A charity which manages and supports visitor attractions in Hampshire has celebrated its first decade of operation.

Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration event at Basingstoke's Milestones Museum.

The event was attended by staff, volunteers, trustees, local and national politicians, funders, donors and partners.

Guests from the UK's cultural and tourism sectors, museums and heritage organisations were also present.

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Hampshire Cultural Trust marked its 10th anniversary with a celebration event (Image: Andy Beeson-Brackstone) The charity used the event to launch HCT 2030, its ambitious strategy for the next five years.

HCT was founded in 2014 by Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council.

Paul Sapwell, chief executive at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said: "We were honoured to welcome so many of our funders, partners and friends to Milestones Museum to help us celebrate our 10th birthday.

"Our first decade has certainly had its challenges – the Covid pandemic and current cost-of-living crisis to name but two – however, we can look back with pride over the last 10 years at what we have achieved.

"Every year, we welcome over 700,000 visitors through our doors, run more than 740 classes and workshops and host over 340 live music, comedy and theatre shows.

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"Our first 10 years have seen 314 exhibitions that have brought huge names from the art world to Hampshire, such as J.M.W. Turner and John Constable, and more than 130,000 children have been on a school trip with us.

"It’s been an incredible decade, and with our new HCT 2030 strategy now in place, we are looking forward to an exciting future for culture in our region."

The trust operates major visitor attractions, museums, art galleries and arts centres in the region, including Winchester's Great Hall and Basingstoke's Milestones Museum.

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The organisation became part of Arts Council England's National Portfolio in 2023 and enjoys long-term support from local councils in Basingstoke, Gosport, the New Forest, Rushmoor and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.

HCT also manages one of the largest museum collections in the UK outside London, with 2.5 million objects, including steam engines, rare ceramics and ancient artefacts.

It runs targeted programmes to support the mental health and wellbeing of vulnerable groups in the region's communities, including young people not in mainstream education and those living with dementia and their carers.