Hull Maritime awarded £250,000 grant for new visitor centre at former shipyard
KEEPING HULL’S HISTORY ALIVE: The new visitor centre at North End Shipyard. Picture credit: Hull City Council
By Simon Bristow
Hull Maritime has been awarded £250,000 by The Foyle Foundation for its creation of a new visitor and education centre at the former North End Shipyard.
As well as being the new home of Hull’s last sidewinder trawler Arctic Corsair, the centre will host Hull Maritime’s trawling exhibition and will be the venue for the majority of Hull Maritime Museum’s schools’ learning events.
The Foyle Foundation is an independent grant-making trust that distributes funds to UK charities and is a major funder of the arts and education. It has a deep commitment to supporting charities which use heritage and arts as tools for learning.
The shipyard will tell first-hand stories of what life was like working at sea, and become a centre for learning while celebrating 800 years of Hull’s maritime history.
Lord Chris Haskins, chairman of Hull Maritime Foundation, said: “We are delighted to have the support of The Foyle Foundation and my sincere thanks go to them for supporting our endeavours. This funding will help us to develop a space to celebrate and share our amazing maritime heritage, and it will also help to further redefine Hull’s image and reputation, while improving opportunities for all citizens.”
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Councillor Mike Ross, Leader of Hull City Council, said: “This major funding will support our project, Hull Maritime, in creating a centre for future generations and new audiences to connect with, learning more about Hull’s thriving fishing industry and what it was like to work at sea. It’s vital we keep these stories alive.”
Work to transform the shipyard is underway and it is expected to open to visitors in 2024.
Hull Maritime is a major regeneration project funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Hull City Council. Five key maritime treasures will be transformed to create a new maritime experience for Hull, with elements including the restoration of Arctic Corsair and Spurn Lightship, the regeneration of the former North End Shipyard, and the refiurbishment of Dock Office Chambers and Hull Maritime Museum.