Museum Redevelopment Update – Summer 2023

 

It has been an exciting year developing our plans for the transformational redevelopment of the museum, and we felt an update was overdue! We have been working behind the scenes to bring all the elements of the project together to secure the long-term future of the museum. It’s been a busy time!

Thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) and Museums Galleries Scotland Development Fund, we have been able to develop our plans over the last year. We started by employing project staff – a Redevelopment Project Manager and a Project Outreach Officer – to support the development of exhibition spaces, fundraise, and consult and pilot activities with local groups. In terms of the latter, our Outreach Officer Ashab has held workshops with local schools and groups, both on-site and in the classroom, set-up our popular St Andrews memory sessions, and worked closely with local groups to allow for greater engagement with collections and exhibitions. This work has been important in nurturing new relationships that bring new ideas and opportunities. We are committed to ensuring these relationships will continue throughout the project, and beyond.

Over the last year we have also commissioned survey work on our existing grade b listed house. This work has identified the need for repairs to the roof which have now been incorporated into the wider programme of works. The roof repairs will be completed sympathetically, with reclaimed pantiles being sought to replace broken ones. To make the house more environmentally sustainable, insulation will be installed to prevent heat loss. This will not only benefit the structure of the building and the people who use it, but it will benefit the collections displayed within.

At the end of July this year, we submitted our Stage 2 National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) application and have our fingers and toes crossed that this major funding bid will be successful. While we await the announcement of this bid, we continue to fundraise. We are so grateful to the funders and individuals who have already donated and pledged support. This is a once in a lifetime project to secure our future – it is heartening to have so many supporters on this journey with us.

To continue to spread the word about the project we will have a stall at the Heritage & Fife Family History Fair this Saturday 16th September at the Cupar Corn Exchange, and at our Autumn Fair at the museum on Sunday 24th September. We would love to speak to you in person about our plans and hear your thoughts!

You can also find out more about the redevelopment project here: https://standrewsmuseum.com/redevelopment-plans/