Museum, heritage and exhibition project management specialist Focus is celebrating the opening of Ely Museum after the museum had been closed to the public since September 2019.
Nottingham-based Focus was both project manager and business planner for the transformation of the museum, supporting the museum through the second round Heritage Fund application to a successful £1.6m grant.
The revitalised museum is set to be a heritage hub for locals and tourists alike, telling the story of Ely and beyond through new galleries, events, and exhibitions, creating an exciting destination for local families, schools and visitors. Resources and trails will encourage people to explore the district further. Visitor facilities have been improved, with a new second floor extension and new porch providing welcome additional space, and the addition of a lift improving museum access. Many historic features of the building have been restored.
As project manager, Focus supported Ely throughout the capital project and was delighted to play its part in helping this project come to life. Due to the pandemic, Focus faced the challenges of programme delays, stricter on-site guidelines, and remote working. Now following the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions, Ely Museum has reopened its doors at last.
Steven Fletcher, Partner at Focus said: “It is great to see Ely Museum opening its doors once more to allow visitors into this fantastic destination. It was wonderful to work with Elie and the team on this project.”
Elie Hughes, Curator at Ely Museum was delighted with the end result and said: “Focus have guided us through our project, from development to delivery. They have been so supportive and their experience has helped us achieve a wonderful end result. When the pandemic hit, we were so grateful to have their calm and knowledgeable input to help keep us moving forward. They have been a pleasure to work with.”
Focus is one of the country’s leading consultants in the museum exhibition sector having worked with many of the UK’s major museums on exhibitions, refurbishments, and other projects. Focus has undertaken a range of roles including project management, quantity surveyor and contract administrator, working collaboratively with the client team, designers and contractors to deliver projects to both budget and schedule. The company has previously worked with many national, regional and local museums and attractions across the UK, including St Fagans National Museum of History in Wales, The V&A, The National Army Museum, and Brooklands Museum in Surrey, and current projects include providing Project Management services to the Harris Museum, Art Gallery, and Library in Preston.
Focus is a multi-disciplinary company offering a range of services across different sectors, with offices in London, Nottingham and Leicester. Focus divides its services into three sections – Create, Deliver and Assess – and offers funding, business planning and economic development through the Create division, and quantity surveying, project management and building surveying through the Deliver department. The firm’s Assess team advises on sustainable buildings, building physics, compliance and planning, and on-site testing.
Visit Ely Museum’s new website to find out more about the museum: https://www.elymuseum.org.uk/
For more information, visit www.focus-consultants.com
