Another major funding success for the Museum

Another major funding success for the Museum

We’re delighted to share that the Museum has secured £454,159 from the Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND), delivered by Arts Council England, to carry out essential repairs to five historic buildings across the site

This is fantastic news for the organisation – and comes just after the success of our recent DCMS/Wolfson funding announcement, reinforcing the strength of our programme and the confidence being placed in the Museum at a national level.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: “The Black Country Living Museum is an iconic place where local history comes alive for visitors from all backgrounds. Famous as a filming location for Peaky Blinders, it draws people from across the country and beyond. This £454,159 investment will protect five at-risk historic buildings, ensuring this iconic space remains safe and open for everyone to enjoy. Places like this are irreplaceable. They tell the story of our communities and the people who built them, and this government is committed to ensuring venues like this can continue to share our national story at a local level for future generations to come.”

What this funding will support

The investment will fund vital roof and structural works to ensure key buildings across the site remain safe, accessible and fit for purpose.

The five buildings included in this project are:

• Trap Works
• Rolfe Street Learning & Conference Centre
• The Drift Mine
• Collections Centre
• Bradburn & Wedge Motor Garage

These are the spaces that underpin so much of what we do – from immersive visitor experiences and learning programmes to collections care and behind-the-scenes operations.

Why it matters

This funding is a significant vote of confidence in the Museum – recognising both the importance of our collection and the impact of our work in championing the Black Country and its communities.

It ensures we can continue to:

• Care for our buildings and collections
• Support our teams and volunteers
• Deliver high-quality experiences for visitors
• Build for the future with confidence

A big thank you

A huge thank you to everyone involved in developing the bid and supporting this work.

This is a shared success across the Museum – and another important step in securing our future.