Welcome to the 24 Hour Museum news in brief page for the week ending June 22 2008.
20.06.2008 - Hayward Gallery 40th anniversary celebrated with a week of events - plus entry for just 40p
The Hayward Gallery, London, was opened by HM The Queen on 9 July 1968.
To mark the 40th birthday, the gallery is holding a week of celebratory events, sponsored by Eversheds LLP, including a birthday party for the many artists, architects and curators who have contributed to the outstanding exhibition programme plus a series of artist and architect talks.
There will also be a special day when the critically-acclaimed exhibition Psycho Buildings, sponsored by Bloomberg, is open to the public for just 40p.
19.06.2008 - Wellcome Collection celebrates first birthday and 300,000 visitors
London's latest cultural venue, Wellcome Collection, has announced that it has attracted over 300 000 visits since launching, in time to celebrate its first birthday on 21 June 2008.
The venue, which is a cross between an art gallery and science museum, is run by the UK's largest charity, the Wellcome Trust. The Wellcome Collection was one of only four venues shortlisted for this year's prestigious Art Fund Prize, a national award given to a public venue whose project demonstrates the most originality, imagination and excellence.
"When we embarked on this project, we did wonder 'will anyone come?'," said Clare Matterson, Wellcome Trust Director for Medicine, Society and History.
"Twelve months in and with visitor numbers being what they are, we are extremely thankful to all who have stopped in on our premises on Euston Road. We won't become complacent for the next year, as we must continually reinvent our programming to make it fresh, relevant and appealing."
19.06.2008 - Infant school where DH Lawrence learnt to read and write is 'listed' by Margaret Hodge
The infant school that author DH Lawrence attended as a child in Nottingham has today been listed at Grade II by Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge.
Beauvale School in Greasley, Nottinghamshire, now known as Greasley Beauvale DH Lawrence Infant School, was designed by Nottingham architect R.C. Sutton, who later went on to design the very first branch of Boots the Chemist.
"It's fantastic the future of this historic school has been secured," said the Culture Minister. "The importance of it to both historians and literary scholars alike is indisputable and I hope the school that educated one of the giants of 20th century literature will continue to serve children for many years to come."
The red-brick school, which opened its doors in 1878, retains many of its original features today, including windows, doors and flooring.
18.06.2008 - London museum or gallery space needed to stage Anne Frank exhibition
The Anne Frank Trust UK (the British partner organisation of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam) is seeking a museum or gallery space of approx 120 – 140 square metres to stage the famous Anne Frank + You exhibition in central London for one to two weeks this summer.
The exhibition would coincide with the forthcoming BBC1 transmission of a new drama miniseries on The Diary of Anne Frank (starring Iain Glen and Tamsin Greig).
The exhibition, which is currently showing at Leeds Metropolitan University Headingley Campus, features AV displays and a life-size replica of Anne’s bedroom in the secret annexe of the house where she hid in Amsterdam.
"We know that thousands of people will love to come and see it having been inspired and moved by the primetime TV drama," said Gillian Walnes, Executive Director of The Anne Frank Trust UK. "We understand from the BBC that the programme is scheduled to go out 18-22 August, and we would love a space if possible for this and the following week."
Any one who can help is asked to contact the Anne Frank Trust on 020 7284 5858.
17.06.2008 - Experts welcome visitors to the Iron Age with talks and tours in Wales
An event called Welcome to the Iron Age is promising to reveal the secrets of our Iron Age ancestors in Denbighshire, Wales.
On Saturday, June 21 visitors are invited to hear presentations from three archaeologists about the Iron Age, combined with a two-mile site visit to the spectacular hillfort of Caer Drewyn.
The day will include presentations from Dr Toby Driver, aerial archaeologist for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales, and Kenneth Brassil, learning officer for Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales.
They will discuss the function, history and elements of hillforts and roundhouses in the Iron Age (800BC to 43AD).
Welcome to the Iron Age costs £2.50 and will run from 10am until 4.30pm, meeting at Corwen Sports Pavilion. Participants are asked to wear suitable clothing and bring a packed lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided on arrival.
17.06.2008 - Plans afoot for Roman museum in Towcester
A new museum featuring a rich array of Roman artefacts found in and around Towcester could be on the cards if a planning application is successful.
The plan, which has the backing of the local town council, would see a building in White Horse Yard, Towcester converted to house the collection of the Towcester Museum Trust, which has been collecting historical items for nine years.
The Trust has applied for a £900,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant to fund the conversion.
16.06.2008 - National Trust pledges £6m for visitor centre at Giant's Causeway
The National Trust for Northern Ireland has announced a funding commitment of over £6 million towards the delivery of new visitor facilities at the World Heritage Site, Giant's Causeway.
Subject to planning approval by the end of 2008, and funding being in place and tendering being completed, work is set to begin on a new visitor centre by autumn 2009 - opening by 2011. The overall cost of the centre is thought to be in the region of £10 million.
The Trust’s Director for Northern Ireland, Hilary McGrady, has promised a solution which will protect the integrity of the World Heritage Site in line with UNESCO’s requirements, whilst providing world-class visitor facilities that will be "good value to the public purse."
16.06.2008 - Leicester Council gets to work with heritage experts at historic environment summit
Councillors, heritage experts, environmental organisations and community groups in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland are to come together for a summit examining the area's heritage at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester on Tuesday June 17.
'Make Your Heritage Work For You' is one of a series of events taking place across the region organised by the East Midlands Heritage Forum. The forum, created in 2001, brings together agencies to protect and promote the region's historic environment.
16.06.2008 - Ten new research awards will help save UK's cultural fabric
Ten new Science and Heritage research awards aimed at helping to preserve the cultural fabric of the UK, worth £600,000 in total, have been announced by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).
The ten new collaborative doctoral awards are part of thre AHRC's strategic Science and Heritage programme and allow ten PhD researchers to study with major UK universities and cultural institutions to push the boundaries of our understanding of historic materials.
Topics to be investigated as part of these research projects include the lifetime of colour photographs, assessing the vulnerability of rock art monuments, historic UK collections and climate change and conserving historic concrete structures and cathedrals.
Non-academic organisations involved in the awards include leading UK cultural institutions such as The British Museum, English Heritage, The National Archives and York Minster.
16.06.2008 - Aston Hall celebrates 150 years as a museum
Aston Hall – one of Birmingham’s most famous buildings – celebrated its 150th anniversary as a museum over the weekend with music, story telling and re-enactments.
The 400 yeard old Jacobean Hall was built by Sir Thomas Holte and remained in his family until 1817 when it was purchased by James Watt Jnr. It was opened as a museum in 1858 by Queen Victoria and purchased by Birmingham Corporation in 1864.
Weekend celebrations included Victorian dressing up and an appearance by a Queen Victoria look-a-like. The event took place at Aston Park and nearby Aston Parish Church, as Aston Hall is closed until next summer while it undergoes a massive £10 million redevelopment.
