Bradford museum’s future looks safer following funding deal

The future of the National Media Museum in Bradford looked much more secure today after a package of funding worth £2m funding was agreed to help bolster its funds.
Bradford's National Media MuseumBradford's National Media Museum
Bradford's National Media Museum

Following a meeting of its executive board, Bradford Council approved £1m of revenue funding over the next three years for the museum, which battled the threat of closure last year due to funding cuts.

Alongside the revenue funding from the Council, the Museum will also receive a £1m capital injection from the Science Museum Group to which it belongs.

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The museum also announced that it would move out of Princes House and the move towards a commercial cinema partnership.

A spokesman for the city centre museum said: “Our aim is to create an inspiring interactives gallery that engages young people in the science of light and sound – similar to the world-famous Launchpad facility at the Science Museum in London. The details of exactly what will be in the gallery and when it will open are in the process of being developed.

“This investment will dramatically extend the work of our education team to support learning experiences related to science, engineering, technology and maths (STEM) – whilst retaining our long-established commitment to the artistic and cultural aspects of the still and moving image.

“Investment in the Museum sits alongside our ongoing efforts to reduce our costs to address the significant annual revenue shortfall we face.

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Museum Director, Jo Quinton Tulloch said: “The investments announced today are a significant milestone in the strategic ambitions of this Museum: they will help us to be fully engaged with our local audiences with strong educational offers that meet the needs for schools and communities in Bradford and the region; they will help us to drive up our attendances, and increase our profile nationally and internationally; crucially, they also contribute to a sustainable financial future for the Museum here in Bradford.”