attractionS & MuSeuMS Virgin Media Space for Science Museum


A 1,800sq m purpose-built venue will open at the Science Museum next June. Showcasing the National


Photography Collection from the National Media Museum, the Virgin Media Space will provide a forum to discuss works by contem- porary artists across a variety of disciplines. Each year it will pres-


ent two major paid for exhibitions and a series of free installations. Head of Media Space,


Te new Media Space is due to open at the museum in June 2013


Hannah Redler, says it will be the place where the two cultures of art and science col- lide: “Media Space offers an unprecedented opportunity for our audiences to encounter photographs and artists’ own investigations into our collections.” The capital cost of the project is £4m. Funding has come from a variety of sources:


the principal founding sponsor is Virgin Media while the Dana and Albert R Broccoli Foundation the founding donor. The first exhibition, Revelations:


Experiments in Photography, will explore contemporary artists’ responses to sci- entific photography from 1850 to 1920. Details: http://lei.sr?a=L5N2n


Rochdale Pioneers Museum opens after refit


The refurbished Rochdale Pioneers Museum, which celebrates the birth of the co-operative movement, has reopened its doors aſter a £2.3m refit. Te improve- ments include a new tower offering liſt access, additional multimedia displays and the resurrection of the original second floor reading room. The museum, which has


been in existence for 80 years, tells the story of how, in 1844, 28 Rochdale men, tired of being overcharged for poor quality goods, decided to contribute a pound a piece to start their own co-operatively run business. “Our annual target is 9,000 visitors, but we


Te nationally important museum has received a £2.3m redevelopment


received 1,400 visitors from 33 different coun- tries in the first week,” said museum manager,


Jenny Broadbent. “Tat was partly because of a co-operative expo in Manchester, but we have continued to attract 300-400 visitors per week, including local people and coach parties from around the UK.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=F3x7q


Bradford Industrial Museum goes green


Bradford Industrial Museum is looking to reduce its carbon footprint with the installa- tion of solar panels. Te £39,000 investment should produce


enough power to pay for itself in eight years. Tey are expected to meet 10 per cent of the


© CYBERTREK 2012


museum’s electricity needs, as well as gener- ating an income of £3,050 a year from feed-in tariff payments. Te council is attempting to provide 20 per cent of its energy require- ments from renewable energy sources by 2020. Details: http://lei.sr?a=E3v9n


Twitter: @leisureopps Gaelic will be introduced across all operations


Historic Scotland unveils its vision for Gaelic


Historic Scotland is to play a major role in the advancement of Gaelic aſter its plan to promote the language across the country was officially approved. Te agency’s five-year Gaelic Language


Plan has been accepted by Bord na Gaidhlig, the government body responsible for sup- porting Gaelic in Scotland. Te plan will support the use and learn-


ing of Gaelic within Historic Scotland and promote the language through the agency’s interaction with other organisations, stake- holders and customers across the country, and where relevant, around the world. Practical steps will include incorporat-


ing the language into its daily operations – including bilingual services, such as Gaelic signage at some properties and the production of bilingual publications. Existing Interpretation at selected Historic


Scotland sites, such as Carnasserie, Dunadd, Iona Abbey and Inverlochy Castle, will be replaced with signage incorporating Gaelic, complementing those sites already offering the service. Details: http://lei.sr?a=9F0u1


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital 7


Museums Galleries Scotland appoints new chair


Douglas Connell has been named as the new chair of Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS). A lawyer by trade, Connell is a for- mer chair of Edinburgh Book Festival, of the Lottery Committee of the Scottish Arts Council and of the Recognition Scheme Committee – a scheme which invests in nationally significant collections held out- side the nationally run museums. He has also advised the National Gallery


and the National Galleries of Scotland on high profile negotiations – such as the acquiring of two Titian paintings. Lynne Halfpenny, chair of MGS’s Board


Appointments Committee, said: “Douglas will be responsible for leading MGS in its work to support the sector to achieve the vision and aims of its National Strategy.” Details: http://lei.sr?a=A5T0I


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