Member Article

University study supports large-scale Scarborough maritime heritage centre

A year-long study has been presented to the Scarborough Maritime Heritage Centre (SMHC) by John Munroe and Paul Cross from the University of Hull’s Business Management Centre.

The report examined the feasibility of establishing an economically viable high-quality visitor destination for families that would be open to the public five days a week and exhibit, while at the same time preserve all aspects of the town’s extensive maritime heritage. It also noted that the current centre is the only museum in the town showcasing the history of the town and that there is no other centre of this type within a 50-mile radius.

The track record of the Centre’s maritime work was examined together with how best it might be progressed through partnership with support funding.

While the study concluded that a large-scale centre could be hard to establish immediately, it is by no means out of reach in the medium to long-term. It concluded, on a highly positive note, that there is indeed a very good case for such an attraction in Scarborough and the area does present a realistic opportunity to support it.

The proposal arising from the study concluded that a four-year time scale should be used to develop the SMHC visitor Centre in partnership with other organisations and the local authority, and suggests it could be up and running by 2016. The report carefully examined the economic environment, a financial and resource assessment and the overall feasibility of establishing such a centre.

The Centre’s current exhibition focuses on Scarborough’s shipbuilding past and is open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4pm and entrance is free.

The detailed 70-page report was prepared by Mario Bartz, a 2011 international business honours graduate.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ed Moss .