In the year since its doors re-opened to the public, Bolton Museum points to late night openings, guided tours and over 280 class visits for 8,500 schoolchildren as key ways it has driven footfall into its refurbished exhibition spaces.
The renovation project, which concluded last autumn, centered around the installation of Bolton’s Egypt, a new space which attracted almost 10,000 visitors on its opening day. This flagship gallery space, which features a full-sized recreation of the tomb of Thutmose III, along with the new History, Nature, and Art spaces will have been open for one year as of 21st September.
“Bolton has one of the country’s most significant collections of verified Ancient Egyptian artefacts and is home to the world’s oldest sample of mummification bandage,” explained Bolton Museum’s head of collections, Samantha Elliott.
“Through these new galleries we have explored not only the rich, vibrant lives of the Egyptians – and our enduring obsession with all things Ancient Egypt – but also how the philanthropy of several local families, and the booming cotton trade, combined to create a unique legacy for the town,” she concluded.
Councillor David Greenhalgh, leader of Bolton Council and portfolio lead for culture with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: “It is fantastic to see that the new galleries are attracting more people than ever before to our wonderful museum.
“Everyone who comes to see Bolton’s Egypt is blown away by the tremendous artefacts on display,” he continued. “Its interactivity and how it manages to bring that fascinating period of history to life.”
To mark the first anniversary of the museum’s opening – and to try and tempt even more visitors through the door – Bolton Museum will be hosting a free-entry party this weekend.
