Levelling Up cash to fund sculpture and museum projects

Proposals also include a £900,000 investment in Pitchcroft to transform it into a sustainable events venue, as well as a host of community arts projects.

The funding was announced by the Government in March as part of the Spring Budget and Worcester City Council has until May 10 to submit its plans for how it wants to spend the money.

Managing director David Blake said officers have been working with the leaders of all four political parties represented on the council to draw up a list.

“The proposed projects are designed to build on previous successes in Worcester, support the aims of our cross-party City Plan, and to fit into three broad themes - education through heritage, community arts, and outdoor performance,” said Mr Blake.

The proposals will be discussed by the council’s Policy and Resources Committee next week.

City council managing director David Blake (Image: Worcester City Council)

Plans revealed today include a £500,000 investment in Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum to create a hands-on learning centre, plus £298,000 for a multi-function education centre at the Tudor House Museum.

Tudor House manager Abi Haywood said it would be a fantastic opportunity for the museum, which is celebrating the 500th year of the building and its 20th year of being independent from the city council.

“It would enable us to move forward with some of the projects we have planned around improving the visitor experience and education,” she said.

Historian Paul Harding said: “The heritage side of tourism is extremely important for the local economy. When people visit a city, they visit places of interest.

“These same visitors will take refreshments at a tearoom, buy a drink in a local pub, and visit a restaurant for a meal. Our city tours are very popular and run all year round.

“If we improve or add to the heritage and tourism assets that we have, more people will visit, and the local economy will increase.

Paul Harding and Helen Harding of Discover History as St George and the dragon in Gheluvelt Park

“Being heavily involved in education, we would also welcome any improvements made to the facilities at the City Museum and Tudor House.

“This will make them respect what we have and create grown-ups with a lifelong interest. Worcester has a long and varied history, and it deserves every penny of funding that can be found to highlight it.”

The Battle of Worcester sculpture is set to cost £50,000 and would depict a key battle in the English civil war.

It will be designed by Ken Potts, who created the Elgar statue in Cathedral Square, and in committee papers is described as “a distinctive linear steel sculpture” that will be located in Sidbury.