The Manchester Museum: Family news for December 2009
08 Dec 2009
Polar Day Big Saturday, a new exhibition and an amazing competition
Don't forget Polar Day Big Saturday this weekend: come along and step into a giant polar bear board game, hold some amazing objects, make some inuit snow goggles and much more. You could also visit our brand new exhibition (opening on Saturday) - Made in Africa: portrait of an Ife ruler, on tour from the British Museum, or find out about our Made in Africa competition.
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
Polar Day Big Saturday
Saturday 5 December, 11am-4pm
We hope to see you this Saturday for Polar Day Big Saturday - a day bursting with polar activities for all the family! Take part in a giant polar bear board game; explore the tent of a artist who ventured to the arctic; hold some Inuit objects; make some Inuit snow goggles; create your own polar scene or snowflakes; see our penguin; find out about polar birds from the RSPB; listen to some polar bear storytellling; watch Pingu and other short family friendly films; learn about climate change and meet some experts.
Most activities are free and drop-in. Some activities may need to be booked on the day and may cost up to £1.50
Visit our website for more information about:
Other events in December
Our Victorian gentleman guide
Friday 11 December, 11am-12pm
Magic carpet: Polar animals
Get comfy on our magic carpet and enjoy stories and activities.
Book on 0161 275 2648 (from 4 December), £1 per child, Under 5s and their families/carers
Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 December, 2-3pm
Victorian gentleman tour
Discover the wonders of the world with our Victorian gentleman guide, Graeme Pye Esquire. Ask him for an 'I've spied Mr Pye' sticker.
Drop-in, Free, All ages
Visit our website for more information about:
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 – 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.
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.
We look forward to seeing you soon
The Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL