During the project development phase, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council purchased the building adjacent to the existing museum to create 240 square metres of gallery space for changing exhibitions plus a new workshop and learning space.
New displays will explore the history and archaeology of Ballycastle, from its earliest times through to its 18th-century industrial past, the Arts and Crafts Revival movement, its maritime heritage and more recent social history.
As well as making access improvements and installing a lift, the project will develop sensory packs and a quiet space with tactile elements incorporated into exhibition design. Outdoor space will have a planting programme working with community groups to make a home for nature using native species.
A planned activity programme includes:
- a Young Historians project
- an oral history archive that includes memories from Rathlin Island
- a LEGO brick model of Boyd’s harbour and family trail
- a maritime heritage programme including sessions on a currach in Church Bay
- an OCN Young Curators programme where participants will gain accreditation and develop a their own exhibitions
Stella Byrne, Heritage Fund Head of Investment for Northern Ireland, said: “This investment will improve the Conservation Area’s streetscape and means the museum can open year-round, increase staff and visitor numbers and reach new audiences”
The project will run for two and a half years. Subject to planning approval, work is expected to be completed by late 2028.
