Buxton Museum reopens to visitors – everything you need to know

Buxton Museum reopens

After months of closure, Buxton Museum reopens to visitors on Tuesday 18th May, 2021. Derbyshire County Council’s museum in Buxton has been closed since late October last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

There’s two brand new exhibitions to explore, the museum gift shop has some exciting new additions and best of all, this popular visitor attraction remains FREE entry to all.

To find out about visiting and to pre-book admission tickets go to derbyshire.gov.uk/buxtonmuseum.

During lockdown, the staff have provided a digital service through the museum’s blog content at buxtonmuseumandartgallery.wordpress.com/blog and making sure that the collections have not been put at risk while staff have been working from home.



Councillor Barry Lewis, Derbyshire County Council Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Leadership, Culture and Tourism said: “We are delighted to be opening Buxton Museum and Art Gallery after so long. The staff are very much looking forward to having visitors back and can’t wait to show people the changing programme of exhibitions they have worked hard putting together for them.”

Brand new art exhibitions including celebration of 150th anniversary of Pavilion Gardens

The museum will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the pavilions in the gardens at Buxton on 10th August 1871, with a fascinating exhibition of objects relating to the gardens in Victorian times. From admission tickets to sporting trophies and programmes of thrilling music, people in Victorian times enjoyed and appreciated the park, as much as we have all done during recent months.

Buxton Museum 23 objects

The annual Derbyshire Open Art exhibition has been postponed but the museum is delighted to show Across Time – A Retrospective, the work of Brian Nolan (1931-2019). Winner of the Derbyshire Open Art Exhibition trophy in 2004, Brian was a familiar figure in the Dark Peak for over 40 years, setting out from his home in Hayfield to paint out of doors, sheltering under trees and in barns and capturing the majesty of the Dark Peak landscape in all weathers.

In complete contrast is Full Circle – Back to Where We Began. Long-time friends Susan Dodd and Penny Kealey are exhibiting their recent work together. Unable to work even more collaboratively during lockdown, and with very different styles, the works share a common thread of interests and preoccupations in their love of the strange, obscure, and mystical, and how these are manifest in ideas and symbols.

As well as special exhibitions, the permanent installations tell the story of the unique geology and archaeology of the Peak District, a fitting tribute to the Peak District National Park which is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.

And don’t forget the gift shop will also be open, which sells a fascinating range of unusual gifts, toys, replicas and items inspired by the Wonders of the Peak exhibition such as colourful minerals and rocks, t-shirts, postcards, fossils, gifts made from decorative stones, local history and special interest books, soft toys and more.

What can visitors expect?

Visitors are required to book tickets advance tickets online (no-walk-ins). You don’t need to print anything out, just bring your device with the booking on it or a print out. Visitor numbers will be limited so book as soon as you can.

  • Face coverings are to be worn by visitors through the entirety of their visit unless medically exempt or under the age of 11 years old.
  • Bookings: 20 minute arrival slots are available during opening hours (see above); please note the museum is closed for lunch between 1pm – 2pm. Please don’t miss your time slot, or you won’t be able to go in.
  • Up 1 – 6 people will be able to visit together on one ticket as a group, up to six households.
  • There is a one-way system through the galleries with frequent hand sanitiser stations and assistance from staff.
  • Track and trace: Every person visiting/all members in a group is required to provide their contact information (either during booking or when they arrive) and the information will be kept for 21 days, for track and trace purposes and in the event the museum needs to contact you.
  • Public computers have been temporarily removed.
  • The galleries and exhibitions have been refreshed but for safety reasons some things have been removed such as the dressing up box, children’s toys and activity sheets.
  • Activity sheets and quizzes can be downloaded online here if you wish to print one out and bring it with you. Please bring your own pens and crayons.

For all general museum enquiries please contact [email protected]

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Terrace Road, Buxton, SK17 6DA

T: 01629 533540

derbyshire.gov.uk/leisure/buxton-museum/buxton-museum-and-art-gallery

 

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