Summary
This autumn, The Wilson relaunches its museum wing to tell the story of Cheltenham through the eyes of its communities. The museum’s transformation has been shaped by over 58,000 responses to the Big Museum Project, answering questions including which of Cheltenham’s many stories are important to tell and what makes Cheltenham unique.
Details
Coupled with a refurbishment of the museum spaces, the reopening on 24 October is an invitation to experience Cheltenham’s past in a fresh new way. The Wilson was opened in1899, following a gift of forty-three paintings from the third Baron de Ferrieres, a former Mayor and MP for Cheltenham.
Today, Cheltenham’s collection holds over 250,000 objects across art, nature, history, costume and science, spanning from the stone age to the present day.
For the first time in the museum’s history, the Big Museum Project has enabled the local community to shape its future through visiting the Museum on Wheels, exploring the Test Space exhibition, taking part in workshops, sharing ideas in libraries and community hubs, and voting at feedback stations. The responses were clear: local history matters most.
Related stories
Every object displayed in the museum will tell a story about Cheltenham’s past, present of future – from the well-known moments in the town’s history to hidden stories, overlooked voices, and the everyday lives whose experiences shaped the place we know today. The Big Museum Project was supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The opening of The Wilson’s museum will be celebrated with a week-long festival style programme of free activities including live music, family workshops and creative hands-on activities, interactive performances inspired by Cheltenham’s history, curator tours and conservation stations.
Lisa Edgar , Director of Arts and Heritage, The Wilson said: “We are delighted to bring Cheltenham’s collection back to life in our refurbished museum wing. Over 58,000 responses, contributions and wonderful conversations from communities across Cheltenham have brought new ideas, new stories and new ways of thinking about the many histories that shape our town.
In the 127 years since it was founded, The Wilson has collected over 250,000 fascinating objects that span art, history, science and world cultures – from the stone age to the present day.
Report source: Visit Cheltenham Blog
