What
Overlooking Caldey Island and Carmarthen Bay, this is the oldest independent museum in Wales. It aims to preserve and promote the history of the harbour town of Tenby by exploring social, natural and maritime history. It is also home to a collection of 20th-century Welsh art.
When
1878.
Collection
The museum has two art galleries: one for permanent and one for temporary exhibitions. Permanent artists featured include Gwen and Augustus John (who spent their childhoods in Tenby).
Visitors can explore the Story of Tenby gallery, which tells the tale of the town. “We’ve also got a permanent archaeology gallery tracing history from the earliest geological times through the Romano-British period,” says Mark Lewis, the collections manager at the museum.
Highlights
“The Gwen and Augustus John paintings are fine examples of work by possibly two of the most important Welsh artists of the 20th century,” Lewis says. Some of the artists’ personal memorabilia is also on show.
Help at hand
Lewis is the only full-time member of staff but he is supported by a couple of part-time workers. Help also comes from between 16 and 20 volunteers. “We’re always looking to increase the local workforce,” Lewis says.
Budget
“The money through the door is our main income,” Lewis says. Tickets are £4 for adults and remain valid for any repeat visits during the rest of the year. Children go free. Funds also come from art sales from temporary exhibitions.
Additionally, the museum holds a series of talks each year, which cost around £5 to attend and cover subjects from Stonehenge and Preseli bluestone to museum president Jamie Owen discussing his time in Libya.
Visitors
15, 000-16,000 a year.
Sticky moments
“We haven’t really had any serious issues regarding a one-off problem but funding is something everyone’s aware of,” Lewis says. The museum is constantly looking for ways to raise income to keep things evolving so that repeat visitors will return to something new.
Survival tip
“Keep fresh and listen to criticism,” Lewis says.
Future plans
The museum is in the process of securing funding to develop an exhibition in 2016 about Welsh cinema, which it is hoping will go on tour. It will focus on figures such as Kenneth Griffith, an actor and documentary film-maker who was born in Tenby.
www.tenbymuseum.org.uk
Overlooking Caldey Island and Carmarthen Bay, this is the oldest independent museum in Wales. It aims to preserve and promote the history of the harbour town of Tenby by exploring social, natural and maritime history. It is also home to a collection of 20th-century Welsh art.
When
1878.
Collection
The museum has two art galleries: one for permanent and one for temporary exhibitions. Permanent artists featured include Gwen and Augustus John (who spent their childhoods in Tenby).
Visitors can explore the Story of Tenby gallery, which tells the tale of the town. “We’ve also got a permanent archaeology gallery tracing history from the earliest geological times through the Romano-British period,” says Mark Lewis, the collections manager at the museum.
Highlights
“The Gwen and Augustus John paintings are fine examples of work by possibly two of the most important Welsh artists of the 20th century,” Lewis says. Some of the artists’ personal memorabilia is also on show.
Help at hand
Lewis is the only full-time member of staff but he is supported by a couple of part-time workers. Help also comes from between 16 and 20 volunteers. “We’re always looking to increase the local workforce,” Lewis says.
Budget
“The money through the door is our main income,” Lewis says. Tickets are £4 for adults and remain valid for any repeat visits during the rest of the year. Children go free. Funds also come from art sales from temporary exhibitions.
Additionally, the museum holds a series of talks each year, which cost around £5 to attend and cover subjects from Stonehenge and Preseli bluestone to museum president Jamie Owen discussing his time in Libya.
Visitors
15, 000-16,000 a year.
Sticky moments
“We haven’t really had any serious issues regarding a one-off problem but funding is something everyone’s aware of,” Lewis says. The museum is constantly looking for ways to raise income to keep things evolving so that repeat visitors will return to something new.
Survival tip
“Keep fresh and listen to criticism,” Lewis says.
Future plans
The museum is in the process of securing funding to develop an exhibition in 2016 about Welsh cinema, which it is hoping will go on tour. It will focus on figures such as Kenneth Griffith, an actor and documentary film-maker who was born in Tenby.
www.tenbymuseum.org.uk
