Down County Museum Celebrates 30 Years Of Collecting

Thirty x 30: 30 Years of Collecting, will feature dozens of 30 groups of objects specially chosen by 30 individuals or groups of people from the local community. Down County Museum is marking its 30^th anniversary this year. The Museum was established by Down District Council in 1981 to collect, conserve and interpret objects relating to the history and culture of the County.  Since 1981 the Museum has built up a collection of over 10,000 objects and 40,000 photographs which richly illustrate the unique heritage of Down. This could not have been achieved without the assistance of those who donated objects to the Museum, volunteers and the friends of Down County Museum and other, numerous local supporters as well as organisations that provided grant aid for various initiatives. [caption id="attachment_25875" align="alignleft" width="400" caption="At the 30 / 30 exhibition launch were back row, Linda McKenna, Education Officer, Madelaine McAllister, Assistant Keeper of Collections, Colm Gilmore, Cultural Assistant, Peadar Curran, Museum Photographer. Front row, Lesley Simpson, Keeper of Collections, Ailish McCreesh, Catering Supervisor, Carly Cooper, Volunteer, and Debbie McAdam, Collections Skills Bursary Holder."][/caption] To recognise this invaluable assistance the Museum has asked local people and representatives of local groups to get involved in a special exhibition which will present their favourite objects to the wider community. An amazing variety of objects have been chosen ranging from toys and games to political documents. The choice includes items as diverse as an Edwardian wedding suit, a racing car used at Kirkiston track and a tumble dryer to a doctor’s bag, a decoupage screen and a model ship with a host of others as well. The selection of objects is accompanied by information on them and on the people who chose them detailing why they think these particular objects are important to the story of County Down. Thirty x 30: 30 Years of Collecting opens on Friday 8 July at Down County Museum and continues until Wednesday 28 September 2011. The exhibition is open daily and admission is free. Further details may be obtained by contacting Lesley Simpson or Madeleine McAllister at Down County Museum, The Mall, Downpatrick, Co Down, BT30 6AH.  Telephone 028 4461 5218.]]>