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Pop Into Your Local - During Museums and Galleries Month 2003!
By Richard Moss
24/04/2003
Image: Shows the Museums and Galleries Month 2003 logo.
Richard Moss takes a quick look at some of the high spots across Britain during MGM 2003.
Museums and Galleries Month 2003 kicks off during the May Day Bank Holiday weekend and with it comes a host of special events and exhibitions taking in some 1,400 museums and galleries around the UK.
Throughout May a museum near you will be putting on special events and exhibitions taking in everything from local culture to couture. For some institutions, it's a chance to let the public in to have a look behind the scenes, for others it's an opportunity to explore cultures past and present.
Luckily, one of this year's themes is cultures then and now, so many of the events and exhibits on display will bring to life some of our past cultures while exploring the many changes and developments within our localities.
Image: Shows the Museums and Galleries Month 2003 'Pop Into Your Local' poster.
This year also has an added European dimension with many museums and galleries across the UK celebrating cross-channel connections, with the French Government celebrating Printemps des Musees, on Sunday May 4.
Boasting a culture that is both rich with the past yet still strongly influenced by its proximity to the continent, the south east of England features a wealth of events and exhibitions that combine a local and Gallic flavour.
To get a taste of what's on offer, have a look at our whistle stop tour of just some of the museum and gallery events across the regions in May. You'll probably find that popping into you local museum will serve you up a few surprises…
The historic county town of Lewes in East Sussex has a rich and colourful history and three aspects of this are dealt with at the Barbican House Museum and Lewes Castle.
Spread over three weekends, Traders and Invaders explores the impact of other cultures in the Anglo-Saxon, Norman and Tudor periods. There will be dressing up, role-play and a series of events designed to bring the local past to life. Norman Saturday is May 3, Anglo-Saxon Saturday May 10 and Tudor Sunday June 1.
Southampton Maritime Museum is celebrating the city's connection with France from prehistory to the present day. Running from May 1, French Connections will feature everything from how French mammoths got to Southampton during the Ice Age to which French princess slept in the local God's House Tower.
Image: Shows the interior of the Fabrica Gallery in Brighton and Hove.
Left: Fabrica Gallery in Brighton - art with a gallic flavour in May.
Over in Brighton, the folks who run Fabrica Gallery are throwing their hats in with Printemps des Musees with a day entitled Bienvenue, on May 4. Croissants, coffee, French magazines & newspapers and even French gallery attendants will give a gallic flavour to Emma Woofenden's No Horizon exhibition.
In Portsmouth, the Mary Rose Museum will be focussing on local culture as it launches Shipshape throughout May. Highlighting five centuries of Portsmouth Dockyard's shipbuilding past and future, re-enactors The Tudor Group will be in action outside firing a replica gun from the Mary Rose on May 3.
Similar local traditions are explored at the Cogges Manor Farm Museum Past Cultures and Traditions weekend on May 24 - 26. Here you will see demonstrations of traditional crafts and farming tasks, and have the chance to meet the South Bucks Ferret Club (I should imagine visitors would be well advised not to wear shorts to this event - Editor, 24 HM).
Image: Shows a girl standing next to a model of a drummer at the Mary Rose Museum.
Right: what better place to meet people than down your local and you'll meet all sorts at the Mary Rose Museum.
In Scotland, there's a Francophile flavour to proceedings with a series of workshops and events celebrating the connection between Scottish and French culture, in particular the influence of Mary Queen of Scots during the late-Medieval/early Renaissance period.
Preston Grange Industrial Heritage Museum in East Lothian ties in to the theme with their exhibition Medieval Machines - an interactive exhibition featuring technology developed during that period and at the excellent Verdant Works Museum in Dundee there's a Victorian dressing up workshop.
The People's Palace in Glasgow gives itself over to a Free Family Fun Day on May 4 as part of the City of Glasgow Maydaze Festival, while the Heatherbank Museum of Social Work launches Children In Trouble - a research project into residential settings for children with behavioural problems today and in historical periods back to the Ragged Schools of the mid-19th Century.
Moving south into Northumberland,Bede's World is seizing the opportunity for an exploration of the times and culture of the venerable chronicler with a trail of discovery called Peopling Northumbria - throughout May.
Following a similar theme May 17 and 18 sees a free exhibition presentation of the Lindisfarne Gospels at Durham Cathedral. This follows the presentation of a new facsimile copy of the Gospels on May 16.
Image: Shows a street scene with a traditional double decker bus at Beamish.
Left: if it's an authentic taste of the industrial North East you're after, Beamish is the place for you.
For the Beamish North of England Open Air Museum the fun kicks off with a distinctly British flavour as staff recreate traditional May Festivities in The Colliery Village, complete with a May Queen, a Maypole dancing competition and Morris Dancers.
In Northern Ireland, the Ulster Museum is celebrating the local traditions and crafts of the Blacksmith with an exhibition entitled Fighting Forms.
On May 11 a traditional blacksmith will be on hand to show how armour and weapons are made in the forge. The same venue also features a rather more Touching Experience on May 19 with a a rare chance to touch and talk about costume and objects from the Museum's fine art collection. It's just one of a week-long series of creative events to mark the European Year for People with Disabilities.
The Museum of Liverpool Life gets into the swing of things with a resident printer on hand for a demonstration explaining the differences between printing in 1938 and today. Every Tuesday throughout May has also been designated a period to explore 'Liverpool Culture Then & Now' and an invitation to wander through some of the city's history.
Image: Shows the Museum of Liverpool Life with the Liver Building in the background.
Right: there's so much more to Liverpool than The Beatles, Michael Owen and a couple of Cathedrals - find out what at the Museum of Liverpool Life.
A similar theme is taken up between May 12 - 16, at The Kendal Museum of Natural History and Archaeology. Workshops will explore the differences between the past and present - participants will be invited to create art using a wide range of materials, that draw inspiration from the Archaeology, History & Natural History Collections.
A welcome weekend event at Worsbrough Mill Museum will be offering Guided Tours of the Mill throughout the May bank holiday weekend. The tours start at 11.30 on Saturday May 3, continuing every two hours.
The Royal Pump Museum in Harrogate will be celebrating local culture in the 1950s in its Fabulous Fifties Family Fun Day on May 17 between 11 and 4pm. Activities will run throughout the day and include exhibition trails, quizzes, things to make and 1950s replica costumes to try.
Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is seizing the theme of culture then and now with a series of children's workshops that focus on family trees, ethnic diversity and the local history of the area on May 1 and 2.
Image: Shows the working Roman water wheel at the Museum of London.
Left: if you live near the Museum of London or you're just passing you won't want to miss the working Roman water wheel. © 24 Hour Museum.
Rugby Art Gallery and Museum explores similar themes of diversity with a taste of Asia on May 10. A demonstration by young Banghra dancers will be accompanied by a fashion show of beautiful saris and the opportunity to sample food from different countries.
A different dancing tradition forms part of the May Festival at theAvoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Worcestershire between May 3 and 5 and includes music, Morris dancers (Mon. only) and train rides.
There's another fair at the Kettering Through The Ages - Living History Fair at Manor House Museum on May 16. Celebrating 200 years of local history this multi-period living history fair will be held in the museum and gallery gardens and feature stalls, encampments, craft workers, music & storytelling.
The Gower Heritage Centre in Wales has an ecological slant to the traditional Mayday festivities with its 'Environmental Challenge.' Between May 3 and 5 children will be making, then dancing, around a Maypole made out of a mound of rubbish - with the help of workshop leaders.
The Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey near Cambridge also gets into the festival spirit with a 1940s fete during the bank holiday on May 25 and 26 featuring traditional games and Maypole dancing whilst the Moyes Hall Museum has a Tudor Living History day on May 18.
Image: Shows the front of Bristol City Art Gallery and Museum.
Right: there's loads to see and do at the fantastic Bristol City Art Gallery and Museum. Photo: Jon Pratty. © 24 Hour Museum.
On May 10 and 11 the National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff is leading the way with a multicultural arts festival showcasing some of the best artists from around the world encompassing music, poetry, dance, storytelling and crafts.
If that doesn't tickle your fancy you can go back in time and experience life as a Victorian and learn how they lived at the Rhondda Heritage Park on May 4 and 5.
Red House Museum in Christchurch, Dorset is looking across the channel with French Connections on May 1 and 2. It's a trail that highlights and explores many of the objects in the Museum of a French origin or have a 'French Connection'.
The 'Celebrity Choice' Museum Trail on May 1 and 2 celebrates Bristol's remarkable cultural heritage in local museums and art galleries. Throughout the month of May visitors to the five Bristol City Council run museums will be able to follow in the footsteps of their favourite local celebrity and find out what their favourite object is and why.
Coming full circle and finishing in London, May sees the capital awash with special events and exhibitions to tempt gallery and museum goers into their hallowed halls.
Image: Shows the outside of London's Transport Museum in Covent Garden.
Left: all aboard! Hop into London's Transport Museum for a 'moving' tour of the capital!
Just two aspects and periods of London life will be dealt with at Life on the Buses during May 26 - 30 at London's Transport Museum. Former London bus driver & conductor Lawrence Darani will be chatting to visitors about 'life on the buses.
Another Londoner with a story to tell, Samuel Pepys will be showcased at the Museum of London, in a special exhibition called Pepy's London from May 8. There will also be a range of events relating to the celebrated diarist from writing workshops to guided tours of the exhibition with the curator.
Amidst the celebrations and special exhibitions in London, one museum to definitely look out for in May is the Museum of Immigration and Diversity at 19 Princelet Street. This rare jewel of a museum in Spitalfields is London's only museum of conscience and will be opening its doors on May 4, 11 and 25 for an exhibition entitled Suitcases and Sanctuary.
For a full listing of events go to:
www.may2003.org.uk/html/evhome.html on the Museum and Galleries Month website.
Regular updates about MGM 2003 events and exhibitions will be appear on the 24 Hour Museum throughout May - make sure you keep checking the site!
Our team of regional volunteer writers will be reporting back on some events to give you a flavour of this annual cultural treat.
Lewes Castle & Barbican House Museum
Barbican House, 169 High Street, Lewes, BN7 1YE, East Sussex, England
Open: Open daily, Tues - Sat, 10am - 5.30pm; Sun, Mon & Bank Holidays, 11am - 5.30pm.
Closed: The castle closes at dusk during the winter however the Barbican House Museum remains open until 5.30pm. Last admission to either, 30 minutes before closing time.
Southampton Maritime Museum
Southampton Maritime Museum, Corner of Bugle Street and Town Quay Road, Southampton, SO14 2AR, Hampshire, England
T: 023 8022 3941
Open: Tues-Sat 10.00-16.00
Sun 13.00-16.00
Closed: Monday
Mary Rose Museum
Mary Rose Trust, College Road, HM Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LX, Hampshire, England
Open: Mar-Oct 1000-1730, Nov-Feb 1000-1700
Cogges Manor Farm Museum
Cogges Manor Farm Museum, Church Lane, Witney, OX28 3LA, Oxfordshire, England
Open: 3rd April - 28th October 2007
Tues-Fri 1030-1730
Sat-Sun 1200-1730
Early closing during October 16.00
Closed: Mondays
Fabrica
40 Duke Street, Brighton, BN1 1AG, East Sussex, England
Open: Open Wed-Sat 11.30-17.00, Sun 14.00-17.00
Closed: Closed Mon & Tue
Prestongrange, East Lothian
Morison's Haven, Prestonpans, EH32 9RY, East Lothian, Scotland
Open: The museum site is open to the public all day, throughout the year. The visitor centre and exhibitions are open between 11am and 4pm from April to October.
The museum will open late on Thursdays until 8.30pm from 3 June to 22 October 2006.
People's Palace and Winter Gardens
Glasgow Green, Glasgow, G40 1AT, Strathclyde, Scotland
Open: Monday-Thursday & Saturday 10am-5pm, Friday & Sunday 11am-5pm
Heatherbank Museum of Social Work
Glasgow Caledonian University, City Campus, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow, G4 0BA, Strathclyde, Scotland
Open: Mon-Fri 0900-1630
Bede's World
Church Bank, Jarrow, NE32 3DY, Tyne & Wear, England
Open: April-September
Mon -Sat 1000-1730
Sun 1200-1730
October-March
Mon-Sat 1000-1630
Sun 1200-1630
Closed: 22 December 2008 - 26th December 2008 and from 29th December- 1st January 2009. Closed Good Friday.
Beamish, The North of England Open Air Museum
Beamish, DH9 0RG, County Durham, England
Open: Until 30th March 2007 - open 1000 to 1600, last admission 1500. Closed Mons & Fris.
31st March to 28th October 2007, open daily, 1000 to 1700, last admission 1500.
29th October 2007 to 14th March 2008, open 1000 to 1600, last admission 1500. Closed Mons & Fris.
Closed: Mon and Fri in winter.
Also closed 10th December 2007 to 1st January 2008 inclusive.
Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum, Botanic Gardens, Belfast, BT9 5AB, Antrim, Northern Ireland
T: 028 9038 3000
Open: Open: Mon-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat 13.00-17.00, Sun 14.00-17.00
Closed: The Museum will be closed for 2 years from the end of August for major building/redevelopment work.
Museum of Liverpool Life - CLOSED
Pier Head, Albert Dock, Liverpool, L3 4AQ, Merseyside, England
Open: CLOSED
The new Museum of Liverpool will be replacing the Museum of Liverpool Life and will open in 2010.
Kendal Museum of Natural History & Archaeology
Kendal Museum of Natural History & Archaeology, Station Road, Kendal, LA9 6BT, Cumbria, England
Open: Open Thurs-Sat
12.00-17.00
(Please allow at least one and a half hours for your visit.
Closed between Xmas and New Year)
Closed: Closed Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed.
Worsbrough Mill Museum, Barnsley
Worsbrough Bridge, Barnsley, S70 5LJ, Yorkshire, England
Open: April - October
Wednesday - Sunday 10.30am - 4pm.
November, December and March
Open Sundays only 10.30am - 4pm
January and February
Closed to the general public
(N.B. Open for group visits only)
Royal Pump Room Museum
Royal Pump Rooms Art Gallery & Museum, Crown Place, Harrogate, HG1 2RY, North Yorkshire, England
Open: Mon-Sat 1000-1700
Sun 1400-1700
Closed: Closes 1600 November-March. Also 24-26 December and 1 January and 7-25 January 2008 inclusive.
Hereford Museum & Art Gallery
Hereford Museum & Art Gallery, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9AU, Herefordshire, England
Open: Tues-Sat 1000-1700
Sun 1000-1600 from April to end of September
Bank Holiday Mondays 1000-1600
Closed: Mondays
Good Friday
Christmas Day
Boxing Day
New Year's Day
Rugby Art Gallery & Museum
Rugby Art Gallery & Museum, Little Elborow Street, Rugby, CV21 3BZ, Warwickshire, England
Open: Tuesday & Thursday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday & Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday & Bank Holidays 12pm - 4pm
Closed: Mondays
Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings
Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, B60 4JR, Worcestershire, England
Open: March-June
Tues-Sun 1030-1700
July-August
Mon-Sun 1030-17.00
September - October
Tues - Sun 10.30-17.00
November-December
Fri- Sun 10.30 - 16.00
Manor House Museum, Kettering
c/o The Coach House, Sheep Street, Kettering, NN16 0AN, Northamptonshire, England
Open: 9.30am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday
Last admission 4.45pm
Closed: Sundays, Mondays and Bank Holidays
Farmland Museum and Denny Abbey
Denny Abbey, Ely Road, Waterbeach, Cambridge, CB5 9PQ, Cambridgeshire, England
T: 01223 860988
Open: 19 March-31 October 2005
Daily 1200-1700
Closed: 1 November - 18 March, except for school/special group visits
Moyse's Hall Museum, Bury St Edmunds
Moyse's Hall Museum, Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds, IP33 1DX, Suffolk, England
Open: Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. 10.00-17.00 (Last entry 16.00)
Closed: Good Friday. Christmas Day. Boxing Day. New Years Day. Bank Holiday Mondays. Please telephone for details concerning other days over the Christmas period
National Museum Cardiff
National Museum Cardiff, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NP, Cardiff, Wales
Open: Tues-Sun 10.00-17.00
Open Bank holidays
Gower Heritage Centre
Parkmill, Gower, Swansea, SA3 2EH, West Glamorgan, Wales
Open: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. winter
10 a.m - 5.30 p.m. summer
Closed: Over Christmas & New Year
Rhondda Heritage Park
Lewis Merthyr Colliery, Coed Cae Road, Trehafod, Trehafod, CF37 7NP, Mid Glamorgan, Wales
Open: Daily 1000-1800
1st Tour 1030 Last 1630
Closed Mon October- April also Christmas Day - January 1st inclusive
Closed: Mondays - October to Easter
Christmas Day - January 1st inclusive
Red House Museum & Gardens
Red House Museum & Gardens, Quay Road, Christchurch, BH23 1BU, Dorset, England
Open: Tues-Sat 10.00-17.00
Sun 14.00-17.00
Spring & Summer Bank Holiday Mondays 10.00-17.00
Last admission 16.30
Closed: Sun before 14.00
Mon (except Spring & Summer Bank Holidays)
Good Friday
Christmas & New Year
Bristol's Industrial Museum (closed for refurbishment)
Bristol's Industrial Museum, Wapping Road, Bristol, BS1 4RN, England
Closed: Bristol's Industrial Museum closed on 29th October and work has started on transforming it into the new Museum of Bristol, due to open in 2009.
Bristol's City Museum & Art Gallery
Queen's Road, Bristol, BS8 1RL, England
Open: Open every day, 10am-5pm
London Transport Museum
London Transport Museum, Covent Garden Piazza, London, WC2E 7BB, England
T: 020 7565 7299
Open: Sat-Thurs 10:00-18:00 (last admission 17:15)
Fri11:00-21:00 (last admission 20:15)
Museum of London
Museum of London, London Wall, London, EC2Y 5HN, England
T: 0870 444 3852
Open: Museum and Shop opening times:
Open daily 10am to 6pm.
Last admission 5.30pm
Café opening times:
Open 10.00am to 5.00pm
Closed: 24-26 December
The Museum of Immigration and Diversity
The Museum of Immigration and Diversity, 19 Princelet Street, London, E1 6QH, England
Open: Due to the fragility of building, only open on scheduled days in 2006 or by appointment
Open Days:
Sunday 18 June to Sunday 25 June 12 - 7pm
every day for Refugee Week
Sunday 3 September 12 - 5pm
for European Day of Jewish Culture and Heritage
Saturday 16 September 12 - 5 pm
and
Sunday 17 September 12 - 5 pm
for London Open House weekend (prepare for possible queues) (see below full description for details)
Closed: Outside scheduled open days, open by appointment only.
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