New space at The Harris to celebrate diversity and identity

The Harris First Floor Balcony, Planning and design by Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

The Harris Museum has unveiled a new space with the aim to celebrate diversity and identity.

The newly imagined first floor balcony is an area designed with a purpose to ‘immerse visitors in a blend of library services, art and museum collections’.

Central to the vision of the balcony will be a display of portraits, sculptures and historical artefacts which will look into the themes of identity and belonging.

The new space will start with an exhibition spotlighting Preston’s Caribbean community. More exhibitions planned include commemorating the city’s footballing history and portraits celebrating Prestonians.

Scheduled to reopen in 2025, The Harris is committed to developing its collections to tell more diverse stories and encourage conversations about people’s sense of identity.

The plans are part of the £16 million Harris Your Place project, aiming to restore and reimagine the museum for 21st-century audiences as a community, cultural and learning space.

Councillor Peter Kelly, cabinet member for culture and leisure services at Preston City Council said: “Our goal at The Harris is to cultivate a strong sense of identity and belonging.

“We believe that by showcasing diverse artwork and stories, visitors will be able to connect with others through shared experiences and find elements of themselves or their history within our collections and exhibitions.

“The First Floor Balcony is a testament to our commitment to creating a space that celebrates the richness and diversity of Preston.”

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