A company that provides project management services for museum, heritage and exhibitions has finished work on a new cultural and learning hub in Tunbridge Wells.
Focus Consultants – which has offices in London, Nottingham and Leicester – worked as programme manager on The Amelia Scott centre, which has brought together the town’s library, museum, art gallery, council front line services, adult education, local studies and archives.
Amelia (Millie) Scott was a social reformer and campaigner for women's suffrage in the early 20th centrury.
The Focus team helped bring the project together and act as fit-out project manager and quantity surveyor working alongside Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Kent County Council, Purcell Architects, Wilmott Dixon, Metaphor and Factory Settings.
The fit-out has included a series of artist and illustration commissions which draw on the heritage of craftmanship in Tunbridge Wells and the High Weald. The display demonstrates the rich variety of the council collections including natural history, costume, toys and the tools and products of local crafts people.
There is also a new temporary exhibition space along with catering and shop facilities.
Most of the existing building has been retained but adapted, with additional links created to the new buildings, so that they can work together.
The buildings are grouped around a central courtyard, which will be used in the summer months for performances and displays.
Eleanor Clarke, a partner at Focus, said: “It was wonderful to work with the team on this project helping to really show off and bring together a number of services and collections in a way that is welcoming, fun and engaging for both local people and tourists alike.”
Focus is a leading consultant in the museum exhibition sector having worked with many of the UK’s major museums on exhibitions, refurbishments, and other projects.
It has previously worked with the St Fagan’s National Museum of History, The V&A, V&A Dundee, National Army Museum, and Brooklands Museum.
Current projects include providing project management services to the Harris Museum, Art Gallery, and Library in Preston and the Horniman Museum and Gardens in South London.
