It may be facing funding cuts this year, but the People’s History Museum has received a serious boost by being named Manchester’s favourite venue.
The historical building took the top prize in a recent social media competition run by venue website Hire Space, just months after the government announced it would slash its grant to the museum, which celebrates the lives and contributions of working class people in Britain.
Alan Johnson MP, who led an online petition to plug the £200,000 shortfall, thinks the competition outcome is an important landmark for the future of the museum.
Mr Johnson said: “I’m delighted that the People’s History Museum has been voted Manchester’s favourite venue. It speaks volumes about what the place means to the city, and this marketing prize will be a huge boost for 2015.”
Around 97,000 Mancunians were able to take part in the competition, and the People’s History Museum took 161 of the nominations for best venue.
Sarah Vince, Development Manager at the museum, said: “The People’s History Museum is delighted to have been voted Manchester’s favourite venue in Hire Space’s recent Facebook competition.
“As a charity it is extremely valuable to the museum to be marketed by Hire Space. Particularly as all our income from Venue Hire is ploughed back into the museum’s public activities.”
Winning the competition is a significant victory for the Grade II museum, which is determined to avoid closure when the funding withdrawal takes effect in April.
Marketing Manager at Hire Space Tommy Shane, said: “We are really pleased that the People’s History Museum has won our competition. It’s a fantastic organisation and our users love it – we can’t wait to work with their team in implementing their free marketing in 2015.”
Image courtesy of Neil Turner, with thanks.
