Lockdown forces museum to shut until ‘at least’ Spring 2021

A Worcestershire tourist attraction has closed until at least spring next year due to the new lockdown.

Avoncroft Museum said that following the announcement of a second national lockdown the trustees made the “unprecedented and difficult decision” to close its doors to visitors until Spring 2021 at the earliest.

The museum’s trustees said: “2020 has been without doubt a terrible year for the charity that runs the museum and relies on paying guests to survive.

“The first compulsory lockdown closure from March to July saw many of the museums popular events cancelled and school holidays missed whilst still having to pay its bills.

“Since June these bills have been paid by a generous grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, philanthropic donation and a public fundraising drive. This money also allowed the museum to safely reopen on limited hours.

“A further grant from the DCMS Cultural Recovery Fund will allow these core costs to be covered until the end of March 2021.”

The announcement of the second lockdown resulted in an emergency meeting of trustees where it was decided that the museum needed to enter a care and maintenance situation until it is safe to reopen again.

This includes the cancellation of all Christmas events.

Anyone with an outstanding ticket for any activity at the museum will be contacted in due course.