Museums sign up to 'flying showcase' scheme (From Gazette & Herald)

Museums sign up to 'flying showcase' scheme

AN INNOVATIVE scheme is set to bring museum artefacts into unusual venues in North Yorkshire.

Six museums across Hambleton and Richmondshire have signed up to the "flying showcase".

It will see museum objects on temporary display in local community facilities - like doctors' and veterinary surgeries, leisure centres and banks.

They will be housed in a specially-commissioned "flying showcase".

Curators hope the initiative will not only make more local people aware of the museums, but generate an interest in the artefacts.

"This scheme will take museums out into the community, giving more local people access to our objects," said Hambleton and Richmondshire museums officer, Lynda Powell.

"Many people do not go to museums because they have an image of them being boring, but in fact they have lots to offer.

"We hope this will raise the profile of our many excellent museums."

The showcase will begin its journey on February 18 at Bedale Leisure Centre. The market town's museum will be responsible for it for six weeks before handing it on.

The World Of James Herriot in Thirsk, Thirsk Museum, Kiplin Hall, The Green Howards Museum and Richmondshire Museum have also signed up to the scheme.

Cash for the scheme - a joint project between Hambleton District Council and Richmondshire Disrict Council - came from a £1,000 grant from the Yorkshire Museum Council.

Updated: 14:02 Saturday, January 18, 2003