Staff and collection to be moved to the Battersea Arts Centre

Wandsworth Museum faces closure under proposals which are to be presented to the Council.

If approved the plan would see the museum vacate the former library building on West Hill which would then reportedly be leased out to a nursery provider.

The move is being described at the creation of an organisation offering an integrated programme of culture and heritage. It is proposed that from March Wandsworth Museum's staff and the collection will be based at Battersea Arts Centre (BAC) in the Grade II listed former town hall on Lavender Hill.

This development follows the closure of the De Morgan Centre 28th June last year. The collection of Arts and Crafts paintings and ceramics is still looking for a new location according to its web site.

Sue Walker, Director of Wandsworth Museum, said: "We are delighted to have found with Battersea Arts Centre the opportunity to develop a transformative, creative and sustainable way of further developing the Museum and securing its long-term future."

David Jubb, Artistic Director and CEO of BAC, said: "Innovation and resilience are at the heart of what we do at Battersea Arts Centre. Recent projects like The Good Neighbour have brought together performance, heritage and our community to explore shared values. The possibilities for a new partnership with Wandsworth Museum are enticing and boundless, together we will be inspired by the past to help shape a better future.

Both organisations expressed their gratitude for the Hintze Family Charitable Foundation's support, donations and pledges of £3.18million. Of this total sum, £295k is pledged to Battersea Arts Centre.

The proposal now awaits the approval of Wandsworth Council.

January 28, 2015