A new Director is set to start work at the world-famous Beamish Museum.
Richard Evans, 35, is moving from being Director of South Yorkshire’s Wentworth Castle and Stainborough Park Heritage Trust. He is due to take up his new post at the beginning of July.
As Beamish Director Mr Evans is helping oversee a budget of £3 million, 300 acres of grounds, 90 full-time staff and up to 200 employees in the peak summer season.
He said: “Beamish is a fantastic place that people love to visit from all over the UK. I will be absolutely dedicated to make sure that this remains the case, and that the museum has a secure and successful future.
“I absolutely share in Beamish's passion for the social, industrial and agricultural past of the north, the heritage that has shaped our places, culture and identity; the heritage most relevant to the British people themselves.”
Born in Kent, and married with two young children, Mr Evans studied at Glasgow and Bradford universities, and worked on the New Lanark UNESCO World Heritage Site before joining Wentworth.
Historic Wentworth country house and estate, near Barnsley, shot to national prominence when it was featured on the BBC’s Restoration programme. It won millions of pounds of lottery funding for work on its gardens, parkland, woodland and a visitor centre, as part of a larger plan to safeguard its 600 acres.
Mr Evans said that everybody who worked in cultural and heritage issues was very aware of Beamish and its reputation as, not only England’s first open air museum, but one of the finest visitor attractions in the country.
He has visited several times, most recently with his family last month.
Mr Evans said: “It’s a fascinating story told at Beamish with great skill and creativity - bringing the past to life through its people. The museum has an excellent, international, reputation and, as I have worked in the sector for many years, I have always watched events at Beamish with great interest.
“I'll be beginning my job in July by listening carefully to everyone who is involved in the museum, from local councils to staff and volunteers. Plans are always going to be based on a thorough understanding of our customers and what their needs are - we always aim to look after visitors just as well as we care for our important museum collections at Beamish.”
He added: “The family loved its Easter visit and my three-year-old still can't stop talking about the trams and the sweet shop, of course.”
Work at Beamish is overseen by a committee representing the North East’s local authorities and its chairman is Sunderland City Councillor Mel Speding.
He said: “The Committee are delighted with the appointment of Richard Evans and, on behalf of everybody involved with Beamish, I am sure he will be a great asset to the North East and one of its premier visitor attractions.
“Richard has a strong record of delivery with the work that he’s done in South Yorkshire and he brings with him a wealth of expertise and knowledge that can only add to the award-winning Beamish experience.”