The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (PM&G) is about to enter the next stage of its multi-million-pound transformation – with work set to begin this December.
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery (PM&G) is about to enter the next stage of its multi-million-pound transformation – with work set to begin this December.
The latest phase - part of a £5 million masterplan, funded through Arts Council England’s Cultural Development Fund - will deliver major improvements to the museum’s exterior, main entrance and visitor facilities.
Plans include a new main corner entrance with full-height glazing, creating a stronger connection with Bethesda Street and Broad Street and a more welcoming arrival for visitors.
The ground floor level will see a new café and shopping experience with an open terrace alongside space allocated to artists in residence. This will create a strong connection between artists and the public, encouraging people to interact.
The funding has also created a brand-new reading room for the archive service and an upgraded teaching and learning space.
To enable work to be carried out safely, the museum will partially close from 7 December. This will allow Christmas events to continue – with the theatre, café, foyer and toilets staying open. From 20 December, there will be a temporary full closure until March 2026 while structural and safety work is completed.
Once these works are completed the museum will fully reopen while construction work continues throughout 2026.
During the closure, Gladstone Pottery Museum will once again open during its usual winter closure allowing visitors to continue enjoying museum attractions in the city. This will be the second consecutive year Gladstone has opened outside its normal schedule, following additional openings for the city’s Centenary celebrations.
A programme of events and activities will run at Gladstone and other venues across the city.
Councillor Jane Ashworth, leader of the city council, said: “We’re committed to making the most of our fantastic museums, and PM&G is a real jewel in our city’s cultural heritage.
“This exciting next phase will create a striking new entrance, improved spaces and facilities, and new opportunities for artists and the public to connect. It’s an investment that will secure the museum’s place as a cultural highlight for generations to come.
“While a temporary closure is necessary, it’s great that Gladstone will once again extend its season so families and visitors can continue to enjoy museum attractions year-round.”
Looking ahead, the city council has also submitted an expression of interest to the National Lottery Heritage Fund to support the next phase of PM&G’s transformation, which would redevelop the ground floor galleries and temporary exhibition spaces.
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