Bath Tourism’s Heritage Campaign shines the light on Bath’s Museums
8th May 2012
Bath Tourism’s Heritage Campaign shines the light on Bath’s Museums
To mark the 25th anniversary of Bath gaining its World Heritage Site status, Bath Tourism Plus (BTP) and Bath & North East Somerset Council have launched a new Heritage Campaign that will run throughout May & June 2012 to drive visitors into the city during off-peak periods.
Aimed at attracting the affluent ‘empty nester’ market from London, the campaign will include almost half a million press inserts in the Times and Telegraph, Google and digital banner advertising, press visits and extensive PR activity. This latest campaign marks the start of a new three year marketing push from Bath Tourism Plus, the city having been recognised as one of the country’s leading destinations by VisitEngland.
The Heritage campaign coincides with the nationwide Museums at Night event on Friday 18th and Saturday 19th May where many of Bath’s museums will join hundreds of museums, galleries and heritage sites across the UK in keeping their doors open after hours for special evening activities. This nationwide initiative is expected to attract 100 000 people to museums across the UK and aims to introduce visitors to unfamiliar venues by showing them in a new light.
For visitors to Bath, it will offer a unique opportunity to celebrate Bath’s museums after lights out. It will transport you to torch lit Roman pavements; the city in tatters in the wake of WW2 bombing; a Georgian soiree; Victorian Melodrama when Bath was a hive of manufacturing industry; the first mail coaches working day and night to deliver their precious cargo and the intrigue of ancient Chinese burial customs. And for those keen to gain knowledge on the city itself, "Bath by Moonlight" provided by the well informed Mayor’s Guides will reveal the impressive sights of Bath at night including the Abbey; Pulteney Bridge and several of the architectural set pieces.
Nick Brooks-Sykes Chief Executive at Bath Tourism Plus says: “By collaborating with the Council and the city’s museums, it has allowed BTP the opportunity to form brand alliance that compliments Bath’s unique and varied heritage offering which will help deliver additional visitor reach.”
Patricia Dunlop Commercial Manager for the Council’s Roman Baths said: “Bath is recognised as one of the most beautiful cities in the world and this is a unique opportunity for visitors to explore its unique heritage and architecture in a new light.”
Bath’s heritage is in the spotlight this year as the city celebrates 25 years as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s extraordinary history is evident wherever you walk and it is one of few entire cities to be designated by as a World Heritage Site.
For news of what’s happening go to www.visitbath.co.uk/breaks
ENDS
Notes to Editors
For further information please contact Audra McSherry at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 3224434 or email: audra_mcsherry@bathtourism.co.uk or visit www.visitbath.co.uk, the official tourism website for Bath and the surrounding area.
Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath’s destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation’s top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath’s official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk
Participating Museums
Roman Baths
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Roman Sensations
Saturday 19 May, 8:15pm – 11:00pm
Enjoy a torch-lit evening of Roman music, drama and Roman wine tasting. Last entry 10pm. Evening organised by Heritage students from Bath Spa University.
Free for Discovery Card Holders otherwise normal admission applies.
The Roman Baths is owned and run by Bath and North East Somerset Council. The historic monument and related museum have been transformed into a walking, talking, historical time-machine. With costumed interpreters of Roman characters bringing the experience to life, you can walk along Roman pavements in their footsteps (coming in the evening to avoid more than 900,000 other visitors that the Baths attract every year). The sacred spring, the only thermally heated spring in the UK, was at the centre of an important complex of baths. People came from the whole of the Roman Empire for the healing powers of the spring and to worship the Goddess Minerva in the Temple of Aqua Sulis. Today, the Roman Baths is one of the best preserved ancient sites in Europe and after a 5 year investment programme amounting to £5.5 million it is well worth another visit.
Contact: Patricia Dunlop
01225 477759 e mail :patricia_dunlop@bathnes.gov.uk
Maggie Bone
01225 477736 e mail: maggie_bone@bathnes.gov.uk
Website: www.romanbaths.co.uk
Building of Bath Collection
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: £4.00 adults, £3.50 concessions/senior citizens and students, £2.00 children (5-16 years), £10.00 family ticket
Saver ticket available for No. 1 Royal Crescent and Building of Bath Collection - £8.50 adults, £6.50 concessions, £3.50 children, £18.00 family
Building of Bath Collection, Vineyards, The Paragon, Bath BA1 5NA
The architecture of Bath makes the city unique. This collection interprets the rich history of Bath’s buildings and the men who transformed a provincial town into the world famous Georgian Spa. It demonstrates how classical design influenced the buildings and illustrates the construction of a house from the cellars to the rafters.
The collection is also home to the Bath Model, a fully detailed architectural model of the historic city centre, giving a unique insight into the layout of the Georgian City.
Contact: Jill Hunter
01225 333895 e mail :jhunter@bptrust.org.uk
Website: www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/?id=4
No. 1 Royal Crescent
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Free entry will be given for Discovery Card Holders
£6.50 adults, £5.00 concessions, senior citizens and students, £2.50 children (5-16 years), £13.00 family ticket
Saver ticket available for No. 1 Royal Crescent and Building of Bath Collection - £8.50 adults, £6.50 concessions, £3.50 children, £18.00 family
No. 1 Royal Crescent, Bath BA1 2LR T: 01225 428126 e mail: no1museum@bptrust.org.uk
One of the most famous and striking architectural feats of Bath is No.1 Royal Crescent. This magnificently restored Georgian town house creates a picture of life in Georgian Bath. Built by the architect John Wood the Younger, the Royal Crescent is considered to be one of the finest achievements of 18th century urban architecture and represents the highest point of Palladian architecture in Bath. Each room is richly decorated with authentic furniture, paintings, textiles and carpets as a fine example of Georgian interior design.
It is in the process of reuniting No.1 with its neighbouring building, as an extended historic house museum with better educational and visitor facilities and additional exhibition space.
Contact: Caroline Kay
01225 338 727 e mail: ckay@bptrust.org.uk
Website: www.bath-preservation-trust.org.uk/?id=3
Museum of Bath at Work
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Performances at 6.00 p.m. and 8.15 p.m.
Suitable for all ages
Admission to the museum is free. Tickets for the play £4.00
Museum of Bath at Work, Julian Road BATH BA1 2RH
Discover two thousand years of work in the historic city of Bath. The Museum traces the development of Bath as a retailing and manufacturing centre, and as a tourist and health resort. With exact reconstructions of factories and workshops you can get an experience of how people in the past really worked. See demonstrations of real working machinery, and take a look at their large historic collections of film, photographs, and sound recordings relating to the commercial development of the city.
Contact: Stuart Burroughs 01225 318348
e mail : director@bath-at-work.org.uk Website: www.bath-at-work.org.uk
Bath Postal Museum
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Free for Discovery Card Holders, otherwise normal admission applies.
27a Northgate Street, Bath BA1 1AJ
Communication may be predominantly digital now, with emails and texts taking over the way we send messages, but the Bath Postal Museum tells the tale of the postal service and Bath’s role in its development. With colourful and frequently changing exhibitions Bath Postal Museum has something to offer for everyone. You can listen in on the lives and experiences of postmen and postwomen past and present, find out how mail has been delivered throughout history, and showcases frequently changing exhibitions, models, interactive games and offers kids the chance to try on costumes.
e mail: info@bathpostalmuseum.org 01225 460333
Website: www.bathpostalmuseum.org
Museum of East Asian Art
MUSEUMS AT NIGHT: Death and the Chinese Afterlife
Friday 18th May 18:30-19:15 Free, Book by Thursday, 17th May
12 Bennett Street Bath, Avon BA1 2QJ
The Museum of East Asian Art is one of the most unique art collections in England, housing a fantastic collection of ceramics, jades, bronzes and much more from China, Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia, set against the grand background of a restored Georgian house.
As the only museum in the UK dedicated solely to arts and cultures of East and Southeast Asia, it provides a unique chance to gain an insight into the artistic traditions from these cultures. The collection was built up privately over many years by Brian McElney, who then donated these objects when the museum was founded as an Education Charity.
Contact: Michael Lee 01225 464640 e mail: admin@meaa.org.uk
Website: www.meaa.org.uk
Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution
The Bath Literary and Scientific Institution was founded in 1824 and is concerned with the promotion and advancement of science, literature, and art in the city. Based in Queen Square, the BRLSI achieves this aim through a broad programme of lectures and events, and the care and use of its museum, library, and archive Collections.
e mail: admin@brlsi.org 01225 312084
Website: www.brlsi.org
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