Work on a £5 million revamp of the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery will begin in December. 

Funded through Arts Council England, the plans show the renovation will deliver improvements to the museum's exterior, main entrance and visitor facilities.

The museum will close on 7 December until March 2026 but the theatre, cafe, foyer and toilets will remain open until 20 December to allow for Christmas events to continue. The museum will fully reopen while construction work continues throughout 2026.

Cllr Jane Ashworth, leader of the city council, said: "This exciting next phase will create a striking new entrance, improved spaces and facilities, and new opportunities for artists and the public to connect.

"It's an investment that will secure the museum's place as a cultural highlight for generations to come."

Plans include a new main corner entrance with full-height glazing, creating a stronger connection with Bethesda Street and Broad Street.

The work to improve access to the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent is due to be complete in 2026. (Planning Application)

The ground floor level will see a new café and shopping experience with an open terrace alongside space allocated to artists in residence.  

The funding has also created a brand-new reading room for the archive service and an upgraded teaching and learning space. 

The council has also expressed interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for separate plans to redevelop the ground floor galleries and temporary exhibition spaces.

During the closure, Gladstone Pottery Museum will once again open during its usual winter closure. 

This will be the second consecutive year Gladstone has opened outside its normal schedule, following additional openings for the city's centenary celebrations.