2m heritage funding will make London's papyrus archive easier to visit

"The London headquarters of the Egypt Exploration Society (EES) will become easier to visit, as it has been awarded a £2 million grant to upgrade its building. The EES says that following an application, it has received a £2 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, which is to be spent on upgrading its heritage centre, protecting its archival and manuscript collections, and enhancing public engagement."

"Since 1969, the organisation has been based in former horse stables in Doughty Mews, Bloomsbury. However, the buildings are showing their age, which is why they need modernising and a way of making their collection more accessible to the public. New engagement spaces will open up the building to more visitors, including school workshops and exhibitions, enable replica handling, and host artist residencies. The refurbishment should also allow the internationally significant Oxyrhynchus Papyri to be displayed in London for the first time."

"Carl Graves (Director) from the Egypt Exploration Society said: "We are thrilled to have received this support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. This is the largest single contribution the Society has received in all its 143-year history. Thanks to National Lottery players, we can ensure that our irreplaceable archive and manuscript collections will inspire diverse audiences for years to come.""

A £2 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund will fund upgrades to the Egypt Exploration Society's London heritage centre, protect archival and manuscript collections, and enhance public engagement. The Society, founded in 1882, holds the world's largest collection of ancient papyrus manuscripts—the Oxyrhynchus Papyri—and cartonnage funerary objects. The organisation has occupied former horse stables in Doughty Mews, Bloomsbury since 1969, and those buildings need modernisation to prevent structural damage and poor accessibility from endangering the collections. Planned improvements include new engagement spaces, school workshops, exhibitions, replica handling, and artist residencies, and should enable the Oxyrhynchus Papyri to be displayed in London for the first time.

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