From early October 2022, the Joseph Wright gallery will be temporarily closed to the public as extensive repairs are carried out to the roof of the Museum and Art Gallery. During this time, paintings usually housed within the gallery will be stored securely and inaccessible to view in person.

The project will carry out extensive repairs to the roof of the museum complex. Parts of the building are over 140 years old, with the work taking place over the Joseph Wright gallery being part of a block built in 1881.

To preserve the future of our museum building and keep our collections safe, we must close the gallery and safely store the Wright paintings during this time to protect this precious collection. We will be able to keep the rest of the museum open during these works, which should be completed by early 2023.

The majority of the funding for the work has come from the highly competitive Museum Estate and Development (MEND) Fund from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, administered by Arts Council England. The MEND Fund recognises the importance of England’s historic museum and art gallery buildings and the need for their good care. These works should secure the Museum and Art Gallery building for generations to come.

Please keep an eye on our website and social media channels (@derbymuseums on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) for updates as work on-site progresses.