Agenda item

Presentation by the Chief Operating Officer for Wollaton Hall and Park

Rachael Evans, Museums Development Manager, and Rachel James, Chief Operating Officer Wollaton Hall and Park, jointly delivered a presentation on theWollaton Hall and Deer Park Transformation Consultation 2019-2023. A copy of the detailed presentation is issued with the minutes on initial publication.

The following points were highlighted and summarised from the detailed presentation:

(a)  The transformation intends to focus on three specific areas to increase the offer available. This includes the restoration of Wollaton Hall’s Walled Garden, restoring the historical rooms and gardens, and updating the presentation of Wollaton Hall’s Natural History Museum which hosts a high quality collection but which needs to be more appropriately displayed;

(b)  The recent exhibition of ‘Dinosaurs of China’ proved an outstanding success attracting more than 130,000 visitors over the four month exhibit period and whilst not producing a profit, is estimated to have brought tourist revenue to the area, amounting to approximately £84m;

(c)  Local community engagement and volunteer groups such as the ‘Friends of Wollaton Park’ and ‘Wollaton Historical and Conservation Society’ are providing valuable and dedicated support including hands-on resources, but further investment is required to ensure that the Hall offers the best possible experience to visitors and can be appropriately maintained and continue to offer a resilient service into the future;

(d)  It is vital that there is an in-depth understanding of exactly what visitors and local people want when visiting the Hall. Some visitor surveys and consultations have already been undertaken and show that visitors felt the permanent exhibitions were dated, in need of refurbishment and that overall the site required better coordination as it currently lacks identity;

(e)  Once a thorough understanding of what improvements can be made and what visitors expect from visiting Wollaton Hall, a master plan can be collated with engagement from an advisory panel, with a view to applying for funding for the transformation which is predicted to cost £1.2m in total with a significant proportion drawn from fund raising activity and events;

(f)  A further citizen consultation will start in May 2019 and citizens are encouraged to respond.

Questions from the committee responded to as follows:

(g)  Temporary exhibitions will be held in the hall so some areas will need to become flexible spaces although it is unlikely that exhibitions will be held in the Great Hall, unless on a similar scale to the dinosaurs of China exhibit;

(h)  although no profit was made from the Dinosaurs of China exhibition, no costs were born by the council nor the museum;

(i)  Some consultations have already been undertaken but it is important is to find out exactly what people want when visiting the hall and park. It is recognised that many visitors are local people and often visit repeatedly. Consultation will be promoted via social media, the city council websites, and at the hall itself, all citizens are encouraged to take part;

It is intended that access to the Hall will continue to be free but donations boxes will be strategically placed around the building and there is potential to bring income from tours of the Hall. Other fund raising suggestions are welcomed and have included hosting weddings, festivals, fairs and events, and for the walled garden, an ‘adopt a brick scheme’;

(j)  All income gained from parking charges is retained within the park, but provides little profits beyond the maintenance of the car park and its access;

A community representative suggested that as the natural history exhibits was of such a high standard, it should be allocated a dedicated space, such as enclosing the stable courtyard.

RESOLVED to note the report and record the thanks of the committee to Rachel James and Rachael Evans for their presentation and work to date.