Museum wing reopens after four-year project

A museum has reopened its main wing after a four-year "major refurbishment project".

The Wilson Museum in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, will be regularly changing what is on display as they have over 250,000 items, many on local history, and cannot display them all at once.

The museum, founded in 1899, invited members of the public to suggest what items they should display and received almost 60,000 responses.

Jessica Brewster, the museum's CEO, said: "This marks the beginning of a new chapter exploring our local history through the museum's exhibition spaces."

Brewster said the online response, which was part of the BIG Museum Project, told them that people were keen to see themes being represented rather than just a set timeline.

"We've got an origins theme and how Cheltenham began, all the way through to the regency period," she said.

Brewster said that the opening weekend was a "roaring success" that attracted thousands of visitors.

This project was funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and cost around £600,000.

Stuart McLeod, director of England at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said it showed how "heritage can be reimagined to feel relevant and inclusive".

The museum also plans to change one gallery every six months to represent a different community group from across Cheltenham.

"It was very important for us that this museum reflects the community and is about them- this is their stories, so it was very very important for us to have a space that was continually co-created with people from the community," Brewster said.

The first group to be featured is a traditional Chinese dance group, led by dance teacher Juju.

"We're very very excited," said Juju, who also played the clarinet as part of a band at the official opening event.

"We use our dance to bring the objects we chose to life and to reflect our community," she said.

"The Wilson has always been an important part of our town's cultural life, and this transformation gives residents and visitors the opportunity to see Cheltenham's story through fresh eyes," said Izaac Tailford, from Cheltenham Borough Council.

"What makes this project particularly special is that it has been shaped by the voices of our communities," he added.

"Thousands of people have shared their ideas about the stories that matter to them, helping to create a museum that reflects not only our history but the people, experiences and communities that continue to shape Cheltenham today".

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