In recognition of the challenges facing the education sector at present, the organisation has tweaked its offer to schools so that they can fully utilise the site’s collection whether pupils are in or out of the classroom.

While teachers can connect with the museum’s learning officer via video call to facilitate bespoke digital workshops, new Covid-secure loan boxes give pupils the chance to engage directly with historic objects. All loan boxes contain a combination of original and replica objects, photographs and archive material.

Loan rangers

Topics which the Hastings Museum & Gallery loan boxes cover include:

  • Dinosaurs
  • Stone Age A & B
  • The Romans
  • Ancient Egypt
  • Ancient Greece
  • Victorians Domestic A & B
  • Victorian Toys
  • Toys and Games
  • Fishing
  • Seaside Holidays
  • World War 1
  • World War 2
  • Museum Detectives

“The loan boxes are a great way of giving pupils the opportunity to see artefacts, which really brings history to life,” notes Cllr Colin Fitzgerald, lead portfolio holder for regeneration, culture and tourism at Hastings Borough Council.

“Through the handling and investigating of the objects, this will help to encourage discussion, empathy and creative thinking skills. These objects can also be used to inspire art and design projects and develop understanding of other cultures.”

Between uses a strict cleaning procedure and downtime period is imposed on each loan box. Schools, home educators and clubs can borrow the resources for £10 per term.

Having welcomed visitors to its gallery spaces once again, the museum also reinstated access to its Local Studies Room earlier this month as its reopening work continues.

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