Hackney Museum project receives Heritage Fund grant to improve important venue for future generations
Hackney Council has been awarded a £266,782 grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund to update Hackney Museum's permanent exhibition and improve how the history of the borough is reflected.
The ‘Reimagining Hackney Museum: Connecting Communities with Collections’ project aims to create a new permanent display at the museum, updating the stories it tells of migration and settlement from prehistory to modern day, for all visitors to enjoy and engage with.
The grant will also fund a digital programme to allow more people to access Hackney’s rich histories. A redeveloped community room is planned along with an improved shop.
The upgrades will enable Hackney Museum to enhance its support for local schools, community groups, families and young people and help the museum to continue to offer residents access to fantastic temporary exhibitions, educational and engagement programmes. The proposed changes also aim to reduce the environmental impact of the museum and create additional storage facilities for objects which represent the everyday lives of people in the borough for future generations.
Since being established in 1986, Hackney Museum has used its collections to create a trusted space to engage and empower local communities to tell their stories, share their concerns about local issues rooted in a historical context, and understand how their experiences fit alongside others. The collections represent the lives of people in the borough, many of whom have migrated from different parts of the world, and encourage under-represented voices to share their own stories and memories.
We’re delighted to receive this support thanks to National Lottery players, which will help to preserve and share the rich local histories at this valued Hackney museum and continue to reflect the experiences of residents past, present and future.
The reimagined Hackney Museum is expected to open in 2027.
Notes to editors
About Hackney Museum
Hackney Museum was created in 1986 by the council to reflect the experiences of local people, many of whom have migrated from different parts of the world.
The first Museum opened in 1987 in Hackney Central Hall, in what is today’s Picture House cinema. In 2002 the Museum moved to its current site which was purpose built for it as part of the council’s improvements in Hackney Central. The new Museum will open on the same site in the Technology & Learning Centre. The additional storage facilities will be at Dalston CLR James Library & Hackney Archives, shared with the Archives service.
For more information about Hackney Museum visit: www.hackney-museum.hackney.gov.uk
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, the fund inspires, leads and resources the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk
The ‘Reimagining Hackney Museum: Connecting Communities with Collections’ project has been granted round one development funding of £266,782 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Proposals will be considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at a second round, where a final decision will be made on the full funding award of £1.8m.