Building Something Bigger
This week we held our second meeting as a group – bringing together Bronwyn, Andy, John and Mark – to take the next steps in shaping what the Shipyard Heritage Museum project can become.
What started as an idea and a petition is now moving into something much more structured, with real conversations taking place about how this project grows, develops, and becomes something long-lasting for the region.
One of the key discussions was our recent visit to A&P on the Tyne. Seeing the dry docks, the scale of the site, and the continued work happening on the river has had a real impact on how we think about the project. It reinforced something important – this isn’t just about the past. The Tyne is still an active, working river, and whatever we build needs to reflect that connection between history and the present day.
We also spent time discussing the growing network of contacts we are building across the North East. From historians and local organisations to people working in industry and education, there is a clear opportunity to bring together a wide range of voices and expertise. A big focus moving forward will be continuing to reach out, building those relationships, and making sure the right people are involved as the project develops.
A major part of the conversation centred around what this project actually becomes. While the idea started as a Shipyard Heritage Museum, we are increasingly clear that it needs to be more than that. This shouldn’t just be a place people visit once – it should be something interactive, engaging, and ongoing. We discussed the importance of learning from places like the Titanic museum, particularly in how they bring history to life through immersive and interactive experiences.
Linked to that is the question of sustainability. We spoke about future revenue streams and how the project could support itself long-term, rather than relying purely on funding. This is essential if we want to create something that lasts and continues to grow over time.
We also discussed the process of becoming a registered charity, which will be an important step in formalising the project and opening up further opportunities, including applying to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. This would allow us to begin exploring funding routes to support research, development and, ultimately, delivery.
Education is another key part of the vision. We talked about working with students from Northumbria University and the University of Sunderland, with the aim of collaborating with universities across the North East. Part of this conversation solidified our working relationship with Northumbria University Business School and how they are going to develop a detailed plan for us to help take this forward. It will ensure that this is not just about looking back, but actively involving the next generation and revenue opportunities.
We also explored how the project could benefit from wider public interest and recognition, including the potential involvement of well-known North East figures who could help raise the profile of the campaign and bring more attention to what we’re trying to achieve.
At the heart of everything, though, is the community. The level of support so far has been incredible – from petition signatures to messages, stories, photos and conversations. We know how important it is to continue to collect stories, encouraging contributions, and making sure people feel part of what is being built.
This was only our second meeting as a group, but it’s clear that the project is moving forward quickly. What started as an idea is now becoming something structured, ambitious and rooted in both history and future opportunity.
There is still a long way to go, but step by step, the direction is becoming clearer.
And as always, this is being built together.
