Cash injection will help protect local collections at Lancaster City Museum

Lancaster City Council’s museums are to benefit from a £94,056 cash injection which will help to protect local collections.

The money was awarded by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports as part of the Arts Council’s Museum Estate and Development (MEND) fund – a £1.5 billion package to support cultural infrastructure projects.

The museums are among the 17 cultural venues, museums and libraries to be handed funding which will ensure that everyone can access arts and culture, help open up access to facilities, or complete much needed building projects and upgrade technology on site.

The cash boost will be used to make repairs to the area of Lancaster City Museum -  which houses the fossils and information on Sir Richard Owen, just before the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum - after leaks caused part of the ceiling in the gallery to collapse last year.

Councillor Sam Riches, Lancaster City Council’s member with responsibility for museums, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be awarded money from the MEND Fund, which will enable us to continue to give people access to the King’s Own Museum, as well as helping us to protect the museum collections.

“This vital funding will be used to repair the damage caused by leaks that affected the small gallery that visitors pass through to reach the King’s Own Royal Regiment Museum, where the John of Gaunt stained glass window is located. The leaks caused part of the ceiling in this gallery to collapse last year, meaning that there was no public access to the King’s Own Museum for around three weeks.”

The MEND fund has allocated a share of just under £5 million to support seven local museums across the North West to undertake vital infrastructure works, and improve the visitor experience.

Work at the City Museum is expected to be completed by summer 2027.

Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy said: “I want everyone, everywhere to feel a sense of pride about where they come from. Cultural organisations across the North West are important custodians of local identity and play a key role in the story we tell ourselves as a nation.

"Our Arts Everywhere Fund is delivering on our commitment to support cultural assets across the country, increasing access and preserving them for future generations. This is demonstrated by grants announced today that will benefit seventeen culture venues, museums, and library services across the North West.

“Arts and culture are the beating hearts of our communities, they have the power to unite us in the face of division and break down barriers to opportunity. We want to harness the power to help us build a brighter future for the people of the North West.”

Rebecca Ball, Area Director, North, Arts Council England said: “Our museums, libraries and arts organisations have the power to change lives, they give us access to new worlds, teach us about our heritage and give us new perspectives on life. I’m so pleased that we’ll be supporting so many of our cultural organisations in the North with this capital investment, which will ensure that they can continue to deliver incredible arts and culture to their communities.”

 

Last updated: 14 April 2026