National Museums Scotland’s (NMS) redevelopment of the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune in East Lothian has been boosted by a £1.3m award from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The first round pass is for a £3.6m scheme to restore two second world war hangars and create new exhibitions within them. The structures, part of the East Fortune Airfield Scheduled Monument, were built in 1940-41 and were originally designed to last about 10 years.
The redeveloped hangers will focus on military aircraft and leisure and smaller civil aircraft.
Exhibits will include a German-built rocket-powered ME 163 Komet, the only rocket-powered interceptor ever built; a Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the world’s first and most successful vertical take-off and landing jet to enter service and the oldest example in existence; and a Mark XVI Spitfire.
“We can now work up more detailed plans for the restoration of our two second world war hangars and their transformation into two vibrant new display spaces, worthy of our internationally significant collections,” said director of NMS, Gordon Rintoul.
The Scottish government has pledged £1.8m for the project. NMS is now looking to trusts, foundations and the corporate sector to secure the remaining £500,000 needed.
Elsewhere, Tate Modern has secured £10m from the Eyal Ofer Family Foundation to support the completion of the £215m extension of Tate Modern, which is expected to open in 2016. Ofer is an international shipping magnate whose business interests include a global property portfolio.
His late father, Sammy Ofer, contributed to cultural projects in London such as the Sammy Ofer Wing of the National Maritime Museum, which opened in 2011, and the restoration of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, which opened in 2012.
The first round pass is for a £3.6m scheme to restore two second world war hangars and create new exhibitions within them. The structures, part of the East Fortune Airfield Scheduled Monument, were built in 1940-41 and were originally designed to last about 10 years.
The redeveloped hangers will focus on military aircraft and leisure and smaller civil aircraft.
Exhibits will include a German-built rocket-powered ME 163 Komet, the only rocket-powered interceptor ever built; a Hawker Siddeley Harrier, the world’s first and most successful vertical take-off and landing jet to enter service and the oldest example in existence; and a Mark XVI Spitfire.
“We can now work up more detailed plans for the restoration of our two second world war hangars and their transformation into two vibrant new display spaces, worthy of our internationally significant collections,” said director of NMS, Gordon Rintoul.
The Scottish government has pledged £1.8m for the project. NMS is now looking to trusts, foundations and the corporate sector to secure the remaining £500,000 needed.
Elsewhere, Tate Modern has secured £10m from the Eyal Ofer Family Foundation to support the completion of the £215m extension of Tate Modern, which is expected to open in 2016. Ofer is an international shipping magnate whose business interests include a global property portfolio.
His late father, Sammy Ofer, contributed to cultural projects in London such as the Sammy Ofer Wing of the National Maritime Museum, which opened in 2011, and the restoration of the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, which opened in 2012.
