Good London news - a few years off

[phil gollin]

(If it is open in time for the 2012 Olympics (????) the Equestrian events are taking place there).


http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/ConWebDoc.22460

�20m individual donation for National Maritime Museum launches plans for major new wing

The National Maritime Museum (NMM) is delighted to announce today that it has received a donation of �20m towards the creation of a major new wing at the heart of its Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. This substantial gift has been made by the shipping magnate and philanthropist Sammy Ofer and is believed to be the largest single donation by an individual to a cultural project in the UK.

The �35 million project will play a key role in driving the Museum�s strategic vision going forward, enabling it to make a quantum leap in illustrating how Britain�s relationship with the sea has fundamentally shaped histories, cultures, economies, and identities across the globe. It will transform the Museum�s capacity to develop and engage with a new generation of audiences, both on site and online. The custom-designed exhibition spaces and highly accessible archives will drive a step change in the way the Museum present its collections and exhibition programme to an ever-growing volume of visitors, both from within the UK and internationally.

Sammy Ofer has strong links with Britain and served in the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean during World War II. The international shipping group which he founded operates a significant part of its fleet from London with over 90 vessels flying the Red Ensign. Through his continued relations with London and its shipping community Sammy Ofer has developed a deep appreciation for the maritime traditions of the UK. Confirming his support for the new wing, he said, 'I look forward to helping this hugely exciting project and believe it will be a great step forward for the Museum.'

Announcing the donation, Lord Sterling, Chairman of the National Maritime Museum said, 'I would like to extend our deepest thanks to Sammy Ofer for his extraordinary generosity. Sammy is a man who has been key to the global maritime industry for many years and who, through his close relations with the London shipping community and the City of London, has formed an admiration and respect for the long maritime history of this country. We are profoundly indebted to him for making such a farsighted donation of his own personal wealth and in expressing such confidence in the future of the world�s foremost maritime museum.'

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown said, 'Our maritime story is Britain�s national story. This generous donation by Mr Ofer will help to ensure that current and future generations understand better the crucial role played by the sea in our history and the lives of those who depended upon it. I applaud this opportunity to promote engagement with our maritime past, present and future, which has only been made possible by this unique gift to the nation.'

The National Maritime Museum enjoys the strong support of its sponsoring department, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

NMM Director Dr Kevin Fewster said: 'The new wing embodies a strategic new direction for the National Maritime Museum- one which will help to put the Museum at the forefront for major exhibitions on the London and international scene. It will create a spectacular contemporary environment in which more people can appreciate the wonders of our world-class collections and their stories of human endeavour and discovery. Over the last decade our audiences have grown fourfold. The completion of this ground-breaking scheme will undoubtedly increase the number of visitors we reach with our programmes and collections, both at Greenwich and through our digital resources. Thanks to the generosity of Sammy Ofer, the new wing will be completed in time for the 2012 Olympics during which Greenwich will be in the world spotlight.'

Welcoming the scheme, Chris Roberts, Leader of the London Borough of Greenwich and Chairman of the World Heritage Site Executive said, 'I strongly welcome this project, which will not only enhance the National Maritime Museum�s appeal but will also bring further visitors to Greenwich and continue our development of world-class visitor attractions on this historically important site.'

Margaret Hodge, Minister for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism said, 'Understanding the way the past has shaped the present never been more important in enriching our understanding of the world and providing creative inspiration for the future. We are very grateful for this philanthropic contribution, which will enable a new wing of the National Maritime Museum � one of our most important national collections � to open up some of this country�s most important treasures to enable visitors from all over the world to explore and understand this rich and complex story of these islands.'

For further information please contact: Claire Hyde or Sheryl Twigg, National Maritime Museum Press Office on 020 8312 6735/6790 | 07903 547 284 or by email: chyde@nmm.ac.uk / stwigg@nmm.ac.uk

Further support for the scheme:

Mark Camley, CEO, Royal Parks

'We believe that the proposed new wing will benefit the many hundreds of thousands of visitors who come every year to the National Maritime Museum and Greenwich Park to enjoy its superb landscapes, buildings and views. We are looking forward to working with the NMM to ensure that the park environment and experience is enhanced for all our visitors.'

Duncan Wilson, Director, Old Royal Naval College

'In 1675 Greenwich established London's place � quite literally � at the centre of the maritime and commercial world. The National Maritime Museum�s South West Wing project is a initiative which will ensure that the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site retains its importance in the 21st century.'


Notes to Editors

1. The new wing features five key elements; a substantial new space for special exhibitions, an open archive centre, new learning spaces, a new south entrance, a restaurant, caf� and shop.

2. The 800m2 exhibitions hall will enable the Museum to build on its programme of major exhibitions. These have included Armada (1988), Henry VIII (1991), The Wreck of the Titanic (1994) South: the race to the Pole (2000), Elizabeth (2003) and Nelson and Napoleon (2005).

3. The archive will provide new context-rich learning and research spaces, unlocking the treasures of the Museum and revealing the stories of people and the sea in the world�s most important maritime collection. In the learning centre, visitors will be able to engage with the Museum�s collection informally and explore its unique resources for themselves.

4. The south entrance from Greenwich Park will create a stronger linkage between the Museum and Royal Observatory, Greenwich, bringing a greater unity to the National Maritime Museum site. The restaurant and caf� will feature attractive terraces and views over the park. The enhanced visitor facilities and shop will transform a currently under-utilised area of plant and storage at the back of the museum and improve visitor orientation and flow throughout the site.

5. The National Maritime Museum � the largest museum of its kind in the world � is housed in historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site. It incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, (home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian Line), 17th-century Queen�s House (England's first classical building) and the main maritime galleries. Visit http://www.nmm.ac.uk for further information.

6. In 2007, the Museum welcomed 1.7 million visitors, the highest ever, and was ninth in the league table of leading visitor attractions (ALVA). Over ten million people visited its website.

7. In 1997, UNESCO�s World Heritage Committee declared Maritime Greenwich a World Heritage Site. The area is recognised as having world-class status as a place of outstanding cultural and architectural importance and sits alongside sixteen other UK World Heritage Sites and over 500 sites in over 100 countries worldwide.

[RickF]

What a pity they didn't use some of the 20 million to put a few plans on line for free, like the French do!

Rick

[phil gollin]

What a pity they didn't use some of the 20 million to put a few plans on line for free, like the French do!

Rick

I know they have "plans" for digitalising SOME plans - but probably on a commercial basis - HOWEVER, the plans covering the archives/collections seem to change every year or so.

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