Museums and galleries across Bath will be throwing their doors
open to members of the public after-hours, for one night only.
Themed as “Night at the Museums”, the event on Saturday, 12 May,
is part of National Museums and Galleries Month 2007. It is being
coordinated by Bath & North East Somerset Council in
association with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Night at the Museums is the culmination of a week of free
activities, including an exhibition featuring items on loan from 16
local museums in Bath’s Central Library.
The night itself will see live music and entertainment
performed at a string of venues.
National Museums and Galleries Month 2007 and the Night at the
Museums encourage people to step outside their usual areas of
interest, from the visual arts to social history. The wealth of
treasures available across the city is being showcased and everyone
is invited to take the opportunity to find out more about the world
class collections looked after by local venues.
Stephen Bird, Head of Heritage Service, Bath & North East
Somerset Council, said: “Museums and Galleries Month has always
been an exciting time for local venues, but this year we are taking
it one step further. By extending the opening hours, we hope to
attract a wider audience and also to encourage people to explore
the treasures that are on their doorsteps.“
The night-time event has been made possible thanks to the
support and dedication of local volunteers. The museums and
galleries community thrives on the support of residents to help
them to continue their good work.
Involvement from the student community is also an important
aspect to this project which will bring people of a range of
interests and age groups together.
Some 10 venues in Bath will host events, with live entertainment
scheduled throughout the evening from 5.30pm to 10pm.
The participating venues and events are as follows:
Victoria Art Gallery, by Pulteney Bridge : 5.30pm
to 9pm. Night at the Museums will be launched at the Gallery. A
live jazz trio will perform and Chairman of Bath & North East
Somerset Council, Councillor Loraine Morgan Brinkhurst, will
officially open the event. Visitors can take inspiration from the
Maggi Hambling exhibition and try their hand at creating a portrait
during workshops throughout the evening. Free entry.
Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road : 6.30pm to 10pm.
Experience “At the Coal Face” a documentary accompanied by live
music, about life as a coal miner. The adapted footage was
originally part of the Government’s series of films in the 1930s
about the life of British workers. Contact venue for admission
details.
Number 1, the Royal Crescent: 6.30pm to 8.30pm. Classical
music relevant to this magnificent building’s heritage will be
played in the music room. Among the highlights of the programme are
pieces by Handel, whose secretary lived in the neighbouring Brock
Street. This is a rare opportunity to see an original Georgian
house which has not been fitted with electrical lighting. Last
entry is just before dusk. Contact venue for admission details.
Museum of East Asian Art, Bennett Street: 6.30pm to
10pm. Join the Museum as it enjoys an evening of East Asian
Art with live music played by a member of the UK Chinese Ensemble.
The newly released Chinese documentary “How far do leaves fall?”
presents topics of discussion including migration, generational
changes, and Chinese identity within multi-cultural Britain. This
hour-long film was produced by the Chinese Mental Health
Association. It will be shown at 6.30pm and 8.30pm.
Professional musician Cheng Yu will perform traditional Chinese
music on the pipa and the qin, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm. Free
entry.
The Holburne Museum: 6.30pm to 10pm. Dr Matthew
Spring and the students of Bath Spa University perform music by
Chilcott, Herschel and Mozart in the Picture Gallery. Torch-lit
tours and refreshments will also be available. Free entry.
Sally Lunn’s, North Parade Passage : 6pm to
8.30pm. Take a step back in time to look at a seventeenth century
kitchen. A glimpse of the hidden layers of Bath’s former
streets can also be seen. Hungry visitors can try the Sally Lunn
bun, still made to the secret recipe. Free entry.
Bath Postal Museum, Northgate Street : 6.30pm to
9.30pm. Silent footage of the iconic documentary, “The Night
Mail” will be screened throughout the evening. Lucky visitors may
also get chance to hear a genuine postal horn. In years gone by,
different combinations of notes were used to signal the various
places which the post had come from. Contact venue for admission
details.
Thermae Bath Spa Visitor Centre: 6pm to 10pm. Stories
from the ancient and modern spas are documented in the visitor
centre, visitors will also be able to find out about the range of
treatments and facilities available today. Free entry
Roman Baths, Stall Street, Bath: 8.30pm to 10pm,
last admission 9.30pm. A perfect way to round off a busy night,
visitors can relax alongside the torchlit Great Bath with
accompaniment from a live clarinet quartet. A licensed bar will
also be open. Free entry for all Discovery Card holders.
Further information about the events is available by contacting
participating venues directly. Leaflets providing details of all
events and the exhibition can be picked up at the venues or Council
offices and libraries.
For More Information Contact:
