A BRADFORD museum is hoping to raise £20,000 towards more "visible, accessible and spacious premises" in the district.

The Peace Museum - which is currently based on Piece Hall Yard, in between Kirkgate and Hustlergate in Bradford city centre - has launched a campaign on Crowdfunder, which has so far raised over £2,000.

The campaign is part of the Museums Association's #SupportOurMuseums drive, and is live until 21 December.

On its Crowdfunder page, The Peace Museum says: "The Peace Museum is one of a kind – a place where stories of peacemakers and non-violent movements of social justice are celebrated, where individuals who have been silenced are given a platform, where stories written out of history are given the spotlight.

"We are the only museum in the UK dedicated to peace.

"We have over 9,000 objects in our unique collection which continues to expand. In the last five years we have been busier than ever. In 2019 we worked with over 13,000 people who visited the museum or took part in our unique education and outreach programmes. We support people to build peace across communities through exploring and learning.  

"Our momentum is growing and so is our influence. There is a renewed interest in our collection. We are being recognised as a vital resource for peace in the UK. 

"But growth brings challenges, and our current premises have reached their capacity and are no longer fit for purpose leaving us at a standstill. We are located up 60 steps, meaning we are inaccessible. We have no street frontage, meaning we are invisible. We do not have the storage space or gallery space to continue to build our collection. 

"We are in need of a new home to unlock our potential and support the increasing demand for our work. 

"We want to see more of our important collection in the gallery rather than in storage, show more ambitious exhibitions, and have a purpose-built education space – all with easy access in the heart of our vibrant city. 

"The COVID-19 pandemic has made this even more urgent. Our current space is too small for us to work with groups and schools, which is a major source of income for us. We cannot open at full capacity for the foreseeable future and we can't afford to lose the momentum we have built in the last five years.

"This year has been a difficult year for us all. We have been closed since March and had to put some of our exhibition plans on hold. We've been successful in fundraising to support our core operational costs and we're now looking secure the long-term future of the museum.

"You can help us raise £20,000 to put us even closer to our target of creating The Peace Museum of the future. 

"We have set an ambitious target of £200,000 to pay for this vision, and we've already raised nearly half towards this target. This campaign will put us another step closer and allow us to go into 2021 with a renewed energy to push forward our plans.

"Will you join us in lifting up the voices of peace around the world by donating to this campaign today? 

"Together, we can build a more peaceful world."