Welcome to the 24 Hour Museum news in brief page for the week ending July 8 2007.
06.07.2007 - Springwatch meets Big Brother in Chigwell Row this Saturday
A special one-day art event on Saturday July 7 is offering Epping locals the chance to take a journey of discovery through their local woodland and surrounding urban areas.
Running from 10am until 6pm the day is part of an artist-led collaboration with the local community called Homelife, a project exploring the unique habitat and urban surroundings of Chigwell Row Wood Local Nature Reserve.
Billed as a kind of Springwatch meets Big Brother, locals will be treated to live performances, projections, films and music in the forest, on the housing estate, in schools, churches, youth clubs, residential homes and community centres.
It is believed the wood is one of the top 40 sites in the country for veteran trees with over 45 veteran oaks and over 50 species of conservation concern. However, the housing estate that borders the south and west side of the wood make the area a convenient place for fly-tipping household goods.
Through the project Epping Forest Arts www.eppingforestarts.org.uk is keen to use new media and arts to raise awareness environmental initiatives. For further details about the day contact efa@eppingforestdc.gov.uk or telephone 01992 564551/9.
06.07.2007 – Institute of Race Relations to create Black History Collection
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has been awarded an Heritage Lottery grant to form its materials created by black organisations and on black struggles into an accessible and educational collection.
The HLF grant of £49,800 will allow cataloguing and preservation work to be carried out on the organisation’s rare and exciting documents, and a digital catalogue of the collection to be created.
The IRR will also create an accompanying educational resource for use in Citizenship and History teaching during the 18-month project.
The main collection of books, journals and pamphlets moved to the University of Warwick in 2005, while the IRR retained its materials it had collected over time on early black settlement and struggles against racial injustice.
06.07.2007 - Restored Leeds Tram wins award for Crich Tramway Village
Staff and volunteers at Crich Tramway Village, Home of The National Tramway Museum are celebrating after winning the award for Best Self-Propelled Vehicle in the Heritage Railway Association Carriage & Wagon Awards.
The award was granted for the outstanding restoration of tramcar Leeds 345 which entered service at the Museum in 2004 after 3 year’s in the Museum’s workshop.
The award was presented by Dame Margaret Weston, President of the Heritage Railway Association at their meeting in Leeds on Saturday June 2. Judges commented that the tram demonstrated ‘a wealth of period detail which had been painstakingly recreated.'
06.07.2007 - DCMS to promote excellence and cut bureaucracy in the arts
Sir Brian McMaster is to lead a review of how the Government supports excellence in the arts, Culture Secretary James Purnell has announced.
Sir Brian, who has run the Edinburgh International Festival and is a member of Arts Council England, will advise the Secretary of State on how the Government can promote excellence in the arts, but do so in a light touch, non-bureaucratic way, encouraging successful organisations and continuing to challenge complacency.
He will report to the new Secretary of State for Culture in the Autumn.
06.07.2007 – Manchester ‘thank you’ mystery solved
The culprit responsible for magnetic tags posted all over Manchester with the phrase ‘thank you’ on them in languages from English to Farsi has been revealed.
City museum Urbis put the tags on street signs, lamp posts and cars to send out a message of thanks to its visitors as it celebrates its fifth birthday. Since it opened, 900,000 people have passed through its doors.
06.05.2007 - Oriel Kyffin Williams on Anglesey moves a step closer
A new gallery on Anglesey in the name of the late Welsh painter Sir Kyffin Williams moved a step closer this week after the Welsh Arts Council agreed to contribute £250,000.
The Welsh assembly government are also supporting plans to set up the gallery at Oriel Ynys Mon at Llangefni, but it does't currently have enough room to display its collection of 400-plus Sir Kyffin paintings. The works were donated to the gallery by the artist before he died of cancer, aged 88, in September 2006.
The total cost of £1.5m has now been secured and building work is due to begin later this month. It is hoped the new gallery, Oriel Kyffin Williams, will be opened in time for St David's Day, March 1, 2008.
06.07.2007 – Tree heritage project launched in Tees Valley
The Heritage Lottery Fund is supporting a project to record and celebrate historic trees in the Tees Forest.
The Heritage Trees of the Tees Project was launched by the Deputy Mayor of Middlesbrough, Cllr Bob Kerr, who cut a ribbon around an 250-year-old cedar tree in the town’s Stewart Park.
Events over the next two years will encourage the public to submit their ideas about trees with a special heritage and raise awareness of this important part of our natural heritage.
Postcards can be found at countryside sites across the region which the public can fill out with details of ‘Heritage Trees’ – trees significant in their age, rarity or which have a special story. Alternatively, fill out the online survey form.
A nationwide hunt for ancient trees has also been launched by the Woodland Trust, who in a recent survey revealed that 92 per cent of UK adults believe ancient trees are as important as our monuments. The five-year project has also been Heritage Lottery funded. Find out more at www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk.
05.07.2007 - Whale Room reopens after epic spring clean
The Natural History Museum's Whale Hall reopens on Saturday July 7 after a monster spring clean.
The 116-year-old blue whale skeleton, world famous 27-metre blue whale model, and 25 other whale and dolphin models and skeletons were last cleaned in 1995.
With some whale bones still leaching whale oil, a variety of specialist methods were used to ensure the gallery and its exhibits were maintained to the highest standard.
05.07.2007 - British Museum plans £100m extension for blockbuster exhibitions
The British Museum has outlined plans to build a new exhibition centre, estimated to cost around £100m.
Lord Richard Rogers, who designed London’s distinctive Lloyds Building and the Pompidou Centre in Paris, will lead the project.
The building would be located in Montague Place if it gets planning permission from Camden Council. If successful, the Museum hopes it will be open by 2011.
It is planned to be the venue for large-scale ‘blockbuster’ exhibitions. The Museum recently had to turn down the chance to stage an exhibition of Tutunkhamun treasures from Egypt, which will now be shown at O2 from November 2007, formerly the Millennium Dome, because of lack of space.
A conservation centre could also be included in the building, where visitors could see expert conservators at work.
05.07.2007 - Amberley all set for Railway Gala Weekend
Amberley Working Museum is hosting its popular annual Railway Gala Weekend on July 14 and 15.
Set in the Museum's 15-hectare grounds, the event highlights its collection of steam, petrol, diesel and electric narrow gauge locomotives along with guest locomotives and visiting railway societies, book and model sales and working layouts.
"The Railway Gala Weekend is always a most memorable event," said Gerry Cork, volunteer from the Museum's Rail Group. "It provides the opportunity to see a great collection of locos in action, our impressive Railway Exhibition and Conservation Hall and to enjoy the magnificent backdrop of the Museum."
05.07.2007 - D-Day Museum to show rare film footage
Rare and previously unseen footage of the D-Day landings is being shown at the D-Day Museum in Southsea this Sunday (July 8) from 7 to 9pm.
All the footage is from the archives of the D-Day Museum and much of it has not been seen before by the public including rare colour films from a landing craft crewman around the time of D-Day, showing activities on the Normandy beaches and ships unloading at the Mulberry harbour.
The film showing will also include part of an Admiralty documentary from 1945 that explains how the Portsmouth Police inspired the creation of a radio communications network for the troops in France on D-Day and in the following months.
The origins of the D-Day Museum are also explored with footage of the construction of the museum as well as fascinating film explaining the construction and laying of PLUTO (PipeLine Under The Ocean).
The film show runs from 7pm to 9pm with an interval. Tickets are £5 in advance or on the door (subject to availability) from the D-Day Museum or the City Museum and Records Office on 023 9282 7261.
04.07.2007 - Victorian parks to be transformed by lottery cash injection
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has confirmed grants totalling £5.6m to restore two distinctive Grade II parks to their former Victorian glory.
Huddersfield’s Greenhead Park will receive £3.7m and Buckinghamshire’s Langley Park has been awarded almost £2m.
Greenhead Park is near the bustle of Huddersfield’s town centre and will be fully restored, with features like its ornamental lake, Japanese-style wooden bandstand and Italian Garden Fountain brought back to their former glory.
Langley Park will benefit from the restoration of its lake, conservation work on its trees, improved paths and signs, the return of some of its land to pasture and the creation of a visitor and resource centre.
“It is our aim that everyone has access to a park they can be proud of. The Heritage Lottery Fund grants will help make these impressive parks more beautiful and welcoming for the future,” said Carole Souter, Director of HLF.
In 2006 the HLF, along with the Big Lottery Fund, set up the Parks for People scheme to inject £160m into the UK’s public parks.
04.07.2007 - Archaeologists discover gun carriages used for foundations at Royal Arsenal
Archaeologists excavating the site of the former Carriage Department buildings at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London, has discovered that some of the timber foundations were actually made from pieces of naval gun carriages.
Surviving examples of gun carriages from this period are rare. The recovered timbers may have been surplus to requirement, out of date or damaged so put to use in the building works undertaken there in the early 1800s.
04.07.2007 - North East museums talk with British Library about loan of Lindisfarne Gospels
Tyne and Wear Museums have held talks with the British Library about the possibility of the seventh century Lindisfarne Gospels being displayed in the region.
The museum group has long campaigned for a return of the Gospels to the north east and the discussions revolved around the condition of the manuscript and its suitability to be put on loan and being moved.
Library Chief Executive Lynne Brindley and Tyne and Wear Museums Director Alec Coles said in a joint statement that an independent review by a body of international experts was the best way forward.
The Gospels were originally taken from Durham Cathedral by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries before being acquired by the British Museum in the 18th century and then the British Library.
03.07.2007 - Tate Britain transformed for a night of song
Tate Britain is to be transformed on Friday July 6 for a spectacular live singing event as part of their Tate Lates series of late night openings.
Sing Local coincides with South West Fest and Sing London, a week-long festival designed to get the whole of London singing.
Highlights of the evening include performances by the Metropolitan Police Male Voice Choir, who will be juxtaposed by The Strawberry Thieves Socialist Choir, named after a design by William Morris.
Visitors will also be able to join the 'Funk Chorus' with Barby Asante and Andrea Encinas, learn songs from the 16th and 17th century with the Renaissance Singers and even join Pimlico's finest Karaoke Queen, Jane Buttigeig.
There will also be a singing bus tour along the Thames, where partakers will learn Flanders and Swann’s classic omnibus anthem Transport of Delight, followed by a performance on the gallery lawns. For more information see the Tate website.
03.07.2007 - Alcester Tau Cross returns 'home' to Warwickshire Museum
An ancient medieval cross is to be displayed in Warwickshire Museum for the first time since its discovery in the county over 100 years ago.
The Alcester Tau Cross (detail pictured) was discovered in a garden Alcester in 1903 and was transferred to the British Museum - where it has remained ever since. Made from walrus ivory it would have adorned the top of a bishop's staff.
It will go on display in Warwickshire Museum until September 2007 and then move on to Roman Alcester Heritage Museum, where it will be on display until March 2008.
03.07.2007 - Tatton Park transformed for 1940s day
On Sunday July 8 visitors to Tatton Park will be transported back six decades to experience life during the 1940s.
The Old Hall and Tatton Dale Farm at Tatton Park will be providing a fun day with plenty of events taking place to give everyone a nostalgic taste of what civilian and military life was like in Britain during WWII.
An historic bus will run between the two attractions and visitors can learn about the impact of war on society and the changing roles within the family by meeting land girls and soldiers, listening to live 1940s music and having a go at some war jobs.
There will also be a selection of military vehicles and a school for evacuees. Normal park entry admission applies.
Sandford Awards are presented by The Heritage Education Trust to historic houses, museums, galleries, cathedrals, gardens and historic artifacts within the historical and cultural environments of the United Kingdom and Ireland.
It recognises the quality of educational services and facilities and outstanding contributions to heritage education.
02.07.2007 - Shetland Islanders call for return of Silver hoard from Edinburgh
A Shetland MSP has called on National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh to return a silver hoard found by a schoolboy during an archaeological dig on St Ninian's Isle in 1958.
The Museum in the capital is currently home to the valuable hoard, which dates from Pictish times and includes a series of silver bowls and other objects of jewellery.
Shetland MSP Tavish Scott has written to Dr Gordon Rintoul, director of National Museums Scotland, pointing out that the treasure is highly valued in the Shetlands and that they form only a small part of the collection in Edinburgh.
He also argues that the new Shetland Museum is now able to dislay the items safely. "If this highly significant part of Shetland's heritage is returned for display in the new Shetland Museum it can be enjoyed and understood in the context of the Shetland story by local people and visitors alike."
It has been reported in the Shetland News that the SNP support the move to return the Pictish hoard and that new Scottish Minister for Cultural Affairs, Linda Fabiani, will be taking steps to ensure the treasure is returned to the new Shetland Museum for permanent display.
02.07.2007 - Exeter Museum begins its £15m re-vamp
A structural investigation of the museum is taking place during this week in preparation for the development, which is due to begin in earnest in 2008.
The plan is to allow the museum to grow to meet 21st century needs by increasing the proportion of collections on display; increasing temporary exhibitions; restoring lost architectural features; creating new public spaces and improving the setting at the rear of the building.
The development also includes the construction of a new collections store called the Exeter Ark, a modern, purpose built two-storey storage facility housing the Museum's reserve collections at Marsh Barton. Work on this is already underway and will be finished in time to allow work to commence on the main Museum redevelopment.
