Liverpool’s jewel in the crown, St George’s Hall, has taken a step closer to opening a brand new visitor attraction in 2021 thanks to a £250,000 boost.
The funding, part of the government’s Culture Recovery Fund, will be invested in a high-tech digital visitor experience which will enable people to step back in time and see what life would have been like in the cells and courts of the 19thand 20th centuries.
The ambition is for the educational and informative project to combine 3D, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and virtual reality, in a first for the Grade I-listed building.
This initial funding will allow the St George’s Hall team to work with a specialist company, via a tender process, to deliver the digital vision, with the ambition to secure more funding in the new year for the project.
St George’s Hall was one of 77 organisations to receive a grant which was allocated by the National Heritage Fund and Historic England on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Liverpool’s Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Culture, Tourism and Events, Councillor Wendy Simon, said: “We welcome investment in this much-loved landmark and are delighted by this latest funding boost.
“St George’s Hall has so many stories to tell, and we want to bring these to life in a whole new, 21st century way which will ensure the venue continues to be a must-visit destination for residents and visitors alike.
“We have high ambitions for the project and look forward to seeing it develop over the coming months.”
Culture Secretary, Oliver Dowden, said: “These grants will help the places that have shaped our skylines for hundreds of years and that continue to define culture in our towns and cities.
“From St Paul’s and Ronnie Scott’s to The Lowry and Durham Cathedral, we’re protecting heritage and culture in every corner of the country to save jobs and ensure it can bounce back strongly.”
