Wolverhampton is set to witness the creation of its first healthcare museum and co-creation centre, shedding light on the city's medical history.
This project has been made possible by a £140,000 ($171,000) grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The Healthcare Heritage Centre will take its place in the Mander Centre, in part of a collaboration between The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust (RWT) Charity and the Arts and Heritage Group.
This centre will showcase medical artefacts, photographs and memorabilia from RWT's collection, to provide insight into the city's healthcare evolution.
Furthermore, it will feature four community projects focusing on contemporary healthcare narratives and a schedule of talks and events.
The £139,792 grant, part of the 'Care, Create, Conserve' program, is all set to begin in the 75th year of the NHS and continue for 18 months.
Ian Fegan, Director of Communications and Visitor Economy at Wolverhampton Council, expressed his support for the initiative.
He believes that the project aligns with Wolverhampton's cultural ambitions, facilitating greater community involvement in arts and heritage and celebrating local heritage.
Fegan emphasised the role of culture in supporting the high street's vitality and promoting the creative sector.
This project follows The National Lottery Heritage Fund's recent initiatives to support local economies and communities. The Heritage Places initiative aims to invest £200m in revitalising towns and cities across the UK.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has also played a role in community projects like Coastal Connections by Morecambe Artist Colony and Time & Tide Bell.
These initiatives aimed to capture local memories via audio technology to improve community connections while addressing mental health and living costs issues.
