The Watt Institution has scooped a £230,000 lottery windfall

The National Lottery Heritage Fund today announced that it is to invest £250,000 in Inverclyde to help the recovery of the area's heritage sector.

The Watt Institution, comprising the McLean Museum and Art Gallery, Inverclyde Archives, Watt Hall and Watt Library, has been given the huge funding boost to create a new display focusing on the story of Inverclyde’s links with the transatlantic slave trade and the sugar and tobacco industries.

A new multi-purpose space will also be developed so that more community groups and new audiences can take part in workshops and themed activities, while improved digital resources will encourage more on-line participation.

The project is expected to encourage local visitors back through the museum doors, which had to shut due to lockdown restrictions just months after the completion of a major makeover.

Councillor Jim Clocherty, convener of education and communities, said: “This is a significant investment which will be put to good use to further enhance the offering and experience at the Watt Institution, which reopened just over a year ago after a major £2.1 million refurbishment by the council.

“Central to this funding is allowing us to continue to lead the way in appropriately recognising the area’s links to the transatlantic slave trade in partnership with various groups, agencies and especially the local community.

“Our thanks go to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for recognising the importance of the Watt Institution to Inverclyde and the role it plays in educating, inspiring and engaging with the people of this area and beyond.”

Caroline Clark, director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “At a time when museum’s nationally and internationally are rethinking collections in relation to their origins, Inverclyde has an important opportunity to share the role the region played in the slave trade and lead the way in telling its untold stories.

“We are pleased to support this significant work and hope it will help the Watt Institute through this incredibly challenging time. We have had to act quickly to support Scotland’s heritage sector and while we cannot save everyone and we know challenges still lie ahead, we are grateful that we have been able to help."

Lottery bosses are also supporting important digital development with funding for Inverclyde Heritage Network and Greenock Burns Club.

The oldest Burns Club in the world will use a £10,000 grant to tell the story of Robert Burns and share its archive more widely through digital technology. A further £10,000 grant will allow Inverclyde Heritage Network to develop a new hub, including digital training opportunities for its 200 volunteer members.

The Lottery Heritage Fund is currently supporting a number of other projects in Inverclyde including St John’s Church in Gourock, Rig Arts and Magic Torch Comics