Assembly wants more support for the Migration Museum

The Migration Museum currently attracts an average of 60,000 visitors a year to its current temporary location in Lewisham Shopping Centre.  It has secured a new permanent home with a 60-year rental agreement in the City of London, construction of which is due for completion in 2027. The Museum aims to welcome at least 140,000 visitors a year from across London, the UK and beyond to this landmark’s new cultural destination.

The London Assembly has today called on the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries to discuss and explore public funding options for the Migration Museum.

Hina Bokhari AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“I am delighted that the Assembly has agreed this motion today.

“London has a long and fascinating history of migration, from the Romans and the Anglo Saxons to the Windrush generation and the Ukrainians fleeing war today.

“The Migration Museum is carrying out important work to promote integration, representation, understanding and respect across London and the UK.

“Active engagement with the Mayor and Deputy Mayor will help with the amazing work already being done by this fantastic institution.”

The full text of the motion is:

This Assembly notes that:

• For millennia, people have migrated to and from the city of London. From the Romans and the Anglo Saxons, to the Windrush generation and the Ukrainians fleeing war today.
• The Migration Museum’s mission to mainstream an inclusive narrative about migration as a central strand of who we are, where we come from and where we're going, and to promote integration, representation, participation, understanding and respect.
• The Migration Museum currently attracts an average of 60,000 visitors a year to its current temporary location in Lewisham Shopping Centre, with an audience that is far more representative of the population of London than other museums and galleries in the capital.
• The Migration Museum’s successful and continuously growing education programme welcomes 3,000 primary and secondary school children to the museum every year.
• The Migration Museum works with teacher training providers, multi-academy trusts and examination boards to build expertise and confidence in teaching about migration and related topics.
• The Migration Museum has secured a new permanent home with a 60-year rental agreement in the City of London, construction of which is due for completion in 2027. The Museum aims to welcome at least 140,000 visitors a year from across London, the UK and beyond to this landmark’s new cultural destination.

This Assembly calls for:

• The Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries and her team to meet with the Migration Museum in order to discuss their needs, and share expertise regarding fundraising strategy and opportunities for awareness raising in support of their £20m capital fundraising campaign goal.
• The Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries to discuss and explore public funding options for the Migration Museum including the London Good Growth Fund and Crowdfund London.

The meeting can be viewed via webcast or YouTube.

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