The Siege Museum (ABoD) and the Museum of Free Derry (BST) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Siege Museum (ABoD) and the Museum of Free Derry (BST) Presentation Business and Culture Committee 10 th May 2016

Introduction • Ongoing partnership between ABoD and BST (Western Perspective Project) • Promotion of the respective museums as beacons for education, respect and mutual understanding • New Siege Museum opened to the public in October 2015 • New Museum of Free Derry will open in October 2016 • £6m of external capital funding brought in to the city • A need to source additional revenue funding to support the core operation of the two museums • Joint business case developed to support the case for revenue investment by DCSDC and other funders

Apprentice Boys Siege Museum

Image of the new Museum of Free Derry

Fit with Council Strategies • Tourism and economic development strategies • Employment opportunities • Training opportunities for the unemployed • Centre of excellence for the arts culture and heritage • Making Derry and Strabane the primary destination for Making Derry and Strabane the primary destination for heritage and cultural experiences on the island of Ireland • Better community relations - bringing people and organisations together • Key focus on schools and young people from all across Ireland – mutual understanding

Existing Council Support • Council has provided important project management support towards the capital builds • Capital contribution to the MoFD • Council already providing revenue support to each organisation of £20k per annum • Heritage and Museums Service are formal curatorial advisers • Council’s Business and Culture department also provide ongoing advice on operational issues

Need for Revenue Investment • The new museums will provide significantly enhanced and unique tourism assets for the city and the council area • Anticipated visitors in year one of 30,000 people growing to 45,000 by year three of operation growing to 45,000 by year three of operation • Visitors from all over the world • Strong desire to promote the two museums jointly to a worldwide audience • However, increased visitor numbers reliant on additional revenue investment

Need for Revenue Investment • Additional revenue investment required to support staffing costs, marketing and other overheads • Business case identifies a shortfall of £20k per project per annum (£40k per annum in total) • Also a need to provide ‘in kind’ museum technician support • Bids are being made to other funders to close the gap in funding for core operating costs (OFMDFM Urban Villages)

Summary of Request to Council • Strong desire by BST and ABoD to continue to work together to promote the museums and the council area to tourists, schools and other visitors • Request to Council to fund the current shortfall of £40k (£20k per annum for each organisation) • Other funding bids may result in this request being reduced • Request to Council to provide ‘in kind’ museum technician support • The BST and ABoD intend to expand operations in the future to undertake further education and peace and reconciliation work (Peace IV bid)