropshire’s historic collections and cultural assets.” 

The museum and art gallery will act as the first port of call for visitors to Shropshire and the Welsh Marches, and it will provide free access connecting the county’s historic collections through integrated information and interpretation services and a shared approach to promoting Shropshire.