The new Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, visited the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester last week to explore its collection and see the progress of ongoing renovation works.
It was his first visit to a museum since being appointed Culture Secretary earlier this month.
Director of the Science and Industry Museum, Sally Macdonald, took Mr Dowden on a tour of the collection highlights, which include one of the earliest Rolls-Royce motorcars, the first stored programme computer, Baby, and original working machinery from Manchester’s textiles mills.
Mr Dowden was also shown the site of the world’s first Inter-city railway, as well as the progress of renovation works to the museum’s much-loved Power Hall.
Sally said: “We were very pleased to host Mr Dowden. The museum is currently undergoing a multi-million-pound project to renovate and transform areas of the site. It was fantastic to show him the difference this investment is already making and demonstrate the value it will have for our visitors and wider community.
“Museums play a vital role in creating thriving, fulfilling communities, driving tourism and helping young people to develop an interest in fields such a science, technology and engineering. We look forward to working with Mr Dowden and the DCMS to help more people benefit from the power of museums in the future.”
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “I am delighted that my first museum visit as Culture Secretary was to the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester. I was pleased to see so many young people enjoying the Museum’s collections this half term and to learn more about the city’s industrial heritage.
“The government’s £6 million investment in the regeneration of Power Hall is a great example of our continued support of our national museums and I look forward to seeing how this project develops.”
The Science and Industry Museum is part of the Science Museum Group. During the visit, Sally also took the opportunity to talk to Mr Dowden about touring exhibitions that are bringing new experiences to communities across the country.
She added: “There are lots of benefits to being part of such an ambitious group of museums; we can share collections, expertise and ideas. We are very focused on the Group’s northern sites, not just here in Manchester, but at the National Railway Museum in York, the Science and Media Museum in Bradford and Locomotion in Shildon.
“I was delighted to talk to Mr Dowden about the opportunities this brings and the value of investing in culture and heritage in the North.”
