Major fundraising boost for Manchester Museum
14 Feb 2017
New gallery will be first in UK to showcase deep history of South Asia and diaspora community
A major gift by Shalni and Simon Arora means that Manchester Museum’s plan to develop a permanent gallery on South Asia takes a great step forward.
A significant gift from the Aroras through the Savannah Wisdom Foundation and B&M Retail is the first step towards raising the remaining funds for the gallery, which will be the first in the country to present both the deep history of South Asia, and the story of the diaspora community in the UK.
Developed in partnership with the British Museum, the Gallery will form the centrepiece of the Museum’s new £12.4 million capital expansion, which will include a much larger space for temporary exhibitions, a new entrance and expanded public facilities. Work will commence in May 2018 and the finished building will reopen in early 2020.
Bringing together the very best of Manchester Museum’s own South Asian collections and world-class sculpture, textiles and artefacts from the British Museum, the Gallery will explore the history and culture of South Asia and its relationship with communities in the North West of England. It will be developed in close consultation with local communities and done in a way that will engage the city-region’s diverse communities, day visitors and tourists.
Shalni Arora said: “This is an important project for our city and region, celebrating the history and culture we all have in common. The space will also allow the South Asian diaspora in particular to connect with its identity, something we risk losing through the generations.”
More information
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