Rotherham Heritage venues to receive £750K cash boost over three years

Elected members yesterday (24) voted to adopt a new collections management policy, which will enable Rotherham’s York and Lancaster Regimental Museum to retain its museums accreditation.

This in turn means that it can continue its participation in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio Organisation programme, which represents an investment of £250,000 per year for the next three years.

The cash depends on the accreditation of the Y&L museum but the cash will benefit a range of the borough’s historic venues.

Polly Hamilton, RMBC assistant director of culture, leisure and sport, said: “We are delighted that Rotherham Museums, Arts and Heritage was successful in an application to become part of the 2023-26 investment programme as a National Portfolio Organisation.

“Over the next three years, the funding will be used to deliver creative programming across all of the council’s heritage venues, including Clifton Park Museum.

“This will include working with our partners, local communities and schools to explore how we can utilise our collections and spaces while offering more opportunities for residents, of all ages, to get involved so that they can experience and learn more about Rotherham’s rich history and culture.”

Museum accreditation lasts for five years, and the Y&L’s last submission was in February 2016, with the 2021 application being delayed because of the pandemic and resulting backlog.

The Y&L was established in 1985 following the transfer of the collection from the regiment headquarters at Endcliffe Hall, Sheffield, to RMBC’s museums service.

The council is now the sole trustee of the York and Lancaster Regimental Museum and

therefore the custodian of its collection, which includes 3,900 objects and 11,000 photographs covering the regiment from its inception in 1881 to disbandment in 1968.