NML has been awarded £570,466 by the ReDiscover fund, a renewal fund for science centres and museums across the UK funded by the Millennium Commission, the Wolfson Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. This will go to fund a bright and lively new exhibition in the Conservation Centre.
The new exhibition will have at its centre a working laboratory that will present the scientific work of conservators through interpreted displays and demonstrations. Surrounding displays, based around a variety of objects and interactives, will enable visitors to investigate a wide range of science applications from x-ray analyses of Egyptian mummies to laser-cleaning of sculptures. An area with microscopes, databases, interactives and a bank of objects representing common public conservation enquiries will allow visitors to explore the themes of the exhibition through connections with everyday objects.
In order to create this exciting visitor attraction the current permanent exhibition Caught in Time closes on 4 September and the remaining visitor facilities at the Conservation Centre close on 18 September. The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition will remain open until 18 September.
The important work of the Conservation Centre staff will continue, however there will be no studio tours until the venue reopens.
The project team includes exhibition designers Houghton-Kneale Design and Ken Martin Architects.
The award-winning Conservation Centre in the heart of Liverpool's city centre will be refurbished over the winter to offer visitors new, exciting displays in 2006. Home to a team of internationally-renowned conservators, the Conservation Centre cares for National Museums Liverpool's (NML) huge and diverse collections.
