Museum of Science and Industry

[Phil Blinkhorn]

Picking up a copy of the Manchester Evening News at the airport last night, when flying back to Ireland, I was both intrigued and delighted to read of the proposed developments at the museum.

Of particular interest is the proposed Revolution Manchester exhibit - it really is about time the area had a dedicated and detailed public statement of the very many products, services and ideas which individuals and companies in the area have dreamt up, developed and sold around the world.

The Castlefields area, whilst historic in itself and a vehicle for the portrayal of history, needs to be at the forefront of museum technology and presentation and, though personally I find it hard to believe the number of years that have passed since my own involvement with the Liverpool and Manchester Railway 150th celebrations and the launching of the Air and Space Museum, the fact is that what was state of the art presentation in the late 1970s and early 1980s can only be modified so far and a major overhaul and renewal is more than needed.

Hopefully both the funding and planning phases will be completed without any undue delay and argument and the project will be completed on schedule

[Sparkly]

The Lottery Fund application has been rejected.. Science museum cash blow - News - Manchester Evening News

A number of other arts and culture projects have seen cuts this year, perhaps due to all the funding heading to the London Olympics?

[Phil Blinkhorn]

It would be interesting to know the reason for the rejection. Whilst there was criticism of the size of the sum bid for, presumably the size of the application was within allowed limits.

Not wanting to sound paranoid but an "international attraction" and a "world class museum" in the provinces might not have sat well with some of the London centrics who still tend to make up the bulk of those sitting on boards meant to give cash to deserving causes THROUGHOUT the UK.

Sorry, I've seen it too often before.

[Henry Mantell]

Definitely a factor in this kind of bidding. The London 2012 redevelopment will continue to drain funding from all other areas for at least a five year period and the hoped for land sale release is now estimated to take up to 10 years after 2012.
The call on community charge in London is entering another year in April and there are calls to extend wider the "contribution" as the redevelopment of the East London corridor transport and other infrastructure costs begin to rise inexorably higher.
Even bids for World Heritage Sites have been affected this year. A friend is working on such a bid and London 2012 was reason for the bid being held back until....2012!
As you say, it will be interesting to learn of the reasons for rejection but in the present climate anything not in East London is not a preferred option.