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Fundraiser launched for ‘much-needed makeover’ of museum
An ambitious fundraising appeal has launched to ensure the SS Great Britain can reopen its transformed Dockyard Museum.
With £1.3m in investment already secured, organisers are calling on the community to come together to raise an extra £180,000 to help complete the major reinvention project of the museum next to the historic ship in the Floating Harbour.
The Dockyard Museum is being redesigned as an immersive experience focused on the “untold stories” of passengers who travelled aboard the SS Great Britain to destinations including New York, India and the Falkland Islands.
Museum bosses promise the “much-needed makeover” will “reveal stories from more of the passengers on board the SS Great Britain, but it will also allow today’s audiences to resonate with her history in an entirely new way”.
The new museum will bring to life the remarkable stories of the passengers and crew who travelled and worked aboard the SS Great Britain – photo: SS Great Britain Trust
To help bridge the funding gap, the SS Great Britain Trust has launched an endurance-style public competition offering one person the chance to “win” the ship for a night.
Called the “All Hands on Deck” challenge, the event will see participants compete to keep their hands on the deck of the historic vessel for as long as possible.
The last person standing will win overnight access to host a private party aboard the ship.
Competitors will face a series of distractions, including appearances from the ship’s famed engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
The charity is appealing to raise a final amount of £180,000 via a unique event – photo: SS Great Britain Trust
Louisa Pharoah, director of people and development at the trust, said the competition is designed to rally the city behind one of its most important cultural institutions.
“This is an exciting chance to potentially win the ship all to yourself, whether it is for a milestone birthday party, or to simply experience life as captain for the night,” she said.
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According to the trust, visitors to the revamped museum can expect never-before-seen research and objects, as well as a new community hub creating a dedicated space within the SS Great Britain for groups, workshops and research.
Pharoah added: “The new museum will be incredibly special as it’s been created by the people of Bristol.
“It will showcase the untold stories of those who travelled on the ship, from more than 50 different nationalities.
“What’s more, many of these stories were uncovered by researchers from local Bristol communities.”
The Dockyard Museum is now closed for redevelopment and is due to reopen in July.
The ‘All Hands On Deck’ event will take place on March 21. To sign up or to find out how you can support, visit www.ssgreatbritain.org/things-to-do/all-hands-on-deck-challenge
Main photo: James King
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