Funding Success for Textiles Towerhouse
Saturday, June 14 2008
Scottish Borders Council has been awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) and Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) for the Textiles Towerhouse project at Drumlanrig’s Tower in Hawick.
Grants of £44,600 from HLF and £20,000 from MGS will fund state-of-the-art display cases and a new Lifelong Learning Officer post for the project, which aims to convert the existing Drumlanrig’s Tower into a centre for the study and appreciation of the textiles industry in the Borders.
These new cases will broaden the range of objects that can be displayed from SBC’s museums and archives. They will also improve the ability to secure loans and donations from industry and individuals to illustrate the past, present and future of the Borders textiles industry.
To bring the subject to life, a part-time Lifelong Learning Officer, funded by HLF to work over a period of two years, will aim to make sure that activity and learning are built into the new displays and will set up a programme of workshops and activities for schools and adult learners throughout the Borders.
Commenting on the award, Councillor Graham Garvie, Executive Member for Culture, Sport and Community Education said: “We are delighted to receive these two awards. They provide a much appreciated boost and will enable us to improve the quality of the project and encourage a greater understanding and appreciation of the importance of the textiles industry to audiences within the Borders and visitors to the area.”
Work on the refurbishment of Drumlanrig’s Tower will start this autumn and will be completed in time for reopening in Easter 2009. In the meantime, a small temporary exhibition can be seen in the tower, illustrating the ideas that will be displayed and interpreted when it reopens as the Textiles Towerhouse next year. This display is open Monday to Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-3 until 30 September and admission is free.
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