Golden Thread Gallery has secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for a feasibility study of Wilmont House in Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park. Over the coming weeks, we will be hosting a series of informal public consultation sessions to listen to public input and share our plans. Sessions will take place both at the gallery and at Sir Thomas & Lady Dixon Park.

Dates and times for the sessions are on our social media and our What’s On page.

What are the consultation sessions about?

We know how passionate many people are about protecting our city’s heritage, and how important local campaigners have been in advocating for Wilmont House. We will be meeting and talking to businesses, clubs, sports groups, arts organisations, museums, tourism organisations and residents and elected representatives to share our ideas, answer questions, and, most importantly, listen to your feedback and concerns. Golden Thread Gallery believes in working collaboratively and openly. We want to make sure any future plans for Wilmont House directly involve the communities and people who will use it.

What is the Golden Thread Gallery’s idea for Wilmont House?

Peter Richards and Sarah McAvera, Co-Directors of Golden Thread Gallery, believe that Wilmont House may offer an opportunity to create a unique cultural venue and experience for Belfast residents and visitors that could include sculpture trails, art activities, exhibitions and reading rooms. It may also offer a home for our Collection of Northern Irish Art. Our vision for Wilmont House would blend art, culture and the environment in a way which would celebrate the heritage of the building and its unique park setting.

What is the feasibility study?

The National Lottery Heritage Fund has funded the Golden Thread Gallery to assess the feasibility of restoring Wilmont House to use as a community and arts space. The study is being carried out in partnership with Belfast City Council, who own Wilmont House.

Following a public tender process, an external consultant with expertise in heritage and restoration is being appointed to carry out the study. Belfast City Council is also currently making an assessment of the condition of the building.

Alongside this, Golden Thread Gallery has commissioned thrive NI to evaluate public interest in Wilmont House becoming an arts venue. Through our public consultation sessions of open discussions and drop-in sessions, we’ll make sure that input, ideas and concerns from communities, stakeholders and local businesses are included in the assessment.

The findings from all these pieces of work, once completed, will be taken back to Belfast City councillors to consider and decide how best to fund any potential works needed in the long term, including exploring all possible funding options.

The feasibility study is only the first step in what is likely to be a long and complex process.

I can’t make a weekday session – will there be others?

Yes! Don’t worry if you can’t attend one particular session, there will be more sessions and opportunities to give us your input over the next months, including online surveys and in-person public surveys on weekdays and weekends at Lady Dixon Park.

About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage they are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in their strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. The National Lottery Heritage Fund believes in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.

Over the next 10 years, it aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.

I have a question that has not been answered here.

Please don’t hesitate to email the gallery at info@gtgallery.co.uk with any questions.

Golden Thread Gallery is supported by: