Fresh perspective welcomed at Museum of Wigan Life

A new project aimed at encouraging young people to engage with heritage and create new online content for the Museum of Wigan Life is set to become a reality thanks to a successful funding award from Art Fund’s Reimagine grants programme.

Working with partners Everything Human Rights and their Global Friends youth group, and digital art specialists FACT Liverpool, 'New Perspectives' will encourage young people who haven’t previously engaged with arts and culture to reinterpret objects displayed at the Museum of Wigan Life.

Building on the museum’s 'What's in Store exhibition' that showcases the borough’s collections, young people from a range of backgrounds will come together and work with digital artists to create new content in the museum and online that presents fresh responses to the objects.

This could be anything from an online exhibition to a short film or animation.

Councillor Chris Ready, cabinet member for communities at Wigan Council, said: “From boosting the local economy to inspiring future generations, museums are key to thriving communities across the country and we’re proud to invest so deeply in arts and culture here in Wigan Borough.

“I’m incredibly pleased to celebrate the Museum of Wigan Lifereceiving Art Fund Reimagine funding.

“It’s essential we keep supporting these spaces and that residents have a range of opportunities to engage with our borough history, especially young people and I’m so pleased that they are at the heart of this project.”

Art Fund has awarded £39,000 to Museum of Wigan Life from a £1 million programme aimed at supporting museums and galleries across the UK reliant on local authority funding.

This latest round of the Reimagine programme will support museums to reimagine their approach to partnership working.

Farai Nhakaniso, volunteer project coordinatorat Everything Human Rights,said: "We are very excited to be a part of this project and can’t wait to see what our young people come up with – I’m sure it will be enjoyed by people young and old across the borough!”                                                 

Launched in 2020, the Reimagine programme is designed to inspire creativity and increase stability and resilience in museums. It supports organisations to develop or refresh their work in response to their current situation.

Jenny Waldman, director at Art Fund, added: “We’re extremely pleased to offer £1 million in support to local-authority reliant museums and galleries across the UK through this latest round of Reimagine grants.

“The projects showcase the incredible value local museums have for communities and demonstrate their remarkable ambition, resilience and entrepreneurial spirit in the face of growing challenges."

Reimagine grants are funded by Art Fund and made possible with support from The Headley Trust, alongside other generous trusts and supporters of the Making Connections campaign.

Find out more about the Museum of Wigan Life.