A new expanded museum for Spalding is in the pipeline.
The Spalding Gentlemen’s Society has purchased the business centre that sits next to its dilapidated Broad Street home.
It’s initially done that to allow £2.2m of renovations to the building where it’s been based since 1911.
It’s applied for 90 per cent of that through Art Council funding but will have to fundraise the rest.
But it’s also looking long term to expand and open a full museum with educational and research centre.
It has been awarded a grant of £48,120 to help provide a masterplan for a new expanded museum and find out how much it would cost.
“This is the first phase of our long-term plan and the start of an enormous fundraising project,” said SGS president Petronella Keeling, of the initial £2.2m renovation which required the purchase of the business centre just to get to parts of its existing building that need renovations.
“In the longer term this additional site gives SGS an fantastic opportunity to create a fully open public facing museum with an educational and research centre, a facility to fulfil the aims of and be a new home to the society, alongside the 1911 building so loved by all.
“There will no doubt be some disappointing times when the grants applications are unsuccessful, but if at first, we don’t succeed we will try, try and try again.
“We will also be starting a campaign of fundraising events, beginning with a book fair in the Business Centre on October 6 and 7.
“If we are successful with the Museum and Estate Development Fund (MEND) administered by Arts Council England application, we plan to keep the Broad Street Museum open until September 2024 and then close completely, re-opening autumn/winter 2026.
“We will be continuing our winter lectures in Broad Street Methodist Church throughout this time, as well as many of our other outreach activities.
“Our conservation and digitisation facility will remain open and our volunteers, members and researchers will be able to continue all their current activities, just spread over more venues.
“We look at this time of change as a great opportunity to showcase our huge collection and our activities to more people.”
