#HarrisYourPlace             

Your one in 100-year opportunity to create a better Harris
for everyone.

Your Grade I listed building, which opened in 1893, will be completely refurbished to make it a community and cultural hub for Preston and Lancashire.  We’ll welcome another 100,000 of you each year with improved services for everyone, including those most in need.

Every day, almost 1000 people like you, from all walks of life, visit the Harris – just as our Victorian founders hoped they would.

But after 125 years of daily use, the Harris is tired.

You’ve told us what you want – Preston’s hidden collections on show, new spaces for you to enjoy, more opportunities for you to be inspired, and for the Harris to be your place.

And here for the others who need it too – forever.

We’re re-imagining the Harris and we need your help!

We need to raise £25,000 from supporters like you to help make #HarrisYourPlace happen.

Donate Now                                    Find out more

#HarrisYourPlace – what we’ve been doing

You might have seen some of our new ideas over the last year such as:
– Trialling the Lancaster Road entrance into the library
– Making the Heritage Reading Room more welcoming and friendly
– Creating our Space to Relax gallery focused on health and wellbeing
– Designing our new blended library and museum Children’s Space

We’ve also been asking you, our visitors and supporters, what you would like to see and do in the new Harris, with face to face chats, online and postal questionnaires, and meetings with families, schools, community groups, young people and many more.

Supported by National Heritage Lottery Fund and Arts Council England, we’ve now got a team of specialists on board to help us with detailed designs and plans.  Appointed following a competitive tender process, they are:

– Architect Multi-disciplinary Team & Conservation Planner:
Buttress
– Interpretation & Fit-out Design Team:
Ralph Appelbaum Associates
– Project Managers & Business Planners:
Focus Consulting
– Activity Planner:
Emma Parsons Consulting
– Access Consultant:
Direct Access 
– Quantity Surveyor:
Ridge

How you can help

You can help create #HarrisYourPlace by making a donation.  Even small donations from you will make a difference.

• Online here
• By cheque, payable to the Friends of the Harris, addressed to us at Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library, Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP. Don’t forget to enclose your details so we can thank you!
• In cash using one of our donations boxes around the building (it’s worth even more if you complete a Gift Aid envelope and put the donation inside!).
• By card at one of our contactless units

If you would like to get involved in another way, such as running your own fundraising event or volunteering your time to help, please drop us a line at harrisfriends@preston.gov.uk or call 01772 258248. We’d love to hear from you.

#HarrisYourPlace is a partnership project led by Preston City Council, Lancashire County Council and UCLan, supported by National Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England and Preston, South Ribble & Lancashire City Deal