Pictured clockwise from top: The Geenor Tin Mine, The National Maritime Museum and the Mary Rose Museum
expected nearer the time. Roy Clare, chief executive of MLA, believes that it’s the ideal way to attract new visitors to muse- ums. “Modern life for many people is a 24-hour experience,” he says. “Museums at Night responds to this round-the-clock lifestyle by providing a rich and unusual opportunity for everyone to spend quality time browsing the great diversity of col- lections. It encourages people, especially those who would never normally go to their local museum, to devote an evening to discovering the free resources that lie just on their doorstep. This is a way for muse- ums to open their doors and interpret their collections to inspire fresh discovery and provoke more satisfying experiences.”
AFTER DARK
There is no theme for the weekend but museums and galleries are encouraged to do something that’s relevant to their attrac- tion rather than following a formula. Finnis advises operators to think about what their venue may have been in the past. “Many places were working sites once and people love seeing what places would have looked like,” she points out. “For example, there used to be a night shift at the Geevor Tin
AM 2 2010 ©cybertrek 2010
Mine in Cornwall, so they’re going to open in the evening and recreate what it would have been like to have worked in the mine at night. Or keep it really simple; many museums are in buildings which used to be houses and look very different at night lit by candle. Alternatively, do something around a particular exhibit,” she continues. “Eastbourne Readout Fort has a collec- tion of telescopes so is hosting an event on astronomy. It’s also an opportunity for members of staff to tell stories about the objects and indulge their passions.” Last year’s event revolved primarily
around families, and while many still are, this year there are more events aimed at adults. These include a paranormal inves- tigation at Chatham Historic Dockyard, Hovercraft Museums taking some of the old, smaller craft out on the sea at night, a talk on style at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) alongside the Grace Kelly exhibition and a sleepover at the Churchill Cabinet War rooms, where visitors can enjoy a two-course dinner, breakfast, a tour of the War Rooms and an overnight stay in Whitehall beneath Downing Street. Last year’s event was such a success that the number of attendees has been increased
from 40 to 50. Simon Thomson, learn- ing and access manager at the Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms, says:
“We collected feedback on the morning after the event, which was universally posi- tive about the experience – including the sleeping accommodation, which surprised us! Particular highlights were focused around the tour of the site and the sense of a unique opportunity.” The extended opening hours until mid-
night reaped rewards for the V&A last year, with almost 2,000 people visiting on the Friday night between 5.30pm and midnight. Elizabeth Barrett, head of press, welcomes the opportunity the Museums at Night weekend offers and looks forward to repeating the experience this May. “It’s a great opportunity for visitors to see the exhibitions outside of normal opening times, meaning that more visitors and a broader audience can enjoy the museum and its shows,” she says. Whether it’s recreating a past expe-
rience, showcasing an attraction by candlelight or giving in-depth insight into a collection, operators can fi nd something to appeal to new visitors, who, will hopefully, become loyal regulars. ●
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