Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is set to fully reopen by 2031 under an ambitious five-year strategic plan announced by the Birmingham Museums Trust. If the strategy succeeds, the renowned cultural institution will have been either partially or completely closed for approximately 11 years, marking one of the longest closures in the museum's history.
The museum and art gallery, located next to Birmingham City Council House, originally closed in 2020 for essential maintenance work. It briefly reopened partially in 2022 to coincide with the Commonwealth Games, then gradually reopened in phases throughout last year. Some spaces, including the Round Room Gallery, welcomed visitors for the first time in years during this phased reopening process.
Despite these partial reopenings, the majority of spaces within the attraction remain closed to the public. The Birmingham Museums Trust has developed its new vision within the context of the city council's significant financial constraints and broader funding challenges facing the cultural sector. The Trust indicated it would actively pursue alternative revenue streams to support the ambitious reopening timeline.
Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, emphasized the critical nature of this moment for the institution. "Our museums are at a critical crossroads," they stated. "This strategy is about resilience, reinvention and making sure Birmingham's cultural treasures remain accessible and relevant to all. It is an unapologetically ambitious plan to invest in the city's greatest cultural asset, to create a world class museum service."
The co-chief executives also highlighted their commitment to inclusivity, adding: "We are committed to fostering a more democratic, inclusive approach to heritage, ensuring that every community sees themselves reflected in our spaces and stories." The strategy was developed incorporating recommendations from a citizens jury, extensive audience research, and support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The comprehensive plan focuses heavily on modernizing infrastructure throughout the Trust's facilities. This includes urgent restoration projects at key historic sites and a complete transformation of the Museum Collection Centre. Additionally, the Trust plans to launch a large-scale digitization program designed to better connect all its sites with Birmingham's diverse communities.
The Birmingham Museums Trust operates nine different sites across the city, including the main Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Birmingham Science Museum, Aston Hall, Blakesley Hall, and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. The Trust manages an extensive collection of over one million objects and specimens on behalf of Birmingham City Council, covering art, human history, science and industry, and natural science.
A council report from last year revealed the extensive scope of work needed for a full reopening. The document stated that previous repairs and maintenance at the museum had highlighted the critical need for essential refurbishment works. At that time, approval was being sought to submit a stage one bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for £9 million, which would contribute to a total project cost of approximately £10 million.
While electrical and essential remedial works have addressed some infrastructure repairs, many galleries have not received significant investment in their basic fabric for 20 to 50 years. The electrical rewiring work has uncovered additional challenges, including serious issues with gallery walls, ceilings, and floors. The report noted that behind-the-scenes areas, including collections storage and facilities used by staff and volunteers, are in an even worse state of repair than the public spaces.
