British Museum to open new ￡64 million research centre
The British Museum is to open a new ￡64 million complex, designed to increase the amount of its collections that the public are able to view.
The British Museum Archaeological Research Collection, or BM Arc, is scheduled to open in 2023. The site is located at Shinfield in Berkshire, near Reading.
The centre, measuring 15,628 m2, will consist of three interconnected blocks, with areas for displays, storage and research. BM Arc is part of a planned partnership with the University of Reading.
Though the British Museum has a collection of around eight million objects, only 80,000 or so are visible at the main Bloomsbury site. The others are predominantly in storage.
One of the largest of these storage sites is Blythe House in west London. This is to be sold by the government for an estimated ￡50 million, which will be put towards funding BM Arc. The rest of the funding will be provided by private donors.
According to The Times, objects expected to move to the new complex include ancient Roman mosaics and sculptures, and British Iron Age treasures.
Viewings at BM Arc will be free, but by appointment.
