The Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) has announced funding plans which sees 29 museums across the country receiving a share of almost £25 million to upgrade their buildings.

The Fund is part of the UK Government’s long-term plan to support local economies, allowing them to grow. It will support capital projects at museums, fund important repairs and improve the visitor experience, with funding awarded ranging from £50,000 to £5 million, to ensure local history has a home for years to come.

In the Midlands, more than £5 million has been awarded across four museums.

Wolverhampton Art Gallery has been awarded £1,695,758 to safeguard the building and its collections. The project will include restoring stonework, repairing the roof and chimneys and upgrading systems to enhance energy efficiency, sustainability and reliability.

Councillor Chris Burden, Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “We are delighted to receive this vital funding which will help safeguard Wolverhampton Art Gallery for future generations. This investment ensures the preservation of our historic building and collections while enhancing sustainability and energy efficiency.

“These improvements will allow us to continue to deliver free ground-breaking exhibitions, creative activities and cultural events in a welcoming and inspiring space for all our community and city visitors to enjoy.”

Peter Knott, Midlands Area Director at Arts Council England, said: “We want people across the Midlands and beyond to experience, enjoy, discover and learn from our fantastic regional museums and galleries. Through their history and collections, they can provide connection and help us to make sense of the world around us.

“We’re pleased to be supporting Wolverhampton Art Gallery to ensure the building is preserved and people can continue to access and be inspired by its iconic collections.”

Details of the recipients of the fourth round of MEND comes as part of a wider announcement from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport which includes news of further funding to come to support the cultural sector. 

Wolverhampton Art Gallery is open Monday to Saturday from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. For more information, please visit www.wolverhamptonart.org.uk