New Educational Facility for the Museum of East Asian Art

A new educational facility is to be built at the Museum of East Asian Art, Bath, thanks to a generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The £41,500 grant will help towards converting the Museum's third floor into a multi-purpose education room, which will safeguard the continuation and expansion of the Museum's educational role for the future.

As a registered educational charity the Museum's main endeavour is to offer facilities for the appreciation and study of East and Southeast Asian art and cultures. The Museum is housed in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse and since opening to the public in April 1993, the Museum has become one of the most extensive collections of East Asian art outside London. With a collection of almost 2,000 objects, ranging in date from c.5000 BC to the present day, the Museum offers its visitors a wonderful insight into the art and cultures of China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. The Museum works to encourage education, creativity and communication in relation to such cultures, and strives to be accessible to as wide an audience as possible.  

As a non-profit organisation and independent Museum, the Museum welcomes this vital grant from HLF, as it will enable more and improved activities for a wider range of visitors. Currently the Museum provides a variety of special exhibitions, tours, handling sessions, workshops, school activities, as well as more hands-on events, as part of its continuing commitment to education at all levels.

The lottery grant will serve to expand these interpretation facilities and create new learning opportunities for a variety of visitors including those with access impairments.

With increased access to the Museum's collection we can encourage more visitors to listen, observe, touch and create, which are essential activities in providing the public with a chance to relate with history and each other. The expansion of our educational facilities will also provide new materials, equipment and volunteer training which will stimulate interest, inspiration and discussion in our local community.

Mr Brian McElney OBE, the Museum's founder, said: ‘This is marvellous news, as this will enable us to utilise the third floor space, and enhance our educational mission of the charity'. The lottery grant will secure Mr McElney's wish, to pass on to the next generation a collection that ‘vividly illustrates the early emergence of Asia, as a great centre of art, learning and culture' and ‘secure the past for the future'.

This educational expansion is supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Nerys Watts, Regional Manager for HLF in the South West comments: ‘This is a great project that will really bring the Museum's collections to life for everyone to explore. HLF is dedicated to supporting projects that open up our heritage for locals and visitors to learn about and enjoy, and this new educational facility will be a fantastic addition to one of Bath's most interesting museums.' The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has supported over 15,000 projects, allocating over £3 billion across the UK. This includes over £300m to projects in the South West.