Family-friendly craft sessions are among the events being hosted by The Museum of Policing in Devon and Cornwall as the charity gears up to celebrate Heritage Open Days 2023 (September 8-17).
The Museum has organised two free craft sessions at its soon-to-open premises in Tavistock, offering visitors the chance to make a Sillitoe tartan hat band, or fingerprint bookmark.
The Museum is joining 1000s of organisations and individuals across the country to celebrate all-things heritage through a host of different ways.
Public tours of the Museum’s archive, in Exeter, and collection of artefacts, in Okehampton, were quickly filled, prompting plans to offer future sessions.
Alison Holmes, Museum of Policing in Devon and Cornwall Curator, said: “We are excited to be taking part in this year’s Heritage Open Days and have been humbled by the number of people getting in touch, keen to tour our archive and artefacts.
“The tours were booked up fast, and as a result we are now planning some future dates and events in the months ahead where we can welcome more visitors to look around our collection and archive.
“Taking part in Heritage Open Days has also allowed us to open the doors of our new Museum premises in Tavistock, where we are holding some craft sessions.
“This will be the first opportunity for the public to see the work that’s been going on inside over the last few months, ahead of our official launch and opening. “
She added: “We expect our free, family-friendly, craft events to be very popular – there’s no booking necessary and all the materials are cost-free and included.”
The annual Heritage Open Days – the country’s largest community festival – is championed by the National Trust and offers the chance to ‘throw open the doors to historic monuments and buildings’ that might be otherwise closed to the public or charge an admission fee.
Liam Montgomery, Heritage Open Days spokesman, said: “Whether it’s art, music, writing, or another outlet, creativity moves us and shapes our history and culture.
“This year organisers have once again come up trumps and created a stellar programme of events which put the spotlight on the people and places who give England’s heritage the X-factor and inspire festival goers to engage with thousands of years of creativity.
“And it is the organisers who make this possible, and whose hard work enables over a million people to engage with heritage, for free, on their doorstep, every September.”
Heritage Open Days, launched in 1994, offers 1000s of free events and experiences.
The event is organised by the National Trust, supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery and run by scores of local organisations and volunteers, offering a ‘packed programme’ of more than 5,000 events across England.
Historic houses, factories, museums, music halls, formal gardens, graveyards, places, spaces, and communities across the country are hosting free events as part of this year’s theme, Creativity Unwrapped.
Laura Chow, from the People’s Postcode Lottery, said: “Once again Heritage Open Days organisers have come out in force for this fantastic opportunity to explore, celebrate, and enjoy England’s national heritage.
“It’s wonderful that our players are helping to ensure Heritage Open Days events are accessible and free for all.”
Find out more about the Heritage Open Days events in your area here.
