We were delighted to attend the opening of the new Dorset Museum last week to see it in all its shining glory. The wait is over, and the £16.4 million redevelopment project which started in October 2018 is open and ready for you to explore!
The impressive new Museum made possible with grants given by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England and the Garfield Weston Foundation, showcases the 250 million years of Dorset’s history across four main galleries: Natural Dorset, Peoples Dorset, Hardy’s Dorset and Artists’ Dorset. It’s now home to new galleries, a state-of-the-art learning centre, a new research space with a modern archive and expert storage facilities. There are more internationally recognised collections on display than ever before with reimagined, stunning visual displays and hands-on interactive screens. And lastly, there’s the stylish new Taste café too – serving delicious fresh food and drinks. It’s the perfect destination for a Saturday morning coffee, or to rest in between viewing the exhibits.
Team Lolly have worked closely with the Museum for many years, during the ‘Dippy Days’ (when the much-loved Dippy the Diplodocus was on tour from London’s Natural History Museum) and supporting their ‘Tomorrow’s Museum for Dorset’ campaign – the transition from the old Museum to the new. So, it really is wonderful to see the Museum’s much-anticipated vision and hard work come to life – a huge congratulations to the whole team, past and present. Fantastic achievement!
In the area this summer? Pop by and see the new Dorset Museum for an inspiring experience and to enjoy the richness of Dorset’s natural, cultural and historical heritage.