Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery is celebrating after reaching 50k visitors in the last year, increasing from 28k four years ago.

The museum has undertaken a significant transformation since being at risk of closure in 2022. The extensive capital investment project saw the visitor experience re-imagined, with a redevelopment of the Mineral Gallery – which holds a world-renowned collection – the Heart of Cornwall Gallery, Nature Gallery and the addition of an Art Gallery in the building’s upper gallery.

In addition to the renovation works to the spaces, the museum has taken a refreshed approach to its exhibitions, focusing on increased opportunities for interaction and play.

Bryony Robins, Co-director for Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery says: “From the very beginning we’ve known that the museum is not only important to the community but also plays a fundamental role as home to Cornwall’s heritage, identity and story.

“Cornwall deserves a world-class museum and the transformation and increase in visitor numbers proves that local people, schools and visitors to the area want a chance to engage with the region’s history in a meaningful way.”

Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery is home to more than one million artefacts and the region’s largest museum for Cornish heritage, history and culture. Amongst its collections are the world’s earliest example of mining, with an antler pick and shovel dating back to the Bronze Age and Bronze Age Lunalae, gold crescent-shaped neck ornaments. The museum’s archaeology collection is the largest assemblage of Cornish materials, spanning 400,000 years. The collections demonstrate wealth, skilled craftsmanship and far-reaching trade networks which dismantle the myth of Cornwall as isolated, instead revealing a connected place with its own identity, expertise and international links.

Annie Baker, a volunteer at the museum says: “It’s been incredible to be part of the changes to the museum and we’ve seen a real shift in how visitors are engaging with the collections. The exhibitions really bring to life the many different stories of Cornwall and they give visitors a true insight into the people and places that have shaped the Cornwall we know and love today.”

Earlier this year the museum announced it had been awarded additional initial support of £440,000 through The National Lottery Heritage Fund, made possible thanks to National Lottery players. The funding will enable Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery to develop its plans for the final phase of its transformation which will see further upgrades to the visitor experience and encompass works to its educational facilities.

The pre-application – an initial feasibility enquiry – for the next phase of the developments to the museum have been submitted, and Cornwall Museum and Art Gallery have already begun the process of consulting with communities for feedback with further consultation events and activities taking place through the summer.

Under the co-leadership of Bryony Robins and Jonathan Morton, the museum has made considerable headway to re-establish the importance of the organisation. The transformation has extended to the Board of Trustees, Chaired by Julie Caplin-Grey, Chief Operating Officer for the Hall for Cornwall. In the last four years the board has welcomed a number of new trustees, bringing a range of professional and lived experience to support the cultural as well as physical transformation of the museum.

Museum co-director, Jonathan Morton says: “We’re incredibly proud of the process the museum has been through over the last four years and we couldn’t have done it without the dedication of our team and trustees.

“Hitting 50k visitors has been a key milestone for us, and we’re looking towards the final phase of transformation with renewed excitement.”