Colchester’s Natural History Museum – a Grade II-listed medieval church building – has taken a major step towards the Wild About Essex £5million transformation after securing £33,770 from Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries.
The funding will support a year-long collections project that will give the public the opportunity to make their own contribution to the museum's future and get hands-on with the natural history collections.
Colchester’s Natural History Museum is one of 29 UK museums and galleries to receive grants through the latest round of Art Fund’s Reimagine programme, supporting innovative collections projects in museums and galleries across the UK.
Wild About Essex has already received a £296,725 development grant thanks to National Lottery players. This once-in-a-generation opportunity will reimagine the museum as a vibrant, welcoming destination with new exhibitions, dedicated family and school spaces, and an events programme focused on climate, biodiversity, and community engagement.
Cllr Lee Scordis, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Environment, said: “This is wonderful news and the result of years of planning and consultation. We’re confident that by 2030, the Natural History Museum – which opened as a museum in 1958 and is housed in one of Colchester’s oldest churches – will be completely reimagined. Alongside the multi-million-pound regeneration of Jumbo, St Botolph’s Priory, and Colchester’s oldest standing building, Holy Trinity Church, our city is stepping into its role as a tourism powerhouse for the East of England – not to mention our award-winning Castle and Castle Park.”
He added: “We’re grateful to Art Fund for their support through the Reimagine programme, which is helping museums and galleries across the UK to innovate and thrive.”
Launched in 2020 in response to the pandemic, Reimagine was developed with museums to address the sector’s most urgent challenges. This latest round focuses on collections – a cornerstone of Art Fund’s mission and one of the areas of museum practice with the greatest demand for funding. Art Fund’s Museum Directors Survey in 2024 found that 56% of museums cite a lack of funding for collections as a major barrier to essential work such as digitisation, collections reviews and acquisitions.
Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said: “At the core of Art Fund’s purpose is supporting museums to develop, care for and share the collections that enrich people’s lives. I'm delighted we've been able to support Colchester’s Natural History Museum through our final round of Reimagine funding, enabling museums to explore their collections, connect with communities and ensure that works of art, objects and their stories are shared and preserved for future generations.”
The transformation of the Natural History Museum is part of Colchester’s wider city centre regeneration vision. With more than 15 major projects underway – including the revitalisation of St Botolph’s Quarter, the new Digital Forum, and the restoration of Jumbo water tower – Colchester is on track to look dramatically different by 2030. Together, these projects are unlocking millions in public and private investment, expanding the city’s cultural and tourism offer, and creating a centre that’s more vibrant, inclusive, and future-ready.
Art Fund’s Reimagine grants have been made possible thanks to support from The Kirby Laing Foundation, Art Fund members and supporters of Art Fund's Expanding Horizons appeal.
Discover more about Colchester’s transformation, visit: www.colchester.gov.uk/citycentre.