Welcome to the 24 Hour Museum news in brief page for the week ending October 12 2008.

10.10.2008 - Fossil Road Show comes to Woodend Creative Workspace in Scarborough

Will Watts of Scarborough Museum Trust is running a ‘fossil surgery’ on Saturday October 25 at Woodend Creative Workspace from 10am to 1pm.

He will be on hand to help people identify fossils they have found, offer advice on where to look and how to read the cliffs of the Yorkshire and Humber coast and to generally discuss all things geological.

The event is free and takes place at Woodend Creative Workspace, The Crescent, Scarborough, North Yorkshire, YO11 2PW.

09.10.2008 - Artist wins £20,000 Transformations commission at The Lowry

London-born artist Sarah Staton has won the latest £20,000 Transformations commission to create artwork for The Lowry’s Promenade gallery, which will be shown from April 2009.

The prestigious panel including Turner Prize-shortlisted artists Jane & Louise Wilson and Stephen Snoddy, the Director of the New Art Gallery in Walsall, selected Sarah from 130 hopefuls.

Sarah, who studied at St Martin’s School of Art (London), is known for her brilliant use of wood – mixing real and composite woods - and her ability to re-imagine everyday items.

08.10.2008 - Edinburgh Castle can now be explored in three new languages

Gaelic speakers and visitors from Russia and China can now read all about Edinburgh Castle in their own languages.

The new translations of the castle’s official souvenir guide are going on sale in response to changes in the tourism market.

Developing markets and economic expansion means that increasing numbers of people from China and Russia are taking holidays in overseas destinations like Scotland.

“At the same time we wanted to cater for Gaelic speakers as they are such an important part of the community in Scotland,” added Natasha Troitino, Historic Scotland retail central sales co-ordinator.

The souvenir guides are now available in a total of nine languages – the others being English, German, French, Italian, Japanese and Spanish.

07.10.2008 - Reserve collection open day at Fleet Air Arm Museum

The Fleet Air Arm Museum will be giving the first public display of its latest exhibit at a special Reserve Collection Open Day on October 23.

Among the new additions to the reserve collection is the Sea King helicopter which HRH The Duke of York piloted during the Falklands War in 1982.

The reserve collection, is situated in Cobham Hall across the road from the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton and includes over thirty historic aircraft, including one of the largest collections of Westland Helicopters.

The Duke's Sea King XZ574 was built by Westland Helicopters in Yeovil and first entered service with the Royal Navy on October 6 1976. The aircraft was finally retired from service on October 7 2004 having flown 9,168 hours and then held in reserve until it was decided that it could no longer be returned to active service.

It will go on display within the Fleet Air Arm Museum next year. Cobham Hall will be open from 10.00am - 4.00pm on Thursday Oct 23. Entry price £3.00 for adults and £1.00 for children.

06.10.2008 - York Art Gallery takes a new look at paintings with best selling author Tracy Chevalier

York Art Gallery is giving visitors the rare chance to look at paintings in a new way with international best selling author Tracy Chevalier.

On Saturday October 11, Writer in Residence Tracy will be holding two informal workshops concentrating on works on show and seeing how they can be perceived in different ways.

Tracy’s most famous novel to date, Girl with a Pearl Earring, is based on a painting by Vermeer.

The talks will take place at 10.30am-11.15am and 12pm-12.45. They are suitable for aged ten upwards and it costs £5 per person. To book a place call: 01904 650333.

06.10.2008 - Hamphsire Council transfers Flora Twort Gallery to museum trust

Hampshire County Council is to transfer management of the Flora Twort Gallery in Petersfield to the Petersfield Museum Trust.

The council agreed to transfer trusteeship of the gallery and collection to Petersfield Museum Ltd following a review on September 11.

Flora Twort was a member of the Royal Academy and a well known artist who bequeathed her paintings and her 18th century cottage and studio in Church Path, Petersfield to Hampshire County Council when she died in 1985.

Her will stated that the studio should be used to exhibit her work and as a museum. She left an endowment fund for the upkeep of the buildings.

However the museum closed in June 2008 after the on-site restaurant concession closed. With the transfer of the trust to Petersfield Museum it is hoped that the gallery will soon re-open.

“We are delighted to be given the challenge of taking over the Flora Twort Gallery,” said Vaughan Clarke, Chairman of the Petersfield Museum Trust. “Not only will it give us the chance to continue to showcase the work of Flora Twort, it will also allow us to display our extensive costume collection, with over 1000 pieces, dating back to 1720, which was given to Petersfield Museum by Bedales School."