Gunnersbury Park receives Arts Council funding, reducing their reliance on commercial income

Photograph of the day by Jennifer Griffiths – @jengriffiths49

Gunnersbury Park Museum; photograph Jennifer Griffiths

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this vital funding” says Corinne Wan, Head of Museum Services

Gunnersbury Park & Museum have secured funding from the Arts Council England which they say should enable them to be less reliant on income from commercial sources.

The number of concerts and festivals they put on in the park and the impact they have on local residents has been a running source of contention.

READ ALSO: Row breaks out over Gunnersbury Park festivals

READ ALSO: A busy summer of music at Gunnersbury Park and the noise that follows

Gunnersbury is one of 75 museums being supported by Museum Renewal Fund awards, announced by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on Wednesday (8 October).

The Fund, specifically for local authority linked museums, is to help them with running costs. Grantees will be expected to undertake additional work to boost business and financial sustainability beyond 31 March 2026.

Early Years group learning about cooking in Victorian times; photograph Matthew Kaltenborn

The £147,000 going to Gunnersbury Park will ‘strengthen the Trust’s capacity to deliver high-quality educational programmes’, says the Trust, ‘broaden its fundraising and campaign work, and create a cohesive brand identity across the estate’.

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this vital funding from Arts Council England”, said Corinne Wan, Head of Museum Services at Gunnersbury. The ways in which they plan to use the money “will make it easier for all our visitors to explore and enjoy Gunnersbury’s rich heritage, historic buildings, and collections.”

Richmond Arts Service, which manages the Orleans House Gallery, and Fulham Palace are also on the list to receive public money.

Sculpture by Michael Landy has gaps between figures so visitors can hold hands with them in solidarity; photograph Andy Aitchison

Schools workshops

Part of the money going to Gunnersbury Park will be spent on the Schools Programme, working with local teachers to develop a new Key Stage 3 (Secondary School) learning workshop about humanitarianism, building on the Park’s recent installation of a sculpture recognising the work of humanitarian aid workers.

HRH Prince William was recently at the Park to unveil the National Humanitarian Memorial, designed by Michael Landy CBE, which incorporates the stories of 15 humanitarian aid workers who died in the course of their work trying to help others in conflict zones.

READ ALSO: Prince William visits Chiswick to unveil a new sculpture to honour humanitarian aid workers

School group at the museum; photograph Matthew Kaltenborn

Focusing on fundraising and reducing dependence on commercial trading

Another part of the money will go to the appointment of a fundraiser for the centenary year. Next year marks 100 years since the Gunnersbury estate first came into public benefit, and the Trust intends to use it ‘as a rallying point to build public support and highlight their ongoing work.

‘This additional resource will allow it to strengthen its outreach and encourage donations reducing dependence on commercial trading’.

Early Years group learning about cooking in Victorian times; photograph Matthew Kaltenborn

Improving the ‘brand identity’

As part of its development, an area of focus for the Park and Museum will be to ‘strengthen its visual brand identity’. Funding from Arts Council England will make it possible for the team to create ‘a unified look that reflects the diversity of Gunnersbury’s audiences.

‘Updated signage across the historic park will also improve visitor navigation and make it a truly accessible and inclusive destination.

The Trust says: ‘Collectively, these developments will help Gunnersbury remain relevant to its communities, safeguard its heritage, and deliver a better experience for visitors’.

Gunnersbury Park lake; photograph Jennifer Griffiths

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar