Lottery millions for Capital City

21 July 2005

At a time of triumph and tragedy, London affirmed its status as a world capital. It is the extraordinary spirit of London and Londoners, drawn from the myriad cultures, races and nations that thrive here, that the Museum of London will celebrate in its ambitious Capital City project, which has been awarded £10.6 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) today.

Taking the pulse of life in the city, the project reflects the vibrant buzz and unflagging energy of London as a multicultural community. The Museum, one of the finest urban history museums in the world, will bring its London stories right up to date and reflect the huge contribution people from all over the world have made to the city’s ongoing vitality.

Its new displays will involve Londoners both rich and poor – those born here, working here, who have moved here: all who think of London as their city.

With its grant of £10.6 million, HLF has given the Museum’s Capital City project a flying start. The £18 million plan will completely transform the Museum’s lower floor galleries, with new displays offering a fresh approach to engaging visitors with the voices of the city.

Completed in good time for the 2012 Olympics, the project will create world-class galleries that visitors will find as diverse and stimulating as London itself. It will chronicle the story of London from the Great Fire of 1666 to the present – a period when the city emerged as the first great world metropolis and developed into the dynamic and diverse city that we know today.

Floella Benjamin OBE, broadcaster, writer and Museum supporter, says: ‘It will equip the Museum for the 21st century, making it an inspiring and exciting place for people of all ages and backgrounds. London is an amazing city and deserves an amazing museum to tell its story.’

The scheme will also see the development of a new Clore Learning Centre, providing flexible and inspiring spaces for learners of all ages, and including an e-learning suite, object handling areas and a state-of-the-art theatre. The creation of the Centre reflects the Museum’s commitment to placing learning at the very heart of the project.

Jack Lohman, the Museum’s director says: ‘It is tremendously exciting that HLF has supported our Capital City project, which is rather different in that it is about Londoners’ stories and displaying more of our collections rather than an ambitious building scheme.

The project will see this museum take a lead in promoting empathy and understanding between Londoners of different generations and cultural backgrounds. Visitors have repeatedly told us they want to contribute to London’s story and this will give them just that opportunity.’

Liz Forgan, chair of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said: ‘London is a true world city and its rich heritage will play an important role in the cultural programme that will support the Olympic Games; this investment in the city’s hugely popular museum will help guarantee that visitors will be offered the finest museum experience as part of their Olympic visits.’

Museum of London has a unique collection of over two million items, ranging from archaeology and photography, to oral histories and iconic objects like the 1948 Olympic torch. The new scheme will mean double the number of objects will be put on display and all will be accessible online.

The magnificent Lord Mayor’s coach will gain a new visibility for passers-by, in a special glass-fronted gallery looking out onto the street, and the important and evocative collections from the 20th century will get the setting they deserve. There will also be family-friendly areas; an enhancement to the popular Victorian Walk; a space where Londoners can mount their own exhibitions; and a new coffee shop and information zone.

Dan Cruikshank, television presenter, shared in the excitement of the refurbishment: ‘London’s an incredible city – the world’s first great metropolis. The Museum of London’s vision for family-friendly galleries will encourage all ages to discover how people from across the world have shaped this ever-changing city.’

Editor's notes

• Museum of London, which opened in 1976, attracted around 450,000 visitors in 2004/05
• Admission is free
• Total project costs are around £18 million, £1.25 million has already been raised from The Clore Duffield Foundation and British Telecommunications and further funding is being sought
• The project includes a small expansion of floor space (5%), but will see an increase of 25% of display and learning areas, maximising the use made of public areas
• Wilkinson Eyre Architects has been appointed architects for Capital City. The Museum worked with Wilkinson Eyre on its last capital project creating a new entrance and special exhibition gallery that opened in 2002
• The Museum will use in-house expertise for the 3D exhibition and display design
• The work will be completed by 2009. There are no plans to close the Museum during the refurbishment work.

Museum of London
150 London Wall
London EC2Y 5HN

tel: 0870 444 3851
web: www.museumoflondon.org.uk

Press information and images:

Jo Fells
Museum of London
tel: 020 7814 5667 or 020 7814 5607
mob: 07977 226 187
email: jfells@museumoflondon.org.uk

Katie Owen
Heritage Lottery Fund
tel: 020 7591 6036
mob:07973 613 820
email: katieo@hlf.org.uk