The wait is over for North East galleries and museums as they are given the go-ahead to re-open this week.
Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums is reopening its venues as lockdown restrictions ease.
Among them is the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle which opened its doors on Monday for the first time this year.
The family favourite attraction had been closed for most of 2020 due to Covid - but staff are excited to welcome visitors back
“I think it’s the smiles on people’s faces as they come through the door,” Adam Goldwater, the museum’s Learning, Engagement and Research manager, says about the best part of reopening. “People coming face to face with these wonderful objects - whether it’s a polar bear, or an ancient Greek vase, or a fossil that’s millions of years old.”
Eager visitors lined up outside the doors for the grand reopening on the morning of May 17th.
They can look forward to seeing some old favourites, from the Ancient Egypt exhibit to the Fossil Stories gallery housing the famous T-Rex skeleton. There are also new things to see, such as a new exhibition called “Other Worlds: The Art Of Atomhawk”. The exhibition, which showcases the concept art of Gateshead-based design company Atomhawk, will finally be seen by the public after being on hold since last March.
There are a couple of things to bear in mind if you’re planning a trip to the museum. Tickets are still free, but you will need to pre-book a slot online in advance. You can also expect a one-way walking system in place inside - and plenty of hand sanitiser stations!
Watch our video above to see more of the museum’s reopening.
