Capital Investment Programme for National Museums NI

Defining a sustainable estate strategy and long-term development programme for National Museums, Northern Ireland

Current Status Active
Key Contact
Project Website Visit Website
Category Physical Infrastructure

Project Description

National Museums NI comprises four museums at three locations: Ulster Folk Museum and Ulster Transport Museum in Cultra, Ulster Museum in Belfast and Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh. Established in 1998, the organisation’s role is to develop, manage and care for an extensive range of collections to benefit current and future generations.

Supported by SIB, National Museums NI has undertaken significant steps to define its sustainable estate strategy and long-term development programme for each of its museums:

  • Ulster Folk Museum: A project to secure and deliver transformative investment reawakening the museum’s significance as a remarkable heritage and environment resource and creating more ways for people to get involved.
  • Ulster Museum: A project to secure and deliver enabling investment at the Ulster Museum, strengthening its ability to connect with audiences through an enhanced welcome, more opportunities for participation and greater dynamism and flexibility in our displays and interpretation.
  • Ulster American Folk Park: A project to strengthen Ulster American Folk Park’s reputation as a dynamic heritage attraction and tourism hub, allowing visitors to experience the past in educational, inspirational and sometimes challenging ways.
  • Ulster Transport Museum: A project to make key interventions to begin unlocking the museum's potential as a STEM learning resource from the next generation, making full use of the site's assets and connections.

Project Status

The Ulster Folk Museum project titled “Reawakening” is at an advanced stage. The project has achieved planning approval, and the design has been completed to RIBA Stage 3, and is ready for tender. Funding options are currently being developed to allow the project to proceed to construction.

Details of the proposals can be viewed here https://www.ulsterfolkmuseum.org/reawakening

The Ulster American Folk Park Project has achieved funding through the Mid South West Growth Deal and will now progress to OBC development.

SIB Involvement

SIB is providing support with master planning, business case development, procurement, partnering and delivery of this transformational investment programme across the entire estate.