Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has unveiled a landmark £50 million investment for the Ulster Folk Museum to facilitate its ambitious "Reawakening" project.

The funding is designed to modernise the museum's infrastructure, improve public access to its extensive collections, and deepen the connection between the public and Ulster's cultural heritage.

The financial package comprises £40 million from the Department for Communities and £10 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The latter represents the largest grant awarded by the fund in Northern Ireland in the last ten years. To further support the initiative, National Museums NI is engaging with various philanthropists and funding trusts to explore additional revenue streams.

Minister Gordon Lyons commented: "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. 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."

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The project aims to address decades of limited investment at the site, ensuring facilities are brought up to modern standards. By focusing on themes of environment, identity, and traditional skills, the museum intends to deliver measurable social and economic benefits to the region.

Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, stated: "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. 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."

Thomson added: "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."

The project is also expected to bolster the local economy by creating and sustaining jobs while providing a platform for heritage craft skills.

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."