Mark Garnier MP is extremely pleased to hear that the Carpet Museum in Kidderminster is to be awarded a grant of £1,904,900 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). Announced today by the HLF, this is a long awaited and eagerly supported project that Mark has been championing over the years.
The HLF, which is in its fifteenth year, is the largest dedicated funder of the UK's heritage, with around £205million a year to invest in new projects. The aim of the grant is to emphasise the strong community links between carpet making and the town alongside hands-on opportunities to learn about the technical aspects of carpet production.
Upon hearing the news Mark Garnier said "I am delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has given the Kidderminster carpet museum £2 million. The name Kidderminster is synonymous with excellence in the carpet industry across the world and it is right that Kidderminster should be home of the carpet museum. It will be a great boost to our town and a great boost to our local tourist industry."
The new Museum will be housed in the former Stour Vale Mill; a Grade II listed 1855 building originally built as a factory for carpet making. Other facilities to be included after the grant are an Education and Resource Area for families and schools, a temporary exhibition area, and the display of the museums' collection of machinery, artefacts, photographs, archives and libraries over two floors.