Ipswich Museum re-opens
And there's more good news
Following a temporary closure due to coronavirus restrictions, Ipswich Museum will re-open to visitors on today (18 May).
It's been shut since December but will soon reopen with a range of safety measures in place.
Visitors need to book a free ticket for a timed slot before they visit. In accordance with government guidelines, all visitors are required to wear a face covering.
A one-way system with signage is in place to direct visitors and advise them to keep their distance. Hand sanitiser stations are available along the route.
The shop is still offering gifts and souvenirs, but are only able to accept card and contactless payments.
Both venues are open from 10am - 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and 11am - 5pm on Sunday.
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council Portfolio Holder for Museums, said:
"It's exciting to be able to open the doors again and staff are looking forward to welcoming visitors back to the museums soon. Our museums are free for everyone and a perfect place to come and escape and explore."
The much-anticipated Power of Stories exhibition, which includes a display of sensational costumes from the hit film Marvel Studios’ Black Panther, will now open at Christchurch Mansion from 26 June to 24 October 2021.
Meanwhile, Ipswich Museums have been shortlisted for a prestigious award in the 2021 International Museums + Heritage Awards.
The awards celebrate and recognise leading lights and institutions in the Museums and Heritage sector right across the world.
Fighting off stiff competition and hundreds of nominations, Ipswich Museums has been shortlisted for the Community Impact award nomination that recognises the work the museum team undertook with local community partners, including Volunteering Matters, Suffolk Parent and Carers Network and Suffolk Libraries, in creating Museum From Home packages for children in the local community.
With support from Arts Council England, over 1200 activity packs were distributed locally to a range of groups - children aged 7 to 11, children with SEN, under 5s and young adults. The success of the project led to unprecedented demand and positive partnerships. The project ensured Ipswich Museums stayed engaged with their community partners whilst being of service to Ipswich communities.
Ipswich Museums is one of six organisations shortlisted.
Also, this year, considering the global pandemic, two new categories were added to the M&H awards programme, and it is in one of these, the COVID Special Recognition Award, that Colchester Museums manager, Pippa Pickles, has made it to the final six nominees recognising her work in leading Colchester Borough Council's support to the NHS vaccination programme.
Councillor Carole Jones said:
"While the museums' doors were closed the team wanted to meet the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. We hope the children and young people who were reached through the project will visit and enjoy our Ipswich Museums in the near future, and look forward to welcoming them. I am really delighted that our work been recognised nationally, and my thanks go to the Museum staff who made it a success."