A BLUEPRINT for the future is set to be announced by a South Tyneside museum which suffered a major heritage blow earlier this May.
Officials of Bede’s World, in Church Bank, Jarrow, will reveal their future plans to town councillors in the next week.
In May, a campaign to secure World Heritage Site status for the twin monastic site of Wearmouth-Jarrow was dramatically scrapped.
The decision was taken just hours after the Gazette revealed the bid was the subject of a critical report by the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
If the bid had been successful, it could have made the joint Jarrow and Wearside monastic site, including Bede’s World, into a tourist attraction to rival Durham Cathedral, the Taj Mahal or the Great Wall of China.
But Bede’s World officials will look to the future this week when they address members of Jarrow and Boldon community area forum.
Pearl Saddington, the assistant director of Bede’s World, said: “We aim to get the museum on the radar and tell councillors about our plans.
“Director Mike Benson and myself will make a presentation about our strategy for the next few years.
“We will talk about breathing new life into the museum and the importance of connecting with the local community, while keeping faith with the historic values of the site.
“A radio station has recently been launched at Bede’s World, and we have taken on five apprentices and hope to take on more next year.”
Bede’s World, which employs about 20 full and part-time staff, aims to develop more state-of-the-art digital displays at the museum.
There are also future plans to create a seafaring Anglo-Saxon ship, and complementary events will take place next year as part of the visit to the region of the Lindisfarne Gospels.
Bede’s World officials will make their presentation at Jarrow and Boldon community area forum, at Jarrow Town Hall, at 5pm on Thursday.
Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting.
Twitter: @terrykelly16
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