A £19,000 grant will be used to boost the public's access to one of the largest collections of railway memorabilia outside of the National Railway Museum in York - and it just so happens to be based in Kidderminster.
Kidderminster Railway Museum is one of 2,700 recipients across the country to benefit from the latest round of awards from the government's Culture Recovery Fund to help organisations recover from the Covid pandemic.
The £19,025 funding boost will be spent on improving public access both physically and virtually to the museum, which is based in a warehouse adjacent to the Severn Valley Railway, by extending the existing building, providing lift facilities and improving its online offering by launching virtual tours of its collections.
David Postle, project director of Kidderminster Railway Museum, said: “Although the lockdown periods of the last 12 months have been difficult, some of that time was well spent in reorganising the displays and improving the way in which the collections can be accessed.
"We are looking forward to being able to welcome visitors back to the museum once we are able to reopen, and with the help of this grant, we will continue to develop and improve the facilities we can provide in making our collections more easily accessible and to a much wider audience.”
The museum incorporates all aspects of the history of railways, from station signs, engine nameplates, office equipment, rolling stock to operational signalling equipment and a fully working signal box to name a few.
In addition, there is a large archive of paperwork and photographs which is made available to publishers and researchers.
Museums, cinemas, performance venues, heritage sites and other cultural organisations across the country have been hit by months of closures and cancellations to contain the Covid-19 virus and save lives. This funding will be a much-needed helping hand for organisations transitioning back to normal in the months ahead.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “Our record breaking Culture Recovery Fund has already helped thousands of culture and heritage organisations across the country survive the biggest crisis they've ever faced.
"Now we’re staying by their side as they prepare to welcome the public back through their doors - helping our cultural gems plan for reopening and thrive in the better times ahead."
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