Communities Minister ‘reawakens’ Ulster Folk Museum with £50m funding boost

View of the new central Culture Hub from the main entrance

The Ulster Folk Museum is set for a major transformation after Communities Minister Gordon Lyons announced a £50 million investment aimed at securing its future for generations to come.

The funding will support delivery of the Reawakening Project, a large-scale redevelopment designed to modernise facilities, improve access to nationally significant collections and strengthen the museum’s role in helping people connect with Ulster’s shared heritage.

The investment package includes £40 million from the Department for Communities and £10 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, representing the lottery body’s largest grant in Northern Ireland in a decade.

National Museums NI is also working with funding trusts and philanthropists to explore additional support, in line with the Department’s Heritage, Culture and Creativity Programme Framework.

Pictured at the Ulster Folk Museum are Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI and Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund with Éowyn and Chester from Ballyholme Primary School.

Announcing the funding, Mr Lyons highlighted the museum’s long-standing cultural importance.

“For more than 60 years, the Ulster Folk Museum has preserved, shared and celebrated the traditions, skills and ways of life of the people of Ulster, past and present, and this investment is vital to ensure our heritage is retained for future generations,” he said.

He added that the Reawakening Project represents a fundamental shift in how the museum operates and engages with the public.

Proposed town plan map of Ulster Folk Museum

(1) Woodland Walkway, (2) Culture Hub, (3) Market Garden, (4) Visitor Car Park, (5) Security Gate House, (6) Energy Centre, (7) Ballycultra Store Extention, (8) Bike and Bin Store, (9) Staff Car Park, (10) Industry Zone, (11) Staff Hub, (12) Learning Courtyard, (13) Pavilion and Engagement Zone

The Town Zone at the Ulster Folk Museum

Spaces for Learning & Engagement

“The Reawakening Project will see the Ulster Folk Museum transform to a multi-layered heritage and environment resource, which sustains more relevant and active connections with its audiences. This marks a profound shift in the museum’s positioning.

“The Reawakening is not just about reinvestment – it’s about reimagining the museum’s purpose to ensure it thrives for the next 25 years and beyond as a vibrant, relevant and indispensable resource for society.”

Addressing decades of underinvestment

National Museums NI has long argued that the Ulster Folk Museum’s potential has been constrained by limited capital investment, with some facilities no longer fit for purpose. The Reawakening Project aims to address these challenges while delivering lasting social, cultural and economic benefits.

Artist’s Impression inside the central Culture Hub

The Heart of the Museum - Inspiring welcome space, displaying the breadth of the Ulster Folk Collection

Orientation Gallery - Living, Making, Growing - Displays of heritage skills and crafts, stories told by diverse voices in communal dialogue

Industry Hall - An impressive double height hall for the long-awaited re-display of the Indusrty Collection

Industry Hall - An impressive double height hall for the long-awaited re-display of the Indusrty Collection

Event Spaces and Group Rooms - Flexible, welcoming spaces for all visitors and community groups

Craft workshop

Family Craft Hall

Upper Mezzanine Gallery providing a space for ‘Living Through Industrialisation in Ulster’, engaging displays on how industry impacts home life

Orientation Gallery - Planning your museum journey - activities, demonstrations, makers. Leading visitors out to the Market Garden and beyond

Cafe / Shop - Interiors reflective of the crafted, natural materials seen throughout museum

“A landmark moment”

Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, described the announcement as a landmark moment.

“The Ulster Folk Museum has had limited investment for decades, and some of its facilities are no longer fit for purpose. Our Reawakening project will deliver lasting and measurable social and economic value. We have been advocating Ulster Folk Museum’s potential as a heritage asset for a number of years,” she said.

“Today’s confirmation of support from the Minister and his Department is a significant and exciting milestone. We are also grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their instrumental support on our journey.”

Ms Thomson emphasised the human stories at the heart of the museum’s collections.

“The Ulster Folk Museum’s collection is a people’s collection. It has never been more relevant to our lives than today. These objects and stories reflect shared experiences and different traditions from across Ulster and help people better understand who we all are.

“This co-ordinated investment allows us to prioritise the themes of identity, the environment, and learning and skills, across the museum experience, ensuring Ulster Folk Museum will serve communities for generations to come.”

Jobs, skills and community impact

The National Lottery Heritage Fund said the project would not only enhance visitor experiences but also create wider economic and social opportunities.

Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said:

“It’s wonderful to see National Museums NI bring together a funding package that will reawaken the much-loved Ulster Folk Museum.

“Thanks to National Lottery players we’re able to commit £10million that so far has helped lay the groundwork and will now deliver this visionary project that will connect people to heritage that is accessible, relevant, sustainable and valued.

“At the same time as improving facilities, opening up collections and focussing on the natural environment, the project provides opportunities for creating and sustaining jobs and sharing heritage and craft skills alongside learning experiences for all ages.”

Timeline confirmed

The Reawakening Project received full planning permission from Ards & North Down Borough Council in 2023. The first phase of works is now due to begin later in 2026, with completion currently scheduled for 2029.

Once complete, the redeveloped Ulster Folk Museum is expected to play a central role in cultural life in Northern Ireland, offering a renewed space where communities can explore identity, environment and shared history in ways that are both meaningful and future-focused.