University study supports feasibility of a large-scale maritime heritage Centre in Scarborough

Oct. 1, 2012 - PRLog -- The report examined the feasibility of establishing an economically viable high-quality visitor destination for families that would be open to the public five days a week and exhibit, while at the same time preserve all aspects of the town’s extensive maritime heritage. It also noted that the current centre is the only museum in the town showcasing the history of the town and that there is no other centre of this type within a 50-mile radius.
The track record of the Centre’s maritime work was examined together with how best it might be progressed through partnership with support funding.
While the study concluded that a large-scale centre could be hard to establish immediately, it is by no means out of reach in the medium to long-term. It concluded, on a highly positive note, that there is indeed a very good case for such an attraction in Scarborough and the area does present a realistic opportunity to support it.
The proposal arising from the study concluded that a four-year time scale should be used to develop the SMHC visitor Centre in partnership with other organisations and the local authority, and suggests it could be up and running by 2016. The report carefully examined the economic environment, a financial and resource assessment and the overall feasibility of establishing such a centre.
The Centre's current exhibition focuses on Scarborough's shipbuilding past and is open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 4pm and entrance is free.
The detailed 70-page report was prepared by Mario Bartz, a 2011 international business honours graduate.
PHOTO CAPTION: Presentation of the report by John Munroe and Paul Cross from the University’s Business Management Centre to the SMHC’s chairman, Mark Vesey. (A high res version is available – please email if required)
NOTES TO EDITORS
1.   The SMHC was formed six years ago with the donation of thousands of historic maritime documents and photographs.
2.   The small premises they now operate from is run by volunteers on a not-for-profit basis. Since 2008, the group have managed to secure funding from the local council, grant giving bodies, public and individual donations. In 2009 the SMHC became a registered company limited by guarantee.
3.   The group have built strong links with the local community and have collected many hundreds of artefacts, documents, books and photographs.
4.   Being strongly supported by locals and tourists alike, the SHMC has won the local Borough Council's community award for Artistic and Cultural Development in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The SMHC’s website has been voted ‘Best maritime family history resource’ by the BBC TV magazine ‘Who do you think you are?’
5.   Further information is available from Mark Vesey - M.Vesey@hull.ac.uk or 07795290907 and a copy of the report can be requested by email to  scarboroughmaritime@yahoo.com

ENDS

For more information, or to arrange interviews, please contact Ed Moss, Hull University Business School Press Officer, on +44 (0) 1482 463335, mobile 07872 677866, or email Edward.moss@hull.ac.uk

More information
Our Vision
To be a leading UK business school with an international reputation for research, learning and teaching that is relevant to a fast-changing, interconnected world.

Our Mission
To equip managers and business professionals to succeed in a fast-changing and interconnected world. We will achieve this by maximising the connections between excellent research, learning and teaching across disciplines; our corporate engagement; and our work with partners who share our aspirations and values.

For further information about the business school, please visit www.hull.ac.uk/hubs.