attractions & mUseUms


Museum of London appoints new director


Sharon Ament – director of public engage- ment at the Natural History Museum – has been named director of the Museum of London, with effect from September. Since 2000, Ament has played a central


role in creating transformational experi- ences and to build the reach and impact of the Natural History Museum. Ament said: “My passion for the peo-


ple, intellectual output and reputation of London marries well with the work and philosophy of the Museum of London.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=Q6z2K


HLF support for eight UK projects


Eight projects throughout the UK have been handed a boost after the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) announced ini- tial support worth £76m in the latest round of major grant applications. Te agency said the “highly


competitive” round for grants of more than £5m had received nearly twice the number of requests compared with the funding that was available. Among projects to receive


backing is the development of the V&A at Dundee, with the Design Dundee partnership receiving support towards its £9.2m bid. Meanwhile, the National Army Museum


Te V&A at Dundee is one of the UK projects to receive initial support


in London has moved a closer in its bid for a grant of £11.3m, which will help fund an exten- sive makeover of the attraction in Chelsea. Another scheme in the capital – the restora- tion and redevelopment of the Royal Academy


Te attraction was created on derelict mine land


New mining attraction launches in Cornwall


Heartlands, a new visitor attraction and gateway to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site, has opened to the public at Robinson’s Shaſt in Pool, Cornwall. Te facility is run as a social enterprise by


the Heartlands Trust and boasts a restored engine house with 80-inch beam engine – the last to work at a Cornish tin mine. An adventure playground themed on


Cornish myth and legend; exhibitions ded- icated to the World Heritage Site; and the Totem Circle amphitheatre also feature. Details: http://lei.sr?a=C1B3D


Merlin completes London Eye capsule upgrade


Merlin Entertainments has completed a £12.5m upgrade programme on the capsules of its London Eye attraction in London. Te work included removing capsules


one at a time and transporting them to a location in Essex, where each was given a makeover. Completion was scheduled to coincide with the start of summer 2012. As a direct result of the project, which


took three years to complete, the EDF Energy London Eye’s energy consumption has been reduced by 30 per cent. Details: http://lei.sr?a=k5H5M


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of Arts – has been given initial support for a funding application worth £12.7m. Other beneficiaries include Ditherington


Flax Mills Maltings in Shropshire (£12.1m); the Maze Long Kesh in Northern Ireland (£6.4m) and Kent’s Knole Tudor palace (£7.5m). Details: http://lei.sr?a=w5n2t


MA urges caution in red tape consultation


UK heritage sites have been urged to show caution in their approach to a government consultation, launched as part of its Red Tape Challenge to streamline the regulatory bur- den in a number of sectors. Sports, heritage and gam-


ing industry stakeholders have been given the opportunity to “name and shame” the rules and regulations they believe are holding back growth. However, the Museums


Association (MA) has warned that the removal or alteration of certain legislation could have “unintended outcomes” for the sector. Among the regulations subject to the con-


Cutting legislation may have “unintended outcomes” for UK collections MA director Mark Taylor said: “We would


sultation is the Firearms (Museums) Order 1997, which permits museums to display items without the need for a firearms certificate.


urge caution when looking to change or remove legislation that may have wide-reaching conse- quences for museums across the UK.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=3U2X9


Wellington Arch reopens with new exhibition space


Wellington Arch has reopened to the public at Hyde Park Corner to provide London with its “latest exhibition space”, which allows visitors to explore the history of England. The Quadriga Gallery is located on the upper two floors of the historic arch, which


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital


was first built in 1828 in order to commemorate the Duke of Wellington’s defeat of Napoleon. In addition to the gallery, the arch also


features a new permanent exhibition of the structure’s history and a viewing platform. Details: http://lei.sr?a=w9A7I


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2012


image: skuds/flickr


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