Art gallery appoints designers to £18m redevelopment
Hereford’s Museum and Art Gallery redevelopment has reached another milestone with the appointment of Mather & Co as the gallery designers.
The redevelopment includes new galleries and display spaces, a temporary exhibition space, the restoration of the historic Woolhope Club Room and new commercial areas including a retail space, a roof-top café and events and education space. A viewing beacon and roof terrace will be accessible from the fifth-floor courtyard space providing 360-degree views over the city and surrounding Herefordshire landscape.
£5m has been provided from the Stronger Towns Fund, £8m from Herefordshire Council and £5m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Herefordshire Council has enlisted Mather & Co, a design consultancy with experience in museums and visitor attractions, to help create an engaging visitor experience.
Work by Mather & Co includes Belgian Beer World, Silverstone Museum, The Olympic Museum, Downton Abbey: The Exhibition and The Royal Mint Experience.
Cllr Harry Bramer, cabinet member of community services assets, said: “We’re excited to have Mather & Co. on board for this ambitious project. Their exceptional track record in designing immersive and thought-provoking museums will help us create a truly unique and captivating experience for our visitors. Together, we look forward to crafting a space that celebrates Herefordshire’s heritage, arts and culture and inspire generations to come.”
Leanne Clydesdale, content manager at Mather & Co said: “Mather & Co are delighted to be working with Herefordshire Council on this prestigious redevelopment. We are excited to build on the existing work already undertaken, working alongside the people of Hereford to shape their museum for the future. The unique heritage and history of the region will be brought out through a closer co-development with audiences, working with stories and collections to create a strong sense of pride and ownership. We’re looking forward to starting on this next phase in what will be a flagship project for everyone.”
