Report by Nigel Sadler

Axminster Heritage Centre Manager

AS we hopefully approach the end of the need for full lockdown Axminster Heritage Centre can plan on how we come out of this present lockdown following the Government's road map.

In England, museums are able to reopen from May 17. However, museums must continue to have their COVID-19 mitigation procedures in place. Our plans are to reopen to the public on Tuesday, May 18 and then to open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10am-4pm and Saturdays 10am-1pm.

We will monitor the government announcements to see what, and if, any changes are made. On the present road map we are provisionally planning to return to our full summer season opening from June 21 which would see us open Monday to Friday 10am-4pm and Saturday 10am-1pm but we have to remain flexible on this and be guided by the government.

Due to the uncertainty of reopening's in 2021, we have stepped away from doing a major temporary exhibition with related activities that might need six months or more planning. Therefore, when we reopen in May the first exhibition is on the First World War Memorials in Axminster and the surrounding villages.

Talks on War memorials

This year is the centenary of the erection of the Axminster memorial as well as some of the memorials in the villages. We will be looking at doing talks on a number of the war memorials and the men whose names appear on them. We are hoping these can be held in the Bradshaw Meeting Room, but if not allowed, we will run them as talks on ZOOM. We will then run a second temporary exhibition from August which we will announce closer to the time.

The Bradshaw Meeting Room can be reopened from May 17 but with restricted use. This means for activities like workshops our maximum capacity will be eight people following the COVID Social distancing rules. This can be increased to a maximum of 20 people for lecture style meetings. Please contact me if you would like to learn more about our COVID security measures in place and booking the room.

We are hoping that as we see some degree of normality return we can organise an event at the Heritage Centre for our members. We would like to thank them for their continued support through the last 12 months.

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