Hull Culture and Leisure Library Services has been awarded £203,175 of funding by the DCMS for its ‘Space to Inspire’ project.
The funding has been granted as part of a nationwide Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF) delivered by Arts Council England for the government’s Arts Everywhere Fund.
The investment will see Hull Central Library transformed into inclusive facilities for Hull residents, including a new themed café, a sensory room, quiet spaces for adults with additional needs and the refurbishment of the children’s library and meeting rooms.
Director of Libraries for Hull Culture and Leisure Ltd, Alexandra Ashwell, said: “We are thrilled to receive this funding, which will allow us to reimagine what a modern library can offer.
“By introducing a themed café, dedicated quiet spaces for adults with additional needs and a refreshed children’s library, we are turning Hull Central Library into a destination for discovery and relaxation.
“This project will ensure our facilities are fit for the future and continue to serve as a supportive, creative heart for the city.”
A total of sixteen cultural venues, local museums and libraries in Yorkshire and Humber are set to receive a share of just over £11 million to protect them for present and future generations. It is administered and delivered by Arts Council England on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy, said: “I want everyone, everywhere to feel a sense of pride about where they come from. Cultural organisations across Yorkshire and the Humber are important custodians of local identity and play a key role in the story we tell ourselves as a nation.
“Our Arts Everywhere Fund is delivering on our commitment to support cultural assets across the country, increasing access and preserving them for future generations. This is demonstrated by grants announced today that will benefit sixteen culture venues, museums and library services across Yorkshire and the Humber.”