Update on our new site
The new Museum of Homelessness space – where are we now?
In the early autumn last year, we were delighted to announce that after nearly two years of discussion, we would be opening a new space at Manor House Lodge in Finsbury Park!
As winter has drawn in people have been asking – what’s the update? When are you going to open?
What we’ve been up to
Since we made the announcement, we have been busy. We’ve been working hard behind the scenes to develop the project and plan. We are developing local partnerships and getting to know what is needed on the ground in Haringey, Hackney and Islington.
We have recruited artist and long-standing collaborator Bekki Perriman to the team as community coordinator and we’ve also been holding lots of community planning sessions to develop the new museum with the help of Stephen Greenberg, community members and our artists in residence Surfing Sofas, Liv Wynter & Jacob V Joyce.
If you are interested in attending one of these planning sessions please contact bekki@museumofhomelessness.org
Excitement has been building. In January the project was featured in the Guardian pick of Art, Design and Architecture for 2023 and was named one of Time Out's top four cultural hotspots opening in 2023, alongside the V&A, Soho Theatre and the National Portrait Gallery.
Where are we now
We are delighted to share the news that in January 2023 the council began working onsite to repair the lodge. These works will bring the site up to standard, as the building is in need of TLC. We will sign the lease once the building is in a condition we can operate from and move in to start community work as soon as possible.
Later on in 2023 we will open to the public for museum activities and we will continue to evolve the site over the next few years. We’re incredibly excited to be one step closer to opening.
We now expect be open to the public in autumn 2023 but with capital projects, especially in the chaotic ‘20s’ you can never be too sure! We will keep everyone posted.
After the works are finished we hope to use the summer to begin community work immediately and finalise our plans for opening to museum visitors. We will keep sharing more news about what people can expect when they visit – watch this space!
Thank you to all our partners, funders and supporters who are helping make this a reality!