Welcome to the 24 Hour Museum news in brief page for the week ending October 5 2008.

02.10.2008 - Chinese artist Ai Weiwei exhibits latest works at Albion, London

Outspoken Chinese artist and architectural designer Ai Weiwei is presenting an exhibition of works at Albion, London from October to November 17 2008.

Works include two series of Weiwei’s photographs of the Bird’s Nest, Beijing’s Olympic Stadium, in which he contributed to the design.

The first shows the stadium under construction and the second shows a series of 24 photographs taken every hour over the course of a day.

The exhibition will also include a new installation in collaboration with Herzog & de Meuron, the Swiss architects he worked with on the Bird’s Nest, plus a series of new sculptures.

To mark the partnership between Ai Weiwei and Herzog & de Meuron, Albion has produced a limited edition, two-volume book with essays by Aaron Betsky, the curator of the Venice Bienniale of Architecture and Dr. Charles Merewether.

Weiwei works across a wide range of practices, encompassing installation, sculpture, photography, video and architecture and he has become one of China’s most innovative figures in the art world.

His most recent installation was exhibited at the Liverpool Biennial of Contemporary Arts, entitled ‘Web Of Light,’ a giant spider and web made from crystals, constructed behind the Town Hall.

02.10.2008 - Lottery Heritage Fund aids women’s giant tapestry

A giant wall-hanging created by women of all ages from across London will be made possible by a £12,900 grant from the Lottery Heritage Fund.

The project, entitled A Stitch In Time, invites ten groups of women to create a panel that depicts a different stage or experience in their lives – from childhood through marriage, motherhood, work to being a grandmother and growing into old age.

The work will be completed by the end of this year and the panels will be joined to form a 25-metre-long tapestry.

Arranged by Brent Artists Resource and Bridging Arts, the project will be on display at the Gallery at the Willesden Green Centre for one month before being taken on a national tour.

Head of London’s Heritage Lottery Fund Sue Bowers, said: “This imaginative project will give a group of women at different stages of their lives the opportunity to express themselves creatively and share their histories while gaining traditional sewing and needlework skills.”

“The result will be a unique piece of craftwork that will communicate to audiences across cultures, religions and race.”

01.10.2008 - Welsh early Christian monuments travel to Paris

Two early medieval monuments from Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales collections went on display in Paris yesterday (September 30) as part of a new exhibition at the Musée National du Moyen Âge (National Museum of the Middle Ages).

A late 5th or 6th century inscribed stone from Llangwyryfon, Ceredigion and a 10th century cross from Baglan, Neath Port Talbot are two of the most important pieces of material evidence for early medieval Wales. They join a host of artefacts from Ireland, England, Scotland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway dating from the same period.

The exhibition, Celts and Scandinavians: Artistic Encounters 7th-12th centuries examines artistic developments in northern and western Europe. It looks at how art was used to communicate messages and ideas, through some of the most spectacular objects from the Celtic and Scandinavian countries.

“We are delighted to be able to contribute to this important exhibition, and to raise awareness abroad of one of the remarkable bodies of evidence surviving from early medieval Wales – objects that tell us about the period’s languages, literacy, art and faith," said Dr Mark Redknap, Curator of Medieval and Later Archaeology, Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales.

30.09.2008 - Black Country Museum's Streets Ahead project gets funding go-ahead

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has confirmed that a grant of £347,500 has been awarded to the Black Country Living Museum to pay for a new phase of its ‘Streets Ahead’ development.

By January 2009, the Museum plans to have constructed a new vehicle restoration and period display unit - Bradburn and Wedge, as part of ‘Moving the Black Country’. This stage of the new development will enable the Museum to showcase its significant collection of Black Country cars and motorcycles.

The museum will use its collection of vehicles and motorcycles to tell the story of transport throughout the Black Country.

The breadth of the collection is impressive featuring all forms of transport including cars, motorcycles and commercials. Visitors will enjoy better access to the vehicles with demonstrations, events, lectures, workshops and school based activities planned throughout the year.

The Black Country has a history of manufacturing some of the best cars and motorcycles in the world. Sunbeam produced four land-speed record cars – 3 of which were successful and Sunbeam and AJS motorcycles had a Grand Prix racing history second-to-none.

30.09.2008 - Bronze Age axe head given to Littlehampton Museum

A Bronze Age axe head found by a metal detectorist near Arundel has been donated to Littlehampton Museum.

The axe head and fragments were discovered by Tyndall Jones who took them to the museum the next day. The pieces have now been cleaned and treated and are on display as part of Littlehampton Museum's permanent collection.

29.09.2008 - Rare Wrenyck bird given to National Museums Wales

A rare Wryneck bird, found dead by a member of the public on the outskirts of New Quay, Ceredigion last week, has been given to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales for its collections.

The Wrenyck is usually only spotted about half a dozen times in Wales a year. However in 2008, seven or eight have already been seen, one of which is the unfortunate bird given to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales to preserve.

Usually only seen in the autumn, this year has proved more popular than usual for the species, which is a member of the Woodpecker family. Due to the recent easterly winds and high pressure, at least 150 have been spotted across the UK over the last three weeks, probably reaching this country from Scandinavia.

“We’re delighted to have the opportunity to add this Wryneck to our collections,” said Peter Howlett, Curator, Vertebrate Zoology. “It’s in beautiful condition and will make an excellent addition to the collection.”

The museum has a strong track record of preserving rare animals found dead in Wales. One of the Museum’s most popular exhibits is the leatherback turtle which was washed ashore on Harlech beach, Gwynedd, in September 1988.

It was brought to the attention of the museum by a member of the public and today forms an important part of the ‘Man and the Environment’ gallery.

National Museum Cardiff has also recently acquired an endangered swordfish which was found dead on Barry beach.

Anyone who finds a rare or unusual animal which could be of interest to Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, is asked to contact Peter Howlett at National Museum Cardiff on tel: 029 2039 7951.

29.09.2008 - Historic Scotland launches Kids go Free Month for October

Historic Scotland is launching its Kids go Free Month for October 2008 - inspiring children to discover over 5,000 years of history without having to pay a single penny.

The month long promotion runs from October 1 – 31 2008 and takes in castles, abbeys, cathedrals, prehistoric settlements, palaces and even the mightiest artillery fortification in Europe.

Special cartoon trails, which proved so popular last year, also return with an expanded programme. 70 Historic Scotland attractions will host 6 cartoon trails, with 36 child friendly historical illustrated characters along the way.

Historic Scotland is providing an information service by SMS text for the event. By texting TRAIL to 84118 you will receive information to your nearest attraction to visit with child’s admission being absolutely free.

29.09.2008 - English Heritage and Westminster Council to challenge Doon Tower

English Heritage and Westminster City Council have today (September 29 2008) issued a joint legal challenge to the decision to grant planning permission for the Doon Street Tower in London.

In August 2008 English Heritage said they were “appalled” by the decision of Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears to give the go-ahead for the controversial building on London’s Southbank and vowed to challenge it.

Simon Thurley, Chief Executive for English Heritage said: “English Heritage believes that the advice of the Planning Inspector to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, was clear."

"This scheme would cause serious harm to London’s historic environment. The Secretary of State took the view that this harm was outweighed by the proposed community benefits."

Dr Thurley added that the Secretary of State needed to take into account the environmental factors of the building and look at alternatives that preserved the community benefits of the development.

Coin Street Community Builders' proposals for the site will provide a public swimming and indoor leisure centre, shopping facilities and a towering residential high-rise development right in the centre of the capital.

"We urge the Secretary of State to respond positively to this challenge and to look again at the ways in which this scheme can be delivered which avoids harm to one of London’s greatest assets – its heritage,” added Dr Thurley.