The Manchester Museum: eNews for December 2009
08 Dec 2009
A new exhibition, a competition, climate change, the life of a curator and more
There's loads to do and see at the Museum this month: there's Polar Day Big Saturday this weekend, a climate change tour and a new exhibition - Made in Africa: portrait of an Ife ruler (on tour from the British Museum). In this enewsletter you can also get a behind-the-scenes glimpse at being a curator at the Museum, find out about our Made in Africa competition and get some ideas for New Year's Day.
Opening times:
- Tuesday-Saturday: 10am-5pm
- Sunday, Monday, Bank holidays: 11am-4pm
- 27-31 December: 11am-4pm
- 24-26 December, 1 January: closed
Free entry
Events in December
The Museum's polar bear
Saturday 5 December / 11am-4pm
Polar Day Big Saturday
We hope to see you this Saturday for Polar Day Big Saturday. Take part in a giant polar bear board game (games aren't just for kids); meet an artist who ventured to the arctic; hold some Inuit objects; see our penguin; find out about polar birds from the RSPB; learn about climate change and meet some experts. Most activities are free and drop-in, some may need to be booked on the day and may cost up to £1.50
Tuesday 15 December / 12-1pm
Climate change tour of The Manchester Museum
Polar Bears, penguins and fossil records: these are some of The Manchester Museum's many collections that throw light onto the issues surrounding climate change. Join us for a tour of The Manchester Museum to find out more. Part of Manchester's Climate Change Festival. Drop-in, Free.
More information:
Made in Africa: portrait of an Ife ruler
Be awed by this sculpture of an Ife head in our new exhibition, on tour from the British Museum, opening Saturday 5 December.
"This exquisite brass sculpture was one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, it revolutionised the way academics and artists interpreted Africa. It is an iconic example of Yoruba artistry and engineering."
Stephen Terence Welsh, Curator of Living Cultures at The Manchester Museum
The tour of the Ife Head has been made possible through the generous support of the Dorset Foundation. At the end of this exhibition, the Ife Head will return to the British Museum in London and will be shown in Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa, a loan exhibition, from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, opening 4 March 2010.
Visit our website to find out more about:
Competition!
Come along to our Made in Africa Big Saturday on Saturday 30 January (11am-4pm) and enter our prize draw for your chance to win a one night weekend stay in London for two people to see Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa (4 March – 6 June 2010) at the British Museum.
The prize includes:
- One night’s accommodation at The Montague on the Gardens Hotel, a luxury four star hotel in central London
- Tickets to the British Museum exhibition Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa
- An exhibition catalogue
- Prize can be taken during any weekend between 5 March and 6 June 2010
Visit our website for details of:
There will be more information about the Made in Africa Big Saturday in our January enewletter.
Behind-the-scenes
Curator of Egypt and the Sudan
Ever wondered what our museum curators get up to behind-the-scenes? From writing books to planning new galleries and going to conferences, find out what a week in the life of our Curator of Egypt and the Sudan is like by following the curator's diary on our Egypt at The Manchester Museum blog.
Follow the curator's diary on:
Christmas opening
We'd love to see you this Christmas. We will be open 27-31 December, 11am-4pm. We'll be closed 24-26 December and 1 January.
Other news from Manchester
Want to do something special on New Year's Day? Why not check out the New Year's Day Viennese Gala at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester at 3pm.
To book tickets:
- Telephone the Box Office on 0161 907 9000
- Visit The Bridgewater Hall website to find out more
or - Book online
To find out more, visit
We look forward to seeing you soon
The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL