Hull Museums is delighted to announce a major £3.3m investment from Arts Council England (ACE) through its National Portfolio Programme to support and expand the work of the Humber Museums Partnership.

The funding will enable the three museum services of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire to continue working together to bring outstanding creative and cultural opportunities to the Humber region.

Arts Council received a total of 1,730 applications, requesting just over £2 billion over the three-year investment period. This record-breaking number of applications was more than double the number of organisations previously funded, making this the most popular investment round to date. In support of the government’s priorities for levelling up, ACE pledged to deliver high quality creative and cultural experiences for people across the whole country by reducing the emphasis on London and investing in organisations that open up access to under-served communities.

This investment will be used to deliver real impact for Hull and the Humber area, continuing community collaboration and increasing access to heritage and culture. The funding will secure jobs and create new employment, work experience, training and skills development opportunities to open up culture and heritage for a wider range of people. A focus on developing local talent will provide artist residencies and internships, keeping creative talent in the region.

The funding will also help attract world class art and culture to the region, bringing local audiences free access to blockbuster exhibitions and events. It will also help draw visitors from outside the region, contributing to our local economy and ambitions as a visitor destination.

Children and young people will continue to be a focus for Hull Museums, enabling access to free creative and cultural activities for children and families. They will continue to work with schools to keep inspirational creative opportunities and memorable experiences within the reach of the most disadvantaged pupils, whilst opportunities for young people will develop skills and open doors into the creative and cultural sector.

As communities grow and change, Hull Museums will also involve under-represented groups and dedicated community-focused partnerships will improve access and uncover new stories.

An uplift in investment also enables Hull Museums to welcome North East Lincolnshire Museums into the Humber Museums Partnership (HMP), expanding its reach and impact. It will help ensure that museums and heritage are a vital part of regeneration, social and economic development in our region.

Councillor Rob Pritchard, Hull Culture and Leisure Lead at Hull City Council said: “I’m proud that once again we’re putting Hull on the map for all the right reasons. It’s wonderful news for Hull and all of East Yorkshire that we’ve secured this huge investment. Hull has so much to offer in terms of its heritage and culture. This funding will help ensure we can continue to grow our cultural offer so that people who live here can be proud of our city, and more visitors come to see what Hull has to offer.”