Kirklees Council invites your views on how we should display Huddersfield’s remarkable stories of past and present to inspire the future.
The council is asking people what they would like to see in a new museum and art gallery for Huddersfield in a new survey available from 28 October until Monday 7 December 2020.
A new museum and gallery will be a major part of the town’s regeneration, as set out in the Huddersfield Blueprint published last year. This new museum offer will be in addition to and complement the recently announced plans for a National Rugby League Museum in the George Hotel.
The new museum and gallery’s exact location is yet to be decided but it will be part of the town’s Cultural Heart area.
In order to start planning, the council is inviting everyone to share their views on what would encourage them to visit. The council would like to hear from regular museum visitors and people who have never been to a local museum before. The survey is part of a wider public engagement programme being carried out by the council’s museums and galleries team, working with specialist museum consultants.
This public engagement is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Resilient Heritage programme and is part of the Bringing out the Best project, which is developing long-term strategic plans for heritage across Kirklees, including Oakwell Hall, Bagshaw Museum and the existing Huddersfield Art Gallery and Tolson Museum.
Cllr Rob Walker, Cabinet Member for Culture said:
“Museums tell the story of us through both every day and more unusual objects. They provide a unique insight into how much towns and communities like ours have changed over time. We want to create museums that are fit for now and the future, which embrace new technology and reflects the diverse nature of our towns and its communities. We want to create places that people keep coming back to and that we can be proud of.
We are very grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose support is helping us to work towards the development of a holistic strategy for heritage across Kirklees.”
David Renwick, Director, England, North at the National Lottery Heritage Fund said:
“Here at The National Lottery Heritage Fund we understand the importance of listening to communities to find out what heritage means to them and how it should best be reflected in our museums, collections and other heritage activities. We’re really pleased to support Kirklees Council’s ‘Bringing Out the Best’ project and ensuring it does just that for the people of Huddersfield. It’s fantastic news that these public surveys will ensure that Huddersfield’s rich heritage can play its rightful part in the town’s place making renaissance, and we’re proud to be investing in that too.”
The questions being asked cover the following themes:
• What would encourage you to visit a new museum and gallery?
• What stories from our history, heritage and culture should be told?
• What facilities would make it a fantastic place to visit?
• What is special about Huddersfield and how can we show the world who we are?
You can fill in the online survey here at www.kirklees.gov.uk/mandg
If you’d like a survey sent to you by post, or require large print, braille or audio versions, phone 01484 223210.
You can pick up the survey from:
Tolson Museum, Huddersfield
Open: Saturday & Sunday 12 noon to 4pm
Kirklees Half term open: Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 October 11am to 4pm
Bagshaw Museum, Batley
Open: Until 31 October – Saturday & Sunday 12 noon to 5pm
Kirklees Half term open: Tuesday 27 to Thursday 29 October 11am to 5pm
From 1 November – Saturday & Sunday 12 noon to 4pm
Oakwell Hall & Country Park Shop, Birstall
Open: Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 3pm
West Yorkshire Print Workshop, Unit 2, The Piazza, Huddersfield
Open: Until 31 October – Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 4pm
and from 14 November – Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 11am to 4pm
Closed: 1 to 13 November
The survey will take around 10 – 12 minutes to complete. The results will be analysed and the findings published in the early part of 2021.