GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet Museum recently confirmed that the institution was once again the recipient of a sizable grant of R1.6 million from The Rupert Historic Homes Foundation.
This came as quite a surprise to the Museum as The Historic Homes Foundation, that has the restoration of historic buildings as its goal, invested an astounding R2.1 million rand in the restoration of the Reinet House complex in the previous financial year.
The management of the museum is extremely grateful for the continued generosity of the Foundation.
The grant will be allocated to the restoration of two early 19th century Cape Buildings, Urquhart House and the Old Residency, the renovation of the Military Museum, the installation of a closed-circuit television security systems in three buildings and the conversion of an underutilized room to serve as a digital library and archive.
The Board of Trustees of The Museum is greatly relieved that all serious decay problems and other maintenance issues of the relevant buildings will be effectively addressed in the very near future.
According to Anziske Kayster, the head of the museum, the sense of relief although difficult to reduce to words has brought about a feeling of greater optimism under circumstances that can be regarded as less than rosy.
She also acknowledged that a generous donation to the Save Reinet House Fund by Willem Loock, a long-standing Friend of The Museum, has further amplified the feeling of optimism.
The Museum would also like to extend its heartfelt gratitude to Loock for his generous contribution to the fund.
Work on the Old Residency has already commenced under the supervision of Moffat Whitlock Architects and will hopefully be completed early next year.
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