A photograph from last year’s event in Great Yarmouth

 

Norfolk families are invited to enjoy free admission to some of Norfolk’s finest museums with special evening events later this month.

Museums at Night is held annually and Norfolk Museum Service venues will throw open their doors into the evening, with special themes at sites in Cromer, Great Yarmouth and Norwich.

On Friday 19 May, the Tolhouse, Elizabethan House and Time and Tide Museums in Great Yarmouth will host events from 6-10pm. Each will focus on a different part of the maritime journey.

The Time and Tide Museum’s event will be themed around the current Titanic: Honour and Glory Exhibition. There will be complimentary dance lessons and visitors can learn how to send telegrams and discover more about maritime travel.

There is a Mutiny at The Tolhouse Museum, which will be taken over by its crew and visitors can help free the captain and assist with loading cannons and learning some tricks with swords.

At the Elizabethan House Museum, visitors can see the riches of merchant Benjamin Cowper and learn more about trades and goods. There’s no need to haggle on the admission price though, as it is free for everyone!

Younger visitors can receive a golden treasure award if they manage to gain stamps from all three Great Yarmouth venues during Museums At Night.

In support of Museums at Night, Great Yarmouth Library will also be open until 9pm so why not borrow some pirate stories to take home after a busy evening?

On Saturday 20 May at Cromer Museum, there will be an evening of lights and photography to celebrate the life of photographer Olive Edis. She is the subject of a new gallery at the museum. There will be Edwardian dress up and photography, seaside shadow puppets, craft making including peg dolls, face painting. It runs from 6-9pm.

At Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery there will be a free, family-friendly evening of discovery, fun and exploration on Saturday 20 May from 5-9.30pm. A storyteller will be reading the Alice in Wonderland tales and visitors can also take part in craft activities and view current exhibitions including the miniature world of Small Stories. There also promises to be a fiery finale to the evening.

Museums at Night logo

Steve Miller, Assistant Director for Community and Environmental Services (Culture & Heritage), said: “Museums at Night is a unique opportunity for people of all ages to visit their award-winning local venue, free of charge, and find out more about the wonderful things on offer. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our museums at Norwich, Cromer and Great Yarmouth for these special events.”

All Museums at Night events are free to attend. For more details about the museums visit www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk.

Norfolk Museums Service is a multi-award winning service comprising ten museums and a study centre. It is one of only 21 Major Partner Museums in the country receiving substantial revenue investment from Arts Council England. Norfolk Museums Service is a partnership between Norfolk County Council and Norfolk’s district councils, funded through council tax, earned income and grants.