Museums across Wales will celebrate and promote the country’s outstanding cultural offer at the second Welsh Museums Festival from October 24 to November 1.
More than 100 events and exhibitions will be on offer for the whole family, from sleepovers, talks, walks, hunts and handling sessions to archaeologist digs, re-enactments, dressing up, tea parties and Halloween themed activities.
Supporting the festival is TV presenter and Wildlife Expert Iolo Williams who said: “I am delighted to be supporting the Welsh Museums Festival. As a four-year-old child, I remember staring in awe at the skeleton of a woolly mammoth and even now I am amazed by the wealth of items held by our museums.
“With almost one hundred accredited museums all over the country caring for around 5.5 million items, no matter what your interests, there are treasures waiting to be discovered by the whole family.”
At the Museum of Modern Art, Wales (MOMA WALES) in Machynlleth there will be two free workshops for families: On Wednesday, October 28, there will be an Optical Illusions: Sci-Art Workshop from 11am to 2pm in the Green Room.
This workshop is inspired by the Reversphotospectives exhibition by Mark Robert Davey, which is currently on show at the museum. Explore the strange world of optical illusions and try making your own with Rebecca Cottrell. No need to book, just drop in any time between 11am and 2pm.
Thursday, October 29 sees a Colour Machines workshop from 11am to 2pm in the Green Room.
Participants will be able to create their own colourful abstract work, using various "colour machines" inspired by Barrie Cook's use of industrial processes within his work, which is currently on show at the museum.
This workshop will be led by Jo Marsh and there’s no need to book, just drop in any time between 11am and 2pm.
The Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, said: “We have some fantastic museums across Wales, filled with fascinating items that help tell the story of our past. They are a valuable resource in helping us to learn about and understand important historical events in a way that books alone cannot.
“The Welsh Museums Festival will give visitors more opportunities to discover and be inspired by the unique collections and I am pleased to see a range of events being held both in and around Communities First areas, ensuring there are opportunities for all to participate in a range of exciting experiences.”
Rachel Silverson, president of The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, said: “We are thrilled to be involved in the festival once again as it offers an opportunity for our members to promote their museums and to be proud of the work that they do. At a time when museums need support from their communities, we hope that more people will be amazed by all that Welsh museums have to offer.”
Did you know?
· 4.27 million visits to Welsh museums in 2013
· 84% visitors believe Welsh museums are friendly and welcoming places (Wales Visitor Survey 2013)
· Local community groups use museum services 4,843 times a year #
· There are 2,118 volunteers in Welsh museums
· Eight out of 10 tourists that visit a Welsh museum would recommend it to a friend or relative (Wales Visitor Survey 2013)
· Museums in Wales care for approximately 5,500,000 items
· Tywyn Narrow Gauge Railway Museum won ‘The National Railway Heritage Award 2013’
· Judge’s Lodging won ‘Hidden Gem’ Award in Hudson’s Heritage Awards 2014
· Half the museums in Wales provide free entry
· Swansea Museum is the oldest museum in Wales – founded in 1841
· St Fagans is the most visited museum in Wales with 564,195 visitors last year
Find out what events and exhibitions are taking place in MOMA WALES in Machynlleth by visiting www.museums.wales or www.momawales.org.uk.
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Editor’s Notes
The Museum of Modern Art, Wales (MOMA, WALES) was established in 1991 alongside The Tabernacle in Machynlleth, Powys. It is owned and run by Machynlleth Tabernacle Trust which is funded by grants and public donations. Throughout the year the galleries show contemporary art, featuring leading artists from Wales, works from the growing Tabernacle Collection, and in August selected entries from the Tabernacle Art Competition. Many of the works of art are for sale.
In May 2015 "The Tannery" was opened after many years of fundraising and restoration of this historic industrial building. This contains two galleries, connected to the main building by a bridge, one of which is specifically for sculpture. This brings the number of exhibition spaces up to seven.
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