Corinium Museum’s artefacts illuminated by new sustainable lighting
Visitors to Cirencester’s Corinium Museum will now experience the exhibits in a whole new light, thanks to the recent completion of a lighting upgrade.
The museum has replaced its display case lighting with energy-efficient LED units as part of a project aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable operations.
The project was funded by the UK Government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund (REPF), managed locally by Cotswold District Council. In total, 64 sets of case lights were replaced as part of the project, improving the visibility of its archaeological collections.
The switch to the new lighting not only meets the fund’s goal of helping heritage buildings become more sustainable and combat the climate crisis, but also enhances the experience for museum visitors, with improved lighting now featured in the main Roman, Anglo-Saxon and Medieval galleries.
Cllr Paul Hodgkinson, portfolio holder for Culture, said: “The Corinium Museum is a wonderful example of how we can preserve our past while protecting our future. This shows how targeted investment from the Rural England Prosperity Fund can support us to help save energy in the Cotswolds’ award-winning museum.”
Angela Brown, Group Environmental & Sustainability Manager for Freedom Leisure commented: “Our thanks go to the incredible team at Corinium Museum for their proactive efforts in sustainability. By switching the display case lighting to energy-efficient LED bulbs, they’re not only preserving the past but also protecting the future. This change is a great example of Freedom Leisure's commitment to environmental responsibility and protecting our planet.”
The council is currently accepting applications for the next round of Rural England Prosperity Funding (REPF).
If you're planning capital investments to improve rural productivity, create jobs, or enhance community facilities, this is your chance to apply.
The deadline for applications is now 5pm on Monday 16th June 2025. To find out more, please click here: https://www.cotswold.gov.uk/repf
Contact Information
Cotswold District Council Communications Team
Notes to editors
Photographed:
L to R: Paul James (Economic Development Lead), Emma Stuart (Director of Corinium Museum) and Paul Hodgkinson (Cabinet Member for Health, Culture and Visitor Experience)
Notes to Editor
About Corinium Museum
Corinium Museum is an award-winning museum located at the heart of Cirencester, the ‘Capital of the Cotswolds’. The principal collection consists of the highly significant finds from the Roman town of Corinium. However, the museum today is much more than that, taking you on a journey through time and charting the development of the Cotswolds from its prehistoric landscape to the modern-day.
The Rural England Prosperity Fund
The Rural England Prosperity Fund seeks to strengthen the rural economy and rural communities, by funding capital projects for small businesses and community infrastructure in rural areas. For more information visit-
VisitEngland Quality Schemes | VisitEngland
About Freedom Leisure
Freedom Leisure is one of the largest charitable and not-for-profit leisure trusts in the UK managing over 100 leisure and cultural facilities on behalf of partners across England and Wales. We are proud to be delivering high quality, value for money locally-focused leisure services that are sustainable and accessible to all and we are committed to their ongoing development. As a not-for-profit organisation all surpluses are reinvested in support of the objectives we share with our partners.