MANCHESTER MUSEUM ANNOUNCE MULTIMILLION EXPANSION PLANS

Manchester Museum have submitted plans to expand and upgrade their venue by adding two new galleries and a new main entrance.

The cultural attraction, which forms part of the University of Manchester making it the largest university museum in the UK, is made up of a series of adjacent listed buildings along Oxford Road.

If approved, the new galleries will be built at the current courtyard and will span a total of 8220sq ft combined. The first floor of the gallery will house a permanent exhibition on South Asia partnered with the British Museum, whereas the ground floor space will be changed periodically to aid the venue in hosting larger exhibitions with an international appeal.

Bridgeford Street has been chosen to house the revamped main entrance, which will be more visible to passers-by travelling through Oxford Road. The new entrance also hopes to double as a gallery with the aim of starting the visitor experience the moment guests step into the building.

Purcell’s access statement stated: "The proposed new galleries must satisfy the needs of a diverse, general interest audience, including nearly 30,000 primary school students who visit each year. The museum has a diverse local audience and is committed to engaging people of a wide range of abilities, backgrounds and interests with its displays and programmes.”

"The museum is one of the key visitor attractions of the University of Manchester, connecting visitors with cutting-edge research in exhibitions and events.”

"The project intends to broaden the reach of the museum, attracting visitors who do not currently visit by showing high-class exhibitions and staging fantastic events in new flexible galleries, in keeping with the aspirations of the museum."

Source: Insider Media