Fans Museum CIC, which already runs a football museum in Sunderland, has launched the new venue at Prince Bishops Place Shopping Centre, Units 41–42.
The museum features a large collection of football memorabilia, including shirts and items that visitors can try on.
Left, Michael Ganley, founder of Fans Museum and Shaun Meek, community economic development officer at Durham County Council _(Image: DCC)_
It has been made possible through a grant from Durham County Council and the North East Combined Authority via the council’s Towns and Villages Programme.
Councillor Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for leisure, tourism, regeneration and high street, said: "This football pop-up museum will be a fantastic addition to Durham City and provide a unique experience for shoppers.
On display _(Image: DCC)_
"It also demonstrates why the meanwhile use scheme is a great way of bringing long-term vacant buildings back into use."
The meanwhile funding scheme aims to temporarily fill empty units while permanent tenants are sought, boosting footfall and creating new experiences for shoppers.
The Fans Museum is the fourth business to benefit from the scheme within the shopping centre.
Cllr Allison said the wider programme was helping to regenerate communities across the county.
Fans Museum CIC has opened a new football-themed pop-up museum in Durham City’s Prince Bishops Place Shopping Centre (Units 41–42), following council grant support. _(Image: DCC)_
She said: "Our Towns and Villages programme is a vital asset towards our ambitions for regeneration and helps to provide targeted support, training and grants for retail and hospitality businesses.
"Meanwhile, the Property Reuse Fund is helping individuals and business owners bring vacant units and unused spaces back into use across the county, much like this one in the city."
Mr Ganley said: "I'd like to say a huge thank you to Durham County Council and the team at Prince Bishops Shopping Centre for the opportunity to set up in the amazing city of Durham, allowing the Fans Museum's vision to expand.
"Their support in this has been truly remarkable."
He said the museum would appeal to international visitors, students, and the wider community.
Mr Ganley said: "Durham is visited daily from international visitors, who will now embrace the real passion of the Fans Museum's connection with the community and football fans.
"We will also welcome students from Durham University, who will have an opportunity to not only engage with the collection but also participate with outreach projects."
A key part of the museum’s work in Durham will be creating memory boxes filled with photos, personal items, and football memorabilia.
These boxes are designed to support dementia and Alzheimer’s patients and will be distributed to care homes.
Mr Ganley said: "We see the dementia delivery project being a huge success and one that will benefit not only the city of Durham, but all those in the North East suffering with the disease.
"I'm extremely excited, immensely proud, and personally, I can't wait to meet all the amazing visitors we will attract."
The Fans Museum in Durham will also support veterans and other community causes and aims to involve residents in its outreach work.