Diving Museum Bags Big Cash Boost to Fight Damp and Open Doors
£48 Million Fund Breathes New Life into Historic Cultural Sites
The Diving Museum in Gosport, an HDS outreach flagship since 2011, has landed a major funding win. The award recognises its green energy solution tackling damp problems in a Victorian Gun Battery. This will safeguard the building and its prized collection, while unlocking previously off-limit areas to the public. The result? Better showcasing of Gosport’s diving heritage and a museum fit for the future.
Funding to Drive Arts Access and Protect Cultural Treasures
A whopping £48 million is being shared among 63 organisations nationwide. The cash aims to boost public access to arts, preserve cultural landmarks, and spark economic growth through culture.
Local Voices Celebrate the Big Win
Caroline said, “I am really pleased that Gosport Diving Museum has received this funding. It’s a fantastic destination that I’ve visited many times. This will help ensure the museum is maintained to the best possible condition.”
Arts Minister Lord Parkinson added, “Culture is the bedrock of society. It brings people together, entertains, informs us, and helps us understand our common past and shared future. This funding will help treasured institutions continue their great work and level up arts access for all, no matter where they live.”
Kevin Casey, Museum Director, said, “This award is game changing for the HDS. It’s a fantastic opportunity to save a historically important building for Gosport, the home of diving. We are extremely grateful to DCMS for this amazing grant as this project wouldn’t be possible without it.”
Darren Henley, Arts Council England Chief Executive, commented, “Our artists and cultural bodies make towns and cities better places to live and play. This investment helps them enrich even more lives across England.”
Where the Money Goes
- £24 million through the Cultural Development Fund
- £18.8 million via the Museums Estate and Development Fund
- £5 million through the Libraries Improvement Fund
The Museums Estate and Development Fund specifically backs infrastructure and urgent repairs that can’t be covered by day-to-day budgets, saving heritage sites like the Diving Museum for generations to come.
