There‘s some great activities in Bangor this half term at Storiel and the Brambell Natural History Museum, as part of Welsh Museums Festival, 26 October – 3 November 2019.

 

Where’s Wally

This half-term, ‘Wally’, the much-loved children’s book character will be travelling around the UK to visit 50 museums, including Storiel in Bangor.

Storiel is one of just 3 Museums in Wales who are lucky enough to be joining in the fun. Families will be able to join the search for Wally at Storiel as part of Where’s Wally? The Big Museum Hunt, organised by Walker Books and Kids in Museums, to celebrate the release of the new book, ‘Where’s Wally? Double Trouble at the Museum’.

The promotion will run from 12 October until 3 November 2019. Each participating museum will create and promote their own Where’s Wally? search-and-find trail as part of this nationwide campaign, giving families the chance to receive an ‘I Found Wally!’ sticker at the end and to enter the Where’s Wally? and Kids in Museums grand prize draw competition.

The Where’s Wally Big Museum Hunt is Free & available during all normal Storiel opening hours, Tuesday to Saturday 11am – 5pm.

Queen Victoria’s Dress

A new exhibition has opened at Storiel, Bangor which displays Queen Victoria’s clothing as well as textiles and other items from the period.

On display is the black dress worn by Queen Victoria in the late 19th century, as well as her chemise, cuffs, hat and infant’s dress. Also on display is a wedding dress from the Victorian period, jewellery and accessories, shoes and paisley shawls.

The dress, consisting of a separate bodice and skirt, is made from black silk taffeta and embellished with black lace and black silk mourning crepe. The bodice is lined in fine black silk and Squares of woven wool covered with cream silk have been stitched inside the dress at the back of the neck and sleeves, presumably to provide extra warmth.

Queen Victoria’s clothes were donated to the Museum by various people, and it is interesting how similar items exist in other Museums and private collections. This exhibition will also show some aspects of style and fashion in the late nineteenth century.

The ‘Victoria in Storiel’ exhibition is held in partnership with the Four Nations History Festival which is being held at Bangor University on 25-26 October 2019. The exhibition also ties in with the theme of the talk which will be given by the historian Lucy Worsley as part of the History Festival.

The ‘Victoria in Storiel’ exhibition will be open until February 2020.

Bubble Party

A Bubble Party will be held on Saturday 2 November between 2 and 4pm – suitable for children under 12 and families.

Tickets: £5 for 1 adult + child under 12; £3 for additional child under 12; £2 per additional adult. Tickets available at reception or by calling 01248 353368.

Bangor University Natural History Museum

The Brambell Natural History Museum at Bangor University (Brambell building on Deiniol Road – opposite Asda) will be open on Saturday 2 November between 11am – 1pm as part of the Festival.

This will be an opportunity to visit the Museum, which is not usually open to the public, to learn more about the specimens on display. There will be a chance to ask questions of the available volunteers, and there will be an activities corner for children of all ages. Free Admission.

Welsh Museums Festival is an annual event presented by the Federation of Welsh Museums, which is the strategic body for museum and art gallery professionals in Wales. It currently represents over 100 unique accredited Welsh museums, from the very small to our great national museums.

Together, these invaluable collections tell the story of Wales, and are a treasured resource for learning, exploration and knowledge about our local and national identity, and how we have lived here in Wales since the dawn of time.

Speaking about the Festival, Welsh Government Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lord Elis-Thomas, said: “Welsh Museums Festival provides an important focus for our wonderful museums in Wales to further connect with their local communities, and to excite a new generation about our history, culture and traditions.

“It also provides a valuable attraction for visitors to Wales from across the globe to engage with our Nations’ story. Museums and galleries are places of learning, but they are also places of adventure, activity and fun, and there’s plenty of that about during this Festival!”

Visits to museums in Wales contribute £78.3 million to our economy each year. In addition, they contribute positively to employment and career development and statistics show that visiting museums significantly increases our sense of wellbeing too.

Over the October half term across Wales, museums will be bursting with activity from Dippy the Dinosaur’s visit to the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff and Dragon Day at Rhayadr Museum to torchlight adventures in museums at night, a chance to try your hand at mummification at The Egypt Centre in Swansea, time travel back to WWII at RWF Museum Caernarfon, a celebration of all things Japanese at Pontypool Museum, a chance to re-create a legend at Oriel Môn, an exploration of the moon and some sneaky science at the Waterfront Museum, Swansea and the chance to have a peak at Bangor University’s Bramwell Natural History collection.

Welsh Museums Festival is supported by Welsh Government. Full details of activities during Welsh Museums Festival are available on the festival website: www.museums.wales