Manchester Museum 2035
Our shared vision for the next decade.
Together, we’ll create a museum that builds empathy and understanding for our world and each other. One that puts you at its heart.
The full strategic plan, including a number of bold new projects, will be unveiled in the autumn. But, for now, enjoy our film created in collaboration with With Love Studio and take a look at our strategic priorities.
Since reopening in February 2023, we have made huge progress in realising our vision of the most inclusive, imaginative and caring museum, embedded in its communities.
When Manchester Museum was crowned winner of the European Museum of the Year Award 2025, the judges described ‘a truly inclusive space where all individuals, regardless of identity or background, can see themselves reflected and represented’.
Now we’re looking to the next decade.
Manchester Museum 2035 marks a major moment in our journey, mapping out our ambitions and plans to unlock this incredible institution’s huge potential. We’ve spoken to more than 800 people to understand what they need from their museum and their voices are weaved throughout our new strategic plan.
Grounded in our mission and values, the strategic priorities outlined below channel our collective dreams for the future of Manchester Museum.
OUR PRIORITIES ARE:
To foster empathy and care.
To nurture environmental action and stewardship.
To pursue social justice.
To sustain and build equitable ways of working.
To spark our collective imagination.
We believe in museums as spaces where imagination, hope and action can flourish. Breaking from the traditional perception of museums as fact-givers, we will become truth-tellers, helping us all to navigate our complex world, expand our thinking and build new knowledge.
