New website highlights Humber region's collection-rich museums

With Hull named as City of Culture 2017, the teams behind the museums throughout the Humber region have over the last year joined forces to encourage visitors to explore the rich array of museums, galleries and visitor attractions – many of which are free of charge – throughout not only the city, but also the East Riding and North Lincolnshire.

www.joiningupthehumber.co.uk has been launched by the Joining Up the Humber Museums Partnership, a group of 18 local authority-operated visitor attractions around the region.  Funded by Arts Council England, it brings together the expertise of the three authorities’ museum services to raise the profile of all 18 attractions.  Especially highlighting events taking place across theHumber region to mark the centenary of World War I, the website makes it easy for both residents and visitors to the region to find great events and exhibitions across all 18 sites.

“TheHumberregion is culturally and historically extremely rich, and many people within the region are probably unaware of the wide range of museums and galleries within one hours’ travel time.  Our new website is packed with great ideas for days out on the doorstep of anyone living to the North or South of the Humber estuary, from Scunthorpe to Beverley,” explains Nial Adams, Principal Museums Officer at East Riding of Yorkshire Council , “This year, there are a host of new exhibitions, events and learning opportunities throughout the region, all brought conveniently together in the new website as a ‘one-stop-shop- for planning fantastic days out for everyone.”

Alongside the website, JUTHMP marks a new collaboration between the three museums services to share ideas, expertise and even collections across the region.  “With so much focus across the country on the centenary of the breakout of World War I, this project enables us to tell the story of the Great War from several different perspectives, with the exhibitions and events at each site complementing those of the other attractions,” comments Simon Green, Assistant Head of Sports, Leisure and Heritage for Hull City Council.  “If a visitor has enjoyed an exhibition at aHullcity museum, we are able to recommend that they head over to a rural site to learn more, whilst anyone coming into the region on a holiday or a short break will have a comprehensive selection of days out to enjoy during their stay.”

Across the group, World War I-themed exhibitions planned for 2014 include “In Memoriam, Reflections on War by Martin Waters” atBeverleyArtGallery, “When War Hit Home:Hulland the First World War” at theFerensArtGalleryinHull, and “For King & Country: The First World War in North Lincolnshire” atNorthLincolnshireMuseuminScunthorpe.  Information about more exhibitions and events will be added to the website over the coming months.

For more details, please visit www.joiningupthehumber.co.uk

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Joining Up the Humber Museums is supported by a £1 million grant from Arts Council England.  The initiative runs until 2015, and will support commemorations of the centenary of the First World War in the Humber region.  The money will be used to improve galleries and facilities across the three council's services in preparation for exhibitions in 2014 and beyond, including the opening up of Georgian Houses, part of Wilberforce House in Hull.

There will also be funding made available to engage with a number of additional partners from the region who wish to engage with WWI centenary projects, including opportunities for volunteering, education and other outreach projects.

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

Tel: 01904 500698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@pyperyork.co.uk