Ipswich Museum secures £200,000 grant for new learning space

The big picture: The grant is part of a larger redevelopment project for Ipswich Museum, which is currently closed and set to reopen in late 2025.

Why it matters: The funding will significantly enhance the museum's ability to offer innovative learning programmes and improve accessibility for visitors, particularly school groups.

Key details:

• The new facility will be named the Clore Learning Studio

• £165,070 will go towards the learning space itself

• £16,500 is allocated for a new courtyard and mosaic

• £5,230 will reinstate amphitheatre seating for outdoor events

• £1,200 will fund a railed enclosure around the courtyard

• £12,000 will support travel costs for school visits

What they're saying:

Richard Wilson, Chair of The Friends of the Ipswich Museums, said: "I'm delighted that the Clore Duffield Foundation have awarded us the full £200,000 we applied for. This not only secures essential resources for our educational programmes but reinforces our commitment to excellence."

Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, added: "This is wonderful news for Ipswich and for the redevelopment of our much-loved Museum. My thanks go to the Clore Duffield Foundation, and also to The Friends of the Ipswich Museums for – yet again – their success in getting this award, which will improve both education facilities in the new Museum and its external spaces."

Wider context: The Ipswich Museum Redevelopment Project is a collaborative effort funded by various organisations, including the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Ipswich Borough Council. The project aims to restore and modernise the Grade II* listed Victorian building, update displays, and create more exhibition space.

The museum is currently closed and set to reopen in late 2025.

The Clore Duffield Foundation, which has supported over 70 learning spaces in cultural institutions since 2000, is funding the new educational facility as part of its mission to make art, culture, and heritage accessible to young people.

The bottom line: This grant will be crucial in making Ipswich Museum a more engaging and accessible cultural resource for the community when it reopens.