What is changing
Plans are in place to transform Poole Museum creating a major cultural quayside heritage attraction for tourists and local people. Poole Museum’s important historic buildings will be conserved and opened-up for more people to enjoy, more of the time. We will create three brand new maritime displays with the community - volunteers, local people and visitors will all contribute to and become part of a shared history of Poole.
Plans will improve the visitor experience as well as revitalising the Lower High Street and Quay, increasing visitors to museum and local area. With the support of funders and the public we can transform the Museum to a regional scale attraction at the heart of a rejuvenated, vibrant, cultural ‘Quay Quarter’.
Project aims
- Transform the visitor journey, improving inclusivity, welcome, and accessibility: doubling public spaces; providing new and updated visitor facilities; and increasing public access to underutilised heritage assets
- Conserve, restore, and open-up the at-risk Grade I listed Wool Hall – revealing and interpreting one of Europe’s most significant medieval buildings for the public
- Create three major new public galleries showcasing our internationally significant Maritime collections. Content will be co-created with communities to rediscover Poole’s Maritime Heritage through new interpretative displays, connecting with under-served audiences
- Transform the Museum into a thriving cultural space and community hub, with enhanced opportunities for people to learn, play, gain skills, improve wellbeing and bolster social connections
Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
We are pleased to have been awarded an initial grant of £352,000 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF) to develop future plans for our museum. This funding allowed us to carry out creative consultation and collaboration with wide range of visitors, residents, partners and community groups, as well as enabling us to work with a team of professional architects and exhibition designers.
We have spoken to visitors, stakeholders and community organisation through a wide range of activity. This included an interactive Project Lab based at the museum, Gallery Shakeups! stakeholder interviews, live student projects, access audits, focus groups and the set-up of an Inclusive Reference Group.
Everything we have learnt from you has helped shape the new designs for the new Museum.
