Arts Council England praises redevelopment of Potteries Museum & Art Gallery as 'wonderful opportunity'

Representatives from Arts Council England (ACE) have praised the redevelopment scheme taking place at The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (PMAG) after visiting the site.

Organised by Stoke-on-Trent City Council's director of Legal, Governance, Culture and Heritage, James Doble, the visit saw representatives from ACE's Capital team welcomed by staff from contractor Seddon.

The visitors were also given a behind-the-scenes tour of the work by Head of Museums, Ben Miller.

The project - supported by ACE through £5 million of investment from the Cultural Development Fund - includes the creation of a new corner entrance, a foyer café bar and retail space with an open terrace.

The city council said there will also be dedicated space for artists in residence and a range of improvements to visitor facilities.

One member of the ACE Capital team said: "It was fantastic to see the upgrade of this special venue taking shape, the positive working relationship between the contractor and museum teams, and to hear some of the stories and detail behind the project.

"The museum is incredibly valuable to arts and culture provision at both a city and regional level, can't wait to visit again when it re-opens!"

The project has received £5 million of investment from the Cultural Development Fund (image via Stoke-on-Trent City Council)

Download our Nub News App!

- It’s FREE and available now
- Breaking news notifications
- Your Town in Your Pocket

They also praised those involved for sharing insight into the project's development, design solutions and challenges, describing the scheme as "a wonderful opportunity for Hanley and Stoke".

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for finance, anti-poverty, governance and corporate service said: "This is one of the most significant cultural investments in the city for many years.

"It's fantastic to see the progress being made and the positive feedback from Arts Council England as this landmark project continues to take shape."

For more information about the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, visit the website here.