Museums and Galleries Month 2005
Once again, we enjoyed another hectic Museums and Galleries Month! This year we aimed our free workshops at junior school, and adult ages, (although anyone who happened to be passing so to speak, was welcome to join in at any time). With the schools taking full advantage of Electricity sessions in the mornings, and Canal workshops in the afternoons, a very busy 16 to 20 May was ensured for everyone concerned.
The following week, 23 to 27 May, being Adult Learner’s Week, was just as hectic, with Victorian/Local History sessions in the mornings followed by quality painting sessions in the canal ‘Toleware’ style, during the afternoon, some exceptional artwork being produced by young and older visitors alike. One day we also had an extra free session of rag rug making!
As
Pontypool Museum and Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre are working together
in their Lifelong Learning Partnership, free art and craft workshops were
also organised at the Grange; a day long ‘Felt Craft’ session
on 7 May, and a popular day long ‘Miniature Shoes’ craft workshop
on 28 May, an ideal way to finish off an enjoyable month.
The month’s activities had begun much sooner,
ho
wever
with widespread advertising taking place throughout Torfaen, with the
dedicated help of our volunteers, telephoning societies, groups, and individuals,
helping to spread the good news and encourage them to come along.
At
the museum, we actually ‘kicked off’ proceedings with our
Bank Holiday Monday Children’s Festival, with ‘Maxey and his
Tightrope Walk of Death’ as the main
attraction.
Other activities included puppets, Japanware stencilling activities and Reminiscence sessions, while Jill, our 18th century washer - woman, was kept busy ‘moaning’ at the visitors with her wash day rhetoric. As a result, over 1,100 visitors came to the museum for the Festival, with many of them commenting on how much they enjoyed the activities.
During the Month, visitors to activities totalled over 1100 for the Children's Festival, 423 to school workshops, 195 to adult activities, which with other visitors to the sites, came to a grand total of 2117. Thanks to our funders, CyMAL, Pontypool Regeneration Fund and NIACE & ELWA.