Buxton Museum and Art Gallery returns to temporary new home
The famous Buxton Bear is ready to greet old and new visitors.
Visitors are invited to come and explore Buxton Museum and Art Gallery once again after it opened the doors to its new home this week.
The interim home for Derbyshire County Council’s Buxton Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) opened on Thursday, October 15, with an official opening event on Thursday, October 22.
The museum and art gallery now has its own dedicated building next to the town’s library on Kents Bank Road with space to showcase its collections, host exhibitions and welcome visitors while work continues to find a permanent home for the attraction in the area.
As well as the displays of artefacts and artwork, including the famous Buxton Bear, the space will support a wider programme of events, educational activities, school visits and community engagement. There will also be a gift shop.
The museum and art gallery closed at its former home in Peak Buildings, Terrace Road, due to structural concerns in the building in 2023.
Following the huge task of moving from Peak Buildings, with thousands of items being sent to safe storage, staff set up a pop-up service at Buxton Library, continuing to hold events, temporary displays and outreach activities, as well as boosting the museum’s online presence.
This week’s opening of the new, temporary space has been made possible after a successful bid by the county council for Arts Council England (ACE) funding, with £72,000 coming from the Museum Renewal Fund and a further £5,000 from Museum Development Midlands/Arts Council England’s On Display! Collections Grant Scheme.
Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment Councillor Carol Wood said: “We’re delighted to be re-opening Buxton Museum and Art Gallery in its new temporary space, which allows us to display a fascinating selection of the treasured artefacts and collections which have been in storage since the move from Peak Buildings.
“The famous Buxton Bear is once more presiding over the collections and ready to greet old and new visitors, and we’re all very much looking forward to showing off the new facility.
“The museum and art gallery remains free to visit, and the gift shop is certainly well worth a visit.”
Councillor Wood added: “We’d like to thank everyone for their support and patience during this latest move and reassure them that this is not the end of the museum and art gallery’s story. This latest chapter demonstrates our continued commitment to preserving and sharing the area's heritage while work progresses to secure a permanent home for the museum and art gallery in the longer term.’’
Opening times for BMAG will be Tuesday-Friday, 10am to 5pm and Saturday, 10am to 2pm.