Museum redevelopment down to 'people power'

THE redevelopment of UK's only dedicated slavery museum and the wider docklands area is testament to Liverpool's "people power, according to the woman overseeing the scheme.

- By DAVID HUMPHREYS Local Democracy Reporter

Last year, "exceptional" plans for the creation of a new entrance at a long unused part of the city's Albert Dock were signed off by the local authority as part of a £58m redevelopment of the International Slavery Museum and Maritime Museum.

The site was previously home to Granada Television. National Museums Liverpool said the overhaul was needed to become "more sustainable and meet the needs of the museum's audiences". Both sites shut down in January for work to begin on a scheme described as "brave" by Michelle Charters OBE, head of the International Slavery Museum.

Ms Charters praised the city's desire to embrace modernisation. As part of the wider waterfront regeneration project, there will be a dedicated entrance to the Maritime Museum, with multi-functional cultural spaces including the new National Centre for Teaching Black History and continuing the partnership with the Centre for Study of International Slavery.