We Are Witham: The Witham past, present and future awarded grant by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The Witham has been awarded £229,800 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund for We Are Witham: The Witham past, present and future – a project to celebrate its 180-year history and secure a sustainable future for this much-loved cultural hub in Barnard Castle and rural Teesdale.
The Witham’s Grade II listed Victorian buildings and 1860 Music Hall have been at the heart of arts, culture and community life for generations. Thanks to National Lottery players, and working with our partner Dig Ventures, we can now co-create a heritage programme with residents and volunteers. This work will shine a light on our heritage through community-led activities, new displays, events and digital storytelling, making the Witham’s history – and its future – more accessible to local people and visitors.
The project will also strengthen the organisation behind the scenes through upskilling staff and training volunteers, building new strategies for audience development, and marketing, alongside investment in a new customer relation management system and website to help grow and diversify audiences. The project will also enable us to strengthen our fundraising so that we are in a good position to be self- financing in the future.
By building skills, improving systems and increasing our income, the project will help protect The Witham’s historic buildings and ensure that they continue to serve our community for years to come.
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Amy Hughes, Director of The Witham, said:
“We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can celebrate The Witham’s 180-year story, involve more people in our heritage, and put in place the tools we need to secure a sustainable future for this historic venue.”
Liz Bromley, Chair of the Trustees, said:
“The award of this grant is testimony to the hard work of the Witham team, and friends, who have worked towards safeguarding our future by celebrating our past. The Trustees are deeply grateful to everyone involved, and to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, for believing in the Witham.”