Closed Dudley Museum and Art Gallery to become staff training base

Bosses are pressing ahead with plans to re-open the landmark building, which closed after more than a century under cost-cutting measures.

The building in St James’s Road will become an ‘innovation hub’ which will also host events such as conferences.

Councillor Ian Kettle, the Conservative-run authority’s regeneration boss, said he believed the move would make good use of the former museum and art gallery.

Convenient

Bosses have previously discussed what should be done with the historic building but it has remained largely unused since its controversial closure in December 2016.

Councillor Kettle said: “I understand it is being altered and used as a training centre. It will be more convenient for a lot of staff who work in Dudley.

“Parts of it would be used for training council staff and briefings.

“It was a tired building and I think it needs regenerating into a more modern facility. It needs smartening up and I’m all in favour of it being used in this way.”

Displays and collections were shifted from the museum and art gallery to the Dudley Archives on Tipton Road following the closure.

The museum had been a fixture in Dudley since 1912 but was closed the council in a bid to save £150,000 a year.

Maximise

A campaign was launched to save it but bosses went ahead with the closure.

Labour councillor Khurshid Ahmed said: “We want to maximise the income and opportunities there.

“The more staff training and conferences there are, the more people will attend the building and make full use of it.

"I welcome opportunities, especially with buildings like these, to utilise it properly and generate the necessary income.”