Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery celebrates its first birthday at former Music Hall

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery is celebrating a year since it opened in its new home at the former Music Hall and 13th century Vaughan’s Mansion, following a redevelopment of the buildings and installation of the exhibits that took five years and cost £10.7m.

And to mark a year since it opened its doors to the public on 1 April 2014, the Museum & Art Gallery is launching a new family ticket which gives entry to two adults and up to three children aged 5 to 17 for £10.

Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery is now firmly established as a popular attraction in the town centre having welcomed 80,000 visitors in the first year.

Not only are the buildings packed with treasures from Shropshire dating back to before Roman times, but it is inspiring people to go out and explore the many historical sites around the county, such as Wroxeter and Ironbridge.

The Museum & Art Gallery’s special exhibitions programme has seen internationally famous works of art put on show in Shrewsbury for the first time. The current presentation “Secret Egypt – Unravelling Truth From Myth” has been the most popular, attracting thousands of families and schoolpupils to view its amazing exhibits, including a real mummy.

Staff are predicting a busy Easter with three exhibitions for visitors to enjoy: Secret Egypt, plus Railway Heritage, and Treasure! Discovering The Staffordshire Hoard.

Louise Cross, visitor economy manager with Shropshire Council, said:

“It’s been an incredible first year for the new Museum & Art Gallery. The buildings have been superbly restored and were recently honoured with a Civic Trust Award. I have been delighted that so many people have come to enjoy the facilities including the galleries, special exhibitions, Visitor Information Centre and stop. Café.

“The council is continuing to invest in our cultural and heritage facilities despite the difficult financial climate. I look forward to the coming year when we will have lots of new attractions at the Museum & Art Gallery for local people and visitors to enjoy.”

From 1 April 2015 the facilities will be open from 10am to 5pm daily through the spring and summer season.

For more information visit www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk or follow @shrewsmuseum on twitter.

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