Plymouth and Exeter’s museum partnership nets over £3.2 million
Plymouth and Exeter are celebrating a joint victory today after scooping over £3.2M from a national arts funding pot to continue their excellent joint heritage and cultural work across the South West.
Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery and the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery in Exeter (RAMM) learned their Major Partner Museum (MPM) status was renewed today by the Arts Council England through a grant of £3,095,874 as part of its 2015 to 18 investment programme.
As one of only 21 successful applications from across the whole of the UK for MPM status, the award means that the Devon-based partnership has claimed a share of a combined national pot of £22.6M over a three year period.
The major partners are made up of a diverse range of museums services including local authorities, university museums, independent trusts and consortia – all of whom are committed to driving the development and delivery of excellence in museums, reaching out to more people and supporting innovation in the museum sector.
Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader for Plymouth City Council, said: “We are delighted with this decision, which recognises Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery’s role as a leading cultural organisation for Plymouth and the Southwest peninsula. Our museum is crucial to the development of Plymouth’s plans for a brand new History Centre, which will open its doors in spring 2019 and attract both national and international visitors and tourists.
“Both Plymouth and RAMM have already achieved so much over the last three years. The renewal of this status for our partnership means we can continue to build on our success, pursue new collaborations, develop innovative practice and extend the opportunities for people to be a part of cultural activities right up until at least 2018.”
Plymouth and RAMM’s current MPM partnership began in April 2012 with a grant of £3,463,595 and is set to run until the end of March 2015. Today’s renewal will enable the partnership to continue from April 2015 to the end of March 2018 and recognises their central position in the cultural life of the region.
Rosie Denham, Exeter’s Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, also expressed Exeter’s delight: “This is great news for the South West. RAMM is much loved by the people of Exeter and Devon. Over three quarters of a million people have visited RAMM since it re-opened in 2011 after a major redevelopment and it has achieved the nationally-recognised levels of excellence that we aim for in all fields. With continued support from ACE Exeter and Plymouth will be well placed to serve the wider region and put the South West firmly on the nation’s cultural map.”
Councillor Smith continued: "The Museum isn’t the only organisation to receive good news today in Plymouth – I congratulate Literature Works, the Plymouth Arts Centre, Real Ideas Organisation, the Barbican Theatre and the Theatre Royal who are also set to receive funding. We realise there will also be some disappointment in the city for those whose applications were not successful. So whilst it is a day of mixed news, it is important to highlight and celebrate Plymouth’s success stories.”
For more information about the museums visit www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk and www.rammuseum.org.uk
For more information about Plymouth’s developing History Centre visit www.loveourpast.co.uk
For more information about ACE’s Major Partner Museums visit www.artscouncil.org.uk
