Living Barracks Project Updates
Keep up to date with the Berwick Barracks partnership and how our new vision for the Barracks is progressing. From consultations with the local community to new funding to the steps we're taking to bring empty buildings and spaces back into use.
December 2024
Berwick Shines
Berwick Shines is the Cultural Engagement Programme for The Living Barracks, which includes art commissions, residencies and engagement activities with schools and communities. Funded by DCMS Cultural Development Fund, the legacy of the programme will support a long-term engagement with the Barracks site, museum collections and archives.
The first project in autumn 2024 took place in local schools led by the sculptural artist Martha Ellis. Pupils at 5 Berwick schools worked together learning new skills to create large salmon lanterns made from willow and paper, inspired by the town’s history of lanterns and salmon fishing. The lanterns were carried by local school children at the town’s annual Christmas Lights switch on event as part of a procession, and can now be seen at a host of venues across Berwick throughout December.
In February 2025, British artist Matthew Rosier will bring a spectacular community-led installation, Berwick Parade, to the Barracks parade ground. Book tickets.
Find out more, and follow @BerwickShines on Facebook and Instagram for updates on the 2025 – 2026 programme.
Berwick Shines is delivered by The Maltings (Berwick) Trust and supported by the Cultural Development Fund, a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) fund administered by Arts Council England.
November 2024
The Maltings Cinema Relocation Complete
The first phase of Berwick Barracks’ redevelopment is underway, with The Maltings cinema temporarily relocated to The Mob Store. The Maltings will continue to trial occasional events at the venue to ensure the very best customer experience in the run up to its official launch in the summer of 2025, in line with The Maltings’ Eastern Lane redevelopment.
We await confirmation of the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Delivery Grant in early 2025, which will support new museum and gallery spaces, site-wide interpretation, and activities led by The Maltings. The revitalised site is expected to reopen in late 2026.
New Artist Studios and Engagement Plans
Five flexible artist studios will launch as a pilot in Spring 2025, informing future plans for studio spaces across the site. Supported by an NLHF Development Grant of £476,000, The Maltings is also leading public engagement, collection cataloguing, and interpretation planning to prepare for the Barracks’ transformation.
October 2023
Closing the KOSB musuem
The King’s Own Scottish Borderers’ museum has now closed and the collection is being decanted into the West Block of the barracks whilst work takes place in the East Block.
The KOSB’s collection is being documented and its condition assessed to form a conservation schedule. The collection will later make up part of the new museum at the barracks, but in the meantime, visitors will be able to access the collection through temporary displays in the barracks.
August 2023
Developing the Mob Store
Work has begun to build a new temporary cinema in Berwick while the town's arts centre is transformed. The new fully accessible cinema will be designed so the Mob Store can then be adapted into an archive facility when The Maltings redevelopment is completed. The project will include upgrading the exterior and soundproofing to form a dedicated cinema space, along with a new kiosk/box office, foyer space, temporary toilet block and accessible/cycle parking.
April - May 2023
Discussions with the local community
Four discussion groups have taken place to understand better what local people would like to see in the new museum and archives.
Societies and organisations from Berwick to Coldstream across the border, including history and archaeological societies, teachers, a young carers' organisation, a Scottish Men's Shed and a variety of Berwick residents, joined the discussions. Many already had a keen interest in the project.
There was strong support for a museum that tells the story of and explores the unique nature of the town and ideas for the stories that it might cover, particularly of the strong links between the town and the Kings Own Scottish Borderers ('they were Berwickers' grandfathers').
Identity, whether someone is a Berwicker, a Borderer, a Scot or a Northumbrian, was an important part of the discussions, as is the stories belonging to each can be part of the museum and the activities it will feature. There is also a desire for more events and other opportunities that can bring the community together, and strong support for a rich community engagement pilot programme.
February 2023
New project roles
To get this project underway and fulfil the partnership's vision, a number of project specific roles have been created and filled.
The roles include an Interpretation Manager, KOSB Conservator, KOSB Digitisation, Project Archivist and Historical Researcher Post and a Buildings Curator.
November 2022
Further grant awarded for the Living Barrack’s Project
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £476k grant to English Heritage on behalf of the Berwick Barracks Partnership. This vital funding is another step towards the transformation of Berwick Barracks, creating a vibrant cultural hub for the town of Berwick-upon-Tweed and better telling the Barracks’ fascinating story. As part of the first phase of the project, a new home for visual art will be created and the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Regimental Museum. Studio spaces for local artists to show and sell their work will also be available.