Lottery funding bid to fully reopen Birmingham museum – BBC.com

Proposals to fully reopen Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) have been unveiled as the city council considers a bid for funding.

The museum in the city center is closed in 2020 for construction work and is reopened in stages this year, but most of its spaces are still unused.

In a report, Birmingham City Council said the work had shown a need for further refurbishment, with some areas considered to be in poor condition.

The report, which is due to be considered by cabinet members next week, suggests submitting a “stage one” bid to the National Lottery’s Heritage Fund for £9m to move towards a reopening project which is believed to that it will cost around £10 million in total.

The paper estimates that the BMAG will be fully open by 2030/31 if the funding application is successful, resulting in 42 galleries equipped with collections, an accessible interfaith room, a quiet area for neurological visitors and major refurbishments .

The result of the application will be known by April 2026 and will then have to be followed by a second stage bidding, according to the report.

The report explains that the rewiring work at the museum revealed new problems, such as dilapidated walls, ceilings and floors.

“The storage of the collections and the facilities used by staff and volunteers are in an even worse condition,” it said.

The report also said the temporary closure of BMAG was a financial strain on the council as it had a “detrimental impact” on Birmingham Museums Trust’s (BMT) ability to generate the income that helped make the museum service sustainable.

“BMT have submitted compensation claims for this loss for the last three financial years,” the document said, adding that a new claim would be made this financial year.

The proposals are due to be considered by council members on November 12.

Museum spaces that reopened this year include The Round Room gallery, which displays art from almost 150 years.

The museum too partially opened in 2022 for the Commonwealth Games.