Wigan Museum will close temporarily from 25 July as work begins on a significant remodelling of its ground-floor gallery to make way for a new community-led exhibition, Our Northern Soul. The council says the project is underpinned by a £249,000 award from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and will reshape the visitor experience, creating more space for events, learning and displays that reflect the borough.
What will change
The redevelopment will focus on the museum's ground floor, where the redesign will deliver a refreshed entrance, a dedicated activity zone incorporating reception, and a combined retail and flexible space intended for exhibitions, film screenings, learning programmes and community events. Work is expected to continue through the redevelopment period with the museum scheduled to reopen in summer 2027.
- Closure begins: 25 July
- Funding: £249k from The National Lottery Heritage Fund
- Reopening: planned for summer 2027
- Upper-floor Local Studies: will remain open for much of the works
Community involvement and aims
Council officers say the exhibition will "explore what makes Wigan Borough special through the stories, objects and experiences of local people". Early design concepts and themes have been shaped by workshops and consultation with community partners and residents, with further opportunities to take part due to be announced in the coming weeks.
“This is just the start of an exciting journey for Wigan Museum. We're creating a space that better reflects the borough we are today while celebrating the stories, people and heritage that have shaped us.”
The council emphasises that Wigan Local Studies, housed on the museum's upper floors, will remain accessible for much of the project, allowing continued public access to archives and local history services while the main gallery is closed.
Practical consequences for visitors and groups
The planned closure will affect casual visitors and established users of the museum's ground-floor learning spaces, including school groups and community organisations that currently use the facilities for workshops and events. The creation of a flexible spaces from the redesign is intended to provide improved accommodation for educational activities and community programming once works are complete.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project name | Our Northern Soul |
| Funding | £249,000 (National Lottery Heritage Fund) |
| Closure date | 25 July |
| Planned reopening | Summer 2027 |
Further details on how residents can contribute to the exhibition and the programme of activities that will occupy the new spaces will be published by the council in the coming weeks. For the duration of the works, those seeking local history resources are directed to the upper-floor Local Studies service, which the council says will remain open for much of the redevelopment period.
The redevelopment signals a council-led move to present the museum as a more flexible cultural hub for Wigan Borough, prioritising local stories and community participation while upgrading facilities to support events and education.
