Where: Enginuity, Ironbridge, Shropshire
£: Free
What is it?
As part of Museums at Night, the annual late night festival of arts, culture and heritage, Enginuity is inviting the public to visit the museum free of charge. Science and technology centre, Enginuity, is one of the ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums in Shropshire.
Help international artist Julian Wild create a giant sculpture Making the Connection in the Dark. The sculpture will be made from 500 metres of drain pipes on Saturday 18th May between 12 noon and 5pm. The finished sculpture will be revealed for all to see from 6pm – 8pm. It will miraculously glow in the dark and there will be the opportunity to ask the artist questions.
Museums at Night (Thursday 16th – Saturday 18th May 2013), is a national initiative that encourages museums to remain open after hours, allowing as many people as possible to visit their local museums. The Ironbridge Gorge Museums won the opportunity to work with Julian Wild in the recent Connect10 public vote.
Julian Wild’s vision is to create a giant glow-in-the-dark sculpture named Making the Connection in the Dark, inspired by different structures in the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site with the help of members of the local community. Everyone is invited to take part, free of charge, at any time between 12 noon and 5pm to help assemble the structure. They can also enjoy free admission to Enginuity all day which will remain open until 8pm on 18th May. Anyone wanting to make their own miniature sculpture, using craft straws, can join in workshops run by the Enginuity Presenters between 6pm and 8pm. Free squash and biscuits will also be available in the evening.
Anna Brennand, Deputy Chief Executive Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust commented; “We are so lucky to be working with Julian on this amazing project. We hope that as many people as possible will come down to help make the sculpture, as it will be great fun and a unique opportunity to work with such a prestigious artist.”
More info: For further information about the Ironbridge Gorge Museums, contact the Ironbridge Visitor Information Centre by phone on 01952 433424 or visit www.ironbridge.org.uk. The Gorge is easily reached via the M6 and M54 motorways exiting at Telford (M54 junction 4 or 6). For more information about Museums at Night visit www.museumsatnight.org.uk.