Need

The problem is three fold: to improve and restore a historic museum which is in need of change to be fit for the demands of the 21st Century. To improve access to the museum, to the Roman walls and the historic gardens. To ensure that RAMM's collections are re-displayed to the highest standards.

Solution

The RAMM Development Trust has an ambitious plan which will provide a comprehensive solution. The museum's access will be improved and the building restored to improve environmental standards. Innovative use of display techniques will enable more of the collections to be shown, to better effect and to provide more educational opportunities. The public realm will be dramatically upgraded to highlight the beauty of the built and environmental heritage and make accessible the Roman walls.

Aims

Develop the use of RAMM's greatest asset - the collections

Activities

» Improve all display areas to the highest standard.
» Generate more interest in the collections by developing our existing partnerships and building new ones

Success will be indicated by exceeding 200,000 visitors per year, who will be invited to give feedback about the collections in order to improve our rotating displays

Create a living museum - to invigorate and inspire

Activities

» Build on the success of our award winning education service with a wider range of learning opportunities, thanks to the easier to access collections
» Our holistic approach brings together natural environment, built heritage, archaelogy. Everyone will feel civic ownership and a sense of place.

Success will be meeting the demands of the 21 century visitor - student, child, researcher - and evaluating how RAMM has increased the individual learning and enjoyment experience.

Improve our welcome to everyone

Activities

» A dramatically better environment, through a new entrance and the public realm.
» The warmest welcome from our team in a new reception, complemented by sustainable appraoch to our cafe.

Success will be demonstrated by regular visitor satisfaction surveys. The aim is to meet and exceed the survey targets.

Increase understanding of RAMM as a heritage building itself

Activities

» Interpretation of the collections will be complemented by better information displayed about the building and its own history.
» The highest level of design, service and public art will be incorporated into our development project, to showcase the 'Venetian Casket' that is RAMM.

Success is having a greater range of people who will visit and appreciate the total environment improved as an integral part of RAMM's development.

Impact

'Home to a Million Thoughts' project will improve the public realm (Roman walls, Norman gardens and Queen St) and the conservation and presentation of the collections. The museum's development plans are vitally important to the City Council's regeneration of the Castle Quarter of Exeter. RAMM's income generation plans will be made more sustainable with these better facilities; success will be shown by bringing in funding through the new services to enhance the museum.

Risk

There is a risk that a partner funding for certain aspects of the project will not be forthcoming. We have managed this by preparing contingency plans: where risk is identified we will progress the affected element of the project on a reduced funding base, to avoid the whole project being jeopardised. We have also undertaken plans for income generation, to make the best use of the public investment.

Reporting

Funders to the project will be able to visit the RAMM site as it progresses, to hear from the team involved in the development and to learn how their investment makes a difference to the museum. We will also ensure we meet the criteria funders set, and report in writing as required.

Budget - Project Cost: £3,000,000

Current Funding / Pledges

Source	Amount
Heritage Lottery Fund	£9,400,000	Guaranteed
Exeter City Council	£5,900,000	Guaranteed
Revenue Savings	£172,000	Guaranteed
Fundraising	£818,000	Guaranteed
Capital receipts	£550,000	Guaranteed

Location

RAMM is located in Exeter, Devon.

Beneficiaries

Over 200,000 visitors every year will benefit, from across a wide demographic. We will also reach out to the schools across Devon and to communities of the sub-region (Beyond Devon, into west Somerset and Dorset). Young people will learn new skills and increase their confidence. Older people will have more opportunities to access and enjoy the collections.

Why Us?

The RAMM Development Trust knows RAMM as a museum intimately. The Trust has 16 years experience of advocating and fundraising for the museum, bringing together a range of individuals who care passionately about heritage, the arts and culture.

Read more about the Charity running this project.

People

Claire Gulliver

Claire is the Renaissance Project Manager and has experience of making museums more accessible and welcoming to visitors.

Camilla Hampshire

Camilla is the Museums Manager and will lead the development of the improved RAMM, championing the value of the museum.