Image: The redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum is one of the ‘Plan for Change’ backed projects (FCBStudios)
Funding to major museum projects previously under threat of cuts are reinstated under a new programme
The Government has recommitted funding to major cultural projects it had previously warned might be scrapped.
The last Conservative government’s Levelling Up scheme had named six major cultural projects set to be ‘levelled up’ with multimillion sums.
Projects were backed at The National Railway Museum, National Museums Liverpool, Leeds’ Poetry Centre, British Library North,Victoria and Albert Museum Dundee, Venue Cymru and Leeds’ Poetry Centre.
Labour’s first budget last Autumn warned that it was “minded to withdraw funding” from the projects because of a “need to make savings”.
Last week, two local politicians in York had urged the government to reconsider its budget cutting plans, which were set to affect the redevelopment of the city’s National Railway Museum.
While the V&A Dundee confirmed late last year that its funding had been withdrawn, a decision on the remaining venues had yet to be announced until today.
York leaders urge recommitment to £15m National Railway Museum funding
Now the government has said that the committed spending will still go ahead, under its new ‘Plan for Change’ banner, which will include the £2.6m committed to V&A Dundee.
It also includes the formerly committed £15m for the National Railway Museum in York, £10m for the British Library North in Leeds and £5m for the National Poetry Centre, also in Leeds.
A further £10m has been committed to the International Slavery Museum and the Maritime Museum in Liverpool.
£10m for the British Library North will be spent revamping its new Temple Works site, and £5m has been recommitted to the National Poetry Centre to renovate a redundant Grade II listed building to create a national headquarters for poetry.
Last week @AngelaRayner visited the National Railway Museum in York, one of the projects that will receive funding, announced today, for major cultural projects.
Our Plan for Change promises growth for every region and these projects will ignite growth in their communities. pic.twitter.com/v4NB1fHyQe
— Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Gov (@mhclg) February 17, 2025
In Wales, £10m has been committed for Venue Cymru in Conwy, the largest Welsh arts centre outside Cardiff, and £5 million has been committed for Newport Transporter Bridge, which will fund repair and maintenance.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Through investing in these critical cultural projects we can empower both local leaders and people to really tap into their potential and celebrate everything their home town has to offer. This means more tourism, more growth and more money in people’s pockets.”
