News

New Collection Store

AIM Arts Scholars Brighter Day Grant Scheme has enabled Elizabeth Gaskell’s House to create a fit for purpose reserves collection store, that is secure, accessible and will adequately protect collection items in the storage for many years to come.

When the House opened to the public in 2014 following extensive restoration work, work was focused primarily on public areas of the House and there was minimal consideration at the time for formal collection storage. Since opening, the House has been transformed into a thriving visitor attraction and is now in the process of making a formal application for Arts Council England UK Museum Accreditation.

Thanks to this funding there is now a secure and accessible collection store in the attic area of the House with shelving, appropriate packing materials, suitable storage solutions, and emergency disaster equipment to protect the store. Staff have also received wide-ranging training to help the organisation to care and manage its collection.

Katy Ellis, Volunteer & Collections Manager:

‘The reserve collection is diverse in type and important to the House as a rich resource for temporary exhibitions and for research and education use, so it was vital a suitable space was created for the collection, which this grant has enabled.’

Before and after photographs of the collection store.

This project was supported by a grant from the AIM and Arts Scholars Charitable Trust Brighter Day scheme.