A funding application for £585,000 is being made to the Arts Council to upgrade the Harris’ special exhibition galleries. 

Preston City Council is applying for the grant as part of Harris Your Place, the project to transform the Grade I listed building into an innovative community-centred cultural hub at the heart of the city.

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The application is being made to the Arts Council’s recently launched Capital Investment Programme. The fund is an open access programme to help cultural organisations operate safely post-pandemic.

The money would pay for the Harris’ special exhibition galleries to be upgraded to Government Indemnity Standard, through the purchase of new blinds, exhibition lighting, signage, heating and ventilation.

The work would allow the Harris to host larger scale and more complex exhibitions, including loans from major galleries and museums.

Read more: Harris refurb project sees Preston City Council appoint contractors

Approval to submit the grant funding application was given at a Council meeting on Thursday 9 December.

It was also agreed that £28,637.50 + VAT would be spent on the designs needed for the application.

The Arts Council application follows recent approaches to Wolfson Foundation and Garfield Weston Foundation to cover the fit out works to the second-floor balcony, welcome area where the new lift arrives and the special collections gallery.

Meanwhile work is underway at the Harris using the original £10m funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Towns Fund.

Read more: Closure date for Preston’s Harris Museum confirmed ahead of major revamp

A decision on the Arts Council application is expected in April 2022.

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