Manchester Museum, part of the University of Manchester, has set its reopening date for February 2023. The institution has confirmed that construction work is underway, with the two-storey extension built.
Manchester Museum closed to the public in August 2021 in order to carry out the final phase of its £15 million ‘Hello Future’ transformation project. New spaces including the exhibition hall and South Asia Gallery have already been created.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our visitors and communities for their patience while we undergo this huge transformation, and we can’t wait to reopen our doors in 2023,” said Manchester Museum’s director Esme Ward (via Manchester Evening News).
“Despite the challenges we have faced during the pandemic, our team and partners have never lost faith in our vision for a reimagined Manchester Museum that is more caring, inclusive and imaginative.”
Manchester Museum reopens in February 2023
When it reopens next year, Manchester Museum will also feature the Belonging Gallery and the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery. In addition, there will be a new shop and cafe.
The South Asia Gallery is the result of a partnership with the British Museum and will be the UK’s first-ever permanent exhibition space dedicated to exploring the stories and experiences of South Asian communities.
“‘Hello Future’ is a hugely important project that aims to build understanding between cultures and create a more sustainable world,” Ward said last year. “Once complete, visitors will experience exhibitions that tell new, powerful stories and engage with big ideas.”
Earlier this year, Manchester Museum launched the Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit, created as part of the ‘Roots & Branches’ project, in partnership with Museum Development North West (MDNW) and the Carbon Literacy Trust.
“Manchester Museum’s commitment to the natural world is central to our core purpose,” Ward said. “We are passionate about the role that museums can and should play – here in Manchester, and nationally – in addressing the climate emergency.”
Images: Manchester Museum
