The Ulster Folk Museum is set for a major transformation thanks to a £50 million investment, hailed as a “significant and exciting milestone” for the 62-year-old heritage attraction.
Located in Cultra, County Down, the outdoor museum showcases both original and replica buildings, offering visitors a glimpse into urban and rural life in Northern Ireland across the centuries. The ambitious Reawakening Project will enhance visitor facilities and bring previously stored collections into public display for the first time.
Kathryn Thomson, chief executive of National Museums NI, said the investment would “change how people access and connect with our collections.” She highlighted that the museum has suffered from decades of limited funding, and this project provides the largest single investment it has ever received.
Funding comes from £40 million from Stormont’s Department for Communities and £10 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thomson emphasized that the museum will not only offer traditional exhibits but also create hands-on experiences where visitors can “roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty.”
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, speaking at the museum’s reconstructed National School, said the project is as much about preserving the past as it is about attracting future tourism. “Investing in heritage and culture allows us to tell our stories. For 60 years, the Ulster Folk Museum has done that, and this project ensures future generations can continue to learn from it,” he explained.
Lyons described the £50 million investment as “a profound shift in the museum’s positioning.” The reawakening aims not just to reinvest but to reimagine the museum’s role, ensuring it remains a vibrant, relevant, and indispensable resource for society for the next 25 years and beyond.
