Banes Council 'still committed' to Fashion Museum despite funding fail
The authority wants to reopen the museum in Bath's Old Post Office building
Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) Council says its still committed to reopening Bath's Fashion Museum despite missing out on funding to help from the government.
Yesterday (January 19) Downing Street announced where it's dishing out more than £2 billion nationwide for so called "Levelling Up", but Bath isn't on the list.
The council had been hoping to secure £20 million from the pot to help reopen the museum in the city centre's Old Post Office, which it says will cost £37 million in total.
Kevin Guy, leader of the council said: “Whilst this is disappointing news from the government, the process of working up the Levelling Up Fund bid has demonstrated the benefits of this project to our local economy and to our communities.
"We are convinced that it will deliver a hugely positive impact on the local visitor economy and increase cultural participation and skills-based opportunities amongst some of our most deprived communities."
Before closing last October, the Fashion Museum had a home in Bath's Assembly Rooms for 60 years.
It is now closed while a new home for it is found, with the council saying it hopes to reopen it in either 2027, or 2028.
Councillor Guy says the success of Bath's other tourist attractions means he is confident they will be able to create the same with the new Fashion Museum.
The relocation of the Fashion Museum to the Old Post Office forms part of the council’s Milsom Quarter Masterplan, a 20-year vision to transform this area of Bath into a fashion destination for the South West.
The council says it hopes the plan will attract creative industries to the area, boost the visitor economy and provide 180 new homes.
As part of the project, the Fashion Museum is partnering with Bath Spa University to create a Fashion Collection Archive in Locksbrook, to the west of the city centre.
This will provide a home for the Fashion Museum’s extensive collection and will be accessible to the public through special events and study sessions.
The intention is for the Fashion Collection Archive to open in the next three to five years.
To find out more about the Fashion Museum's relocation click here.
Meanwhile, there's more about the Milsom Quarter Masterplan here.