A huge maritime project to protect and promote Hull’s rich maritime history is set to become a reality following the approval of a £13.6m grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Following on from the success of UK City of Culture 2017, the project is the next major milestone in the delivery of Hull’s City Plan and 10-year Cultural Strategy, which set out how Hull will achieve its ambition to become a world-class visitor destination.
As well as celebrating every element of its maritime past, present and future, the project represents the next major phase in the regeneration of this historic maritime city and is pivotal to Hull’s plans to continue to develop as a unique and exciting cultural destination, ensuring a lasting legacy from UK City of Culture 2017.
The grant of £13.6m from the National Lottery, means that Hull will secure pride of place on the maritime map and showcase its seafaring heritage on a global scale. Hull City Council’s commitment to the project means they are putting forward £10m of match funding, along with a further £4.3m for the redevelopment of Queens Gardens, once the world’s largest dock, which will connect the three important sites involved in the project.
The project will see Hull Maritime Museum; Dock Office Chambers and the North End Shipyard regenerated and two historic vessels, the Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship, preserved. Creating a new experience and maritime trail, visitors will be able to discover Hull’s global links and how its heritage has led to shaping the city into the cultural icon it has become today.
The awarding of The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and the match funding of the City Council has been bolstered by a fundraising campaign, which is on the way to achieving its £2.6m funding target with £250,000 already secured. The success of the fundraising campaign embodies the support and passion of the people of Hull for the project, ensuring that their city remains at the forefront of arts, culture and heritage following its triumphant reign as the UK City of Culture since 2017.
Over the last two years, more than 100 heritage and community organisations, 40 schools and 15,000 people have helped to shape the exciting plans, making this project the people’s project.
Work is due to start in the coming months once permission to start has been granted from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The project will be completed in a phased approach, the full visitor experience is expected to be completed by 2024.
For more information on the plans visit maritimehull.co.uk
