Council considers £1m grant for Food Museum to take ‘major leap forward’

If the grant is agreed by the council’s cabinet on 8 July, the money would support a transformation project to refurbish historic buildings, create new permanent collections, and improve access.

It is hoped the council’s backing could also unlock a £3.95million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with a decision on this expected in July.

The Food Museum is the only museum dedicated to food in the UK, sharing the story and experiences of how food is grown, made and eaten. 

Visitor numbers to the 84-acre site have grown to nearly 70,000 a year, contributing to Mid Suffolk’s culture and tourism offer, and it also runs community activities.

However, the new project would deliver a substantial leap forward for the museum, the cabinet report says.

This includes the restoration of the Grade II* listed medieval barn at the museum’s entrance, refurbishment of the Grade II* listed Abbot’s Hall, plus major work at the Robert Boby building to create a permanent exhibition on the ground floor exploring how food is made.

Cllr Tim Weller, Mid Suffolk’s cabinet member for environment, culture and wellbeing, said:

“If agreed, this funding will be the catalyst for the next phase of the Food Museum’s impressive transformation.

“It would mean the museum can deliver further improvements to the site and attract more visitors – while also enabling its commercial activities to support the delivery of its educational mission and community work.”

Once complete, the project would support a creative programme of activities and exhibitions targeting all ages - for example, a focus on bringing in the harvest, food in wartime, the history of food in different parts of the world and cookery classes for young teenagers.

The Food Museum has made a bid to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a £3.95million grant for the project. The decision on this is still pending, with the Heritage Fund noting the significance of Mid Suffolk’s potential support in helping to match and unlock their investment.

Mid Suffolk’s cabinet will also be asked to underwrite a fundraising gap of £533,000 so work on the project can start in September, with the Food Museum committed to raising these funds.

The museum became an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation in 2018 - one of only 77 museums across the country supported in this way.

For every £1 Mid Suffolk District Council has invested in it, the museum has brought in £10.55 from external funding sources.

Meanwhile, the cabinet is also being asked to approve a bid for £100,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy funds to reconfigure of the museum’s factory building to introduce toilets, accessible doors and a lift to the first floor.