Black Country Living Museum receives additional funding boost from the West Midlands Combined Authority toward their brand-new capital development, BCLM: Forging Ahead
Following the successful application for an additional funding boost, the development is well underway. The Museum is looking to open the first of the historic buildings this summer, a replica of the Elephant and Castle pub from Wolverhampton, as well as its brand-new Visitor Centre.
The project has been made successful by the contributions toward its £30m budget from a variety of major funders, with significant investment from the Department of Culture Media and Sport’s Capital Kickstart Fund via the Culture Recovery Fund, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership, Arts Council England, and the West Midlands Combined Authority, as well as from several other supporters and generous donors.
This recent additional funding boost allows for the Museum to complete additional ground clearance works alongside the continuing development works. The investment comes via the WCMA’s funding plan which is committing devolved housing and land investment, to fund the clean-up.
Andrew Lovett, chief executive officer at Black Country Living Museum, said: “Forging Ahead is now more important than ever to the future of the Museum and our region. It provides added momentum to thrive once again for our community following the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic.
“The modern Black Country, with its rich global connections and diversity of people is the enduring legacy of the 1940s-60s. It is a legacy to be proud of. Forging Ahead provides a new stage upon which we can share new stories and celebrate the contribution of everyone who came to call the Black Country home during this period of history.
“I believe this vision is the will of the people we serve. We’re hugely grateful for the WMCA’s support and investment at a critical stage in our project.”
Cllr Mike Bird, WMCA portfolio holder for housing and land and leader of Walsall Council, said: “Supporting the museum in this way would yet again show how the WMCA is using the money it has secured from government to open up brownfield sites to recharge our industrial history, build new homes, grow our business and tourism sector and protect our green belt from unnecessary development.”
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