Walsall Future Museum
Walsall Council
Walsall Council, aiming to revitalise its town centre and enhance cultural offerings, commissioned a feasibility study for a "Future Walsall Museum." This initiative sought to evaluate the current Walsall Leather Museum’s suitability and explore options for a museum aligned with broader regeneration goals.
CAO partnered with architects Hill Harvey-Wood (HHW) in this multi-phased project. Phase one involved research and consultation to map the existing museum and cultural offerings across the city, with an in-depth review of current challenges, successes, and consultations with internal and external stakeholders, including local creatives and community leaders.
The second phase of work included a visioning exercise and key audience prioritisation. The third phase of work focused on building a business case that was used to support the range of options that were interrogated as venues for a future museum.
The study culminated in a comprehensive report outlining a roadmap for the Future Walsall Museum, including a vision, values, and purpose statements, developed through community engagement. We presented three options: expanding the Leather Museum, repurposing buildings in the town centre, or a phased approach using meanwhile projects. Each was evaluated on potential regeneration impact, community engagement, and financial viability. The report also provided a business case and a proposed timeline for implementation.
Building on the momentum of phase one, CAO and HHW were re-commissioned for a further phase to work up in more detail a viable museum option. Through a co-design process, this phase aims to establish the museum's identity, purpose, and role in supporting Walsall’s regenerative priorities.