The planned Cultural Centre and Museum for the Isles of Scilly has received £3.4 million from the Good Growth Programme.
The latest funding means that the £15.72 million project to transform the Grade II listed Town Hall on St Mary’s is now fully funded.
It represents a major infrastructure investment for the long-term economic and community wellbeing of the islands, which will create new jobs, boost the local economy and celebrate the islands’ environment, heritage and culture.
Led by the Council of the Isles of Scilly and the Isles of Scilly Museum Association, the initiative will restore and extend the Town Hall building, in Hugh Town, creating a fully-accessible Cultural Centre and Museum destination for both local people, day visitors and holidaymakers; a much-needed indoor venue for cinema, theatre and live music performances; and an Island Hall and gathering place for the local community.
Its aim is to address a current lack of cultural facilities on the islands, in particular for young people, and ongoing concerns around isolation, community cohesion and an ageing demographic, with implications for the islands’ future economic viability.
The investment from the Good Growth Programme is the latest in a series of successful funding bids by the project, which includes £6 million in Levelling Up funding from government, £750k from Arts Council England, £382k from the Council of the Isles of Scilly and £4.6 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Good Growth Programme also previously provided £353k towards an initial feasibility study to investigate and begin developing the project proposals.
Survey work is expected to start this month and the aim is to open by March 2026.
Councillor Tim Dean, Council of the Isles of Scilly Lead Member for Housing and Corporate Estate said: “This announcement comes at a very exciting stage of the project as it means the development is now fully funded. I’m delighted that the value of the project to the islands has been recognised by the Good Growth Programme and that the Council is getting such support to make this important new facility a reality.”
