LONDON, ENGLAND.-The Ashmolean Museum has received a Stage Two Pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), securing an award of £15 million that was earmarked on 21 July 2004 for the Museum’s redevelopment project. The total cost of the Ashmolean project is £50 million, of which £36 million has been raised from the support of numerous trusts, foundations, individuals, and the critical contribution of HLF.

This major development will create 100 per cent more display space in addition to a dedicated education centre and state-of-the-art conservation studios. The Greek and Roman collections that are currently split between two separate sites will be integrated and a series of new teaching rooms and study centres will be provided.

Through a comprehensive programme of redisplaying and reinterpreting its collections, the Ashmolean will become a museum that engages the public fascination with world culture and encourages them to think, question and marvel as they explore its rich collections. With this new development the Museum’s mission to reach out more effectively to a wider public will be achieved.

Dr. Christopher Brown, Director of the Ashmolean, said, “The Museum is extremely grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund. This award is a splendid launching pad for our ongoing fundraising campaign to provide a world-class museum to match our world-class collections.”

Carol Souter, Director of the Heritage Lottery Fund, said, “The Ashmolean’s plans to redevelop its galleries are extremely imaginative. We’re delighted to be able to help the Museum in its vision to open up the collections to a much wider audience, ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy this important part of our rich and varied heritage.”