This October, Herefordshire Museum Service invites visitors to see behind-the-scenes at the Hereford Museum & Library building on Broad Street, Hereford.
Guided tours will take place on selected days during the month. These guided tours offer an opportunity for a glimpse inside the building since it closed to the public.
Event Details:
- Dates: 7, 8, 26, 28, and 29 October 2024
- Tickets: Available through Eventbrite
- Cost: Free
- Group Size: Limited to 8 participants per tour
- Age Restrictions: Suitable for individuals aged 16+
Participants will wear safety gear and explore both the public and private spaces of the building. They will hear about what has been happening as well as hear about some of the plans for the future.
Key areas include:
- Viewing key exhibition spaces
- Exploring the upper floors, including former Curator/Librarian’s flat
- Learning about ongoing improvements aimed at enhancing the visitor experience
Health & Safety:
- Hard hats and Hi-vis vests will be provided and must be worn throughout the tour.
- Participants are required to wear sensible, closed-toe shoes or boots.
- Avoid clothing that can easily snag or catch.
- Access to upper floors is by stair only; those with mobility issues may find it challenging.
- The building is dusty; dust-sensitive individuals are advised to bring a mask.
Damian Etheraads, Museum and Art Gallery lead at Herefordshire Council, said, “We are thrilled to offer these Hard Hat Tours as a way to connect with our community and share the exciting developments at Hereford Museum and Art Gallery. This is a rare opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes work and learn about the redevelopment first hand.”
Don't miss this unique chance to see what has been happening on Broad Street. Tickets are limited, so reserve your spot today
Tours are made possible thanks to National Lottery Players and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The redevelopment is one of 15 trailblazing projects transforming Hereford funded by the Government’s Stronger Towns Fund, Arts Council England and Herefordshire Council.
Hereford Museum and Art Gallery Development
The transformation of Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is the flagship project for Stronger Hereford and the Town’s Investment Plan. The project will allow the county to fulfil its ambition of creating a dynamic social space at the heart of the city, a place where people can engage with heritage and cultural activities in fun, unexpected and exciting ways. It will create an offering that will be talked about far and wide, inspiring new opportunities and partnerships and becoming an attraction that local people are proud to say is theirs.
The redevelopment includes eight modernised galleries and display spaces, a temporary exhibition space, the restoration of the historic Woolhope Club Room and new commercial areas including a retail space, a roof-top café and events and education space. A spectacular viewing beacon and roof terrace will be accessible from the fifth floor courtyard space providing incredible 360 degree views over the city and surrounding Herefordshire landscape.
This is the first UK-based museum EnerPHit project and the most significant heritage retrofit of this scale. It is a flagship architectural project for environmental design, and meets Herefordshire Council’s 2030 carbon neutral agenda head-on. This project champions environmental approaches, drawing on the latest sustainable technologies and design, and looking at innovative ways to discuss our impact on the world around us today. Live science from the Woolhope Club will feed into gallery displays, visitors can interrogate the inner workings of the building, and take part in environmental events and activities. The pinnacle will be the roof garden and bee hive installation on the top of the building tended by community volunteers.
The project is funded by the Stronger Towns Fund, Herefordshire Council, the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Arts Council England.
For more information and updates on the Hereford Museum and Art Gallery redevelopment project, please visit Developments in Hereford – Herefordshire Council or follow Herefordshire Museum Service on Facebook, Instagram and X at @herefordmuseums