Manchester Museum has announced that it will reopen its doors to the public next year following a £15 million “transformation project”.
The iconic museum – which is part of the University of Manchester – first opened doors in 1890, and boasts a collection of about 4.5 million items from every continent, but for the past two years, it’s been working towards an exciting new development as part of a “ambitious and complex” project which will see the building transformed.
the hello future project – which won Project of the Year at the 2021 North-West Construction Awards – involves a two-storey extension, extensive reconfiguration of existing spaces, and several new galleries.
The transformation is intended to become “more inclusive, imaginative and caring to the diverse communities it serves”.
📣 ANNOUNCEMENT 📣 We're in the final phase of a £15million transformation & we have announced today that we will reopen in February 2023. Keep an eye on Twitter for exciting sneak peeks and stories from behind-the-scenes of the build…#1YearToGo#MMHelloFuturepic.twitter.com/QD6TaNO6iz
The new galleries forming part of the transformation will include a stunning Exhibition Hall, which will host the internationally successful ‘Golden Mummies of Egypt’, a new Belonging Gallery, the Lee Kai Hung Chinese Culture Gallery, and a South Asia Gallery in partnership with the British Museum, which is the first-ever permanent exhibition space in the UK dedicated to exploring the stories, experiences, and contributions of South Asian communities.
If all of that didn’t sound brilliant enough as it is, the museum will also gain a new shop and café, and a range of inclusive facilities – including Changing Places toilets, a prayer space, a quiet room, therapy space, and picnic area.
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Accessibility and circulation are also being improved, with a new ramped entrance from Oxford Road leading to an object-filled Welcome Area.
The iconic museum is part of the University of Manchester, first opened doors in 1890, and boasts a collection of about 4.5 million items / Credit: Manchester MuseumThe transformation is intended to become “more inclusive, imaginative and caring to the diverse communities it serves” / Credit: Manchester Museum
Speaking ahead of the museum’s highly-anticipated reopening, Esme Ward – Director at Manchester Museum – said: “Despite the challenges we have faced during the pandemic, our team and partners have never lost faith in our vision for a reimagined Manchester Museum that is more caring, inclusive and imaginative.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our visitors and communities for their patience while we undergo this huge transformation.”
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The hello future project is supported using funding by Arts Council England, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The University of Manchester, and the generosity of numerous philanthropic supporters.
Manchester Museum will reopen to the public in February 2023.
Featured Image – Manchester Museum
What's On
A huge free festival is coming to Kampus with frozen margaritas and canal-side pizza
Georgina Pellant
A huge free festival is coming to Kampus over the Glastonbury weekend, bringing the party vibes to the heart of the city centre.
Promising canal-side pizza from NY slice bar Nell’s, also famed for their 22″ pies, plus a prosecco van, a cocktail pop-up from Manchester Gin’s Three Little Words in the Bungalow and loads more, it’s set to run from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 June 2023.
With huge outdoor screens in amongst the lush Kampus gardens broadcasting Glastonbury’s sets live throughout the weekend, the party will kick off on Friday with pizza slices and cocktails from Kampus’s waterside spritz bar.
Saturday will take things up a notch with live music from Manchester’s talented The Untold Orchestra, who will celebrate 40 years of Glastonbury headliners with their own orchestral renditions of classics from Bowie to Jay Z and Diana Ross.
Sunday will end on a quieter note, promising a day of family fun with Born To Be Wild Child decamping to the garden with craft tables and festival headband making, all set to the soundtrack of rock and roll hits.
There will also be free prosecco samples from the Delevigne sisters’ brand Della Vite, served direct from their pink vintage car ‘Penelope’.
Image: Nell’s at Kampus
Image: Nell’s at Kampus
Speaking on the upcoming festival Antonia Lallement, from Nell’s, said: “This is our first Kampus Fest and it’s all about bringing true festival vibes to the heart of Manchester.
“We’re decking out the Kampus garden to capture the bohemian magic of the UK’s favourite live events and flooding the space with music for the whole weekend.
“Manchester is full of music lovers and we want to give people a fun, city centre alternative to the real thing! We’ll be serving up slices to keep people going throughout the weekend and can’t wait to see people getting involved.
“Kampus has got to be one of the best outdoor spaces in the city. We felt it only right to put on a big summer block party come rain or shine.”
Abbie Duthie, from Three Little Words, added: “Glastonbury is an icon of the cultural calendar and we’re beyond excited to be staging Kampus Fest, bringing all the highs of the festival experience to Manchester, minus the mud of course.
“We’ll be serving our signature drinks canal-side for those whose ‘go to’ is summer spritzes and cocktails in the city over warm beer in a field! Kampus will be alive all weekend with great food and drinks, live music and festival vibes taking centre stage.”
Kampus Fest is free to attend from Friday 23 June – Sunday 25 June.
The Family Fun Day event on Sunday for youngsters requires reservation, with £2 tickets available to book in advance here.
Featured image – Kampus
What's On
Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k to help ‘save endangered animals’
Emily Sergeant
Chester Zoo is calling for thousands of runners to take on a charity 10k through the zoo’s grounds in a bid to help save one of its many endangered species.
The UK’s biggest charity zoo is looking for 2,500 runners of all abilities to sign up for its brand-new ‘Run for Nature‘ later this year – which begins inside the zoo’s 128-acre grounds, and sees participants race past the elephant, giant otter, and giraffe habitats, all before heading out and around the wider countryside estate.
As well as the 10k route, there’s also a special one-mile ‘zoom’ fun run around the zoo, which is perfect for energetic kids under 12.
All runners will get a medal when they cross the finish line, and there’ll even be some exciting prizes up for grabs for those who raise the most money.
Chester Zoo calls for runners to take on new charity 10k through its grounds and beyond / Credit: Chester Zoo
Taking place on Sunday 24 September, all funds raised from the run will go towards the Chester Zoo’s ongoing and extremely-important efforts to find a vaccine for a deadly virus that threatens endangered elephant populations all across the world – which is known as Elephant Endotheliotropic Herpesvirus (EEHV).
Scientists at the zoo are currently in the middle of the world’s first vaccine pilot study to fight the virus, and hope that proceeds raised from the upcoming events can help “create a future where Asian elephants survive and thrive.”
“We’re so excited to be able to offer places for 2,500 fundraisers to run our first ever 10k Run for Nature later this year,” explained Hannah Wright, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo.
Runners will raise money to help the zoo’s efforts to save endangered Asian elephants / Credit: Chester Zoo
“As a charity, fundraising is at the core of this event, but we also hope that it’s a great fun event that the whole family can get involved in – whether running, supporting or sponsoring.
“All participants will be receive a sustainable medal and top fundraisers will have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, which include annual memberships, animal experiences, and meal vouchers for our gastro pub, The Oakfield, as well as a selection of animal adoptions.”
Emily Sergeant -
21st February 2022 
