Pen Museum launches its brand new exhibition space and receives the Queen's Award for Volunteers

Pen Museum launches its brand new exhibition space and receives the Queen’s Award for Volunteers

15th November 2016

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Thanks to a Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant and match funding, the Pen Museum opens its doors to the public; showcasing a new entrance, exhibition, shop and more. Alongside this launch, the museum’s volunteers will be formally presented with the Prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service by the Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham officially opened the museum on 10th November in a ribbon cutting ceremony, preceded by a formal presentation of the QAVS award by Deputy Lieutenant, Stephen Goldstein CBE.

The Pen Museum, based in the Jewellery Quarter of Birmingham, received £175,000 from a number of funders during 2015-16 including the, Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council England, the Association of Independent Museums and the Foyle Foundation towards a twelve-month project ‘A Flourishing Museum’ set to see the museum secure its future and introduce new generations to this largely unknown part of Birmingham’s past. The project has developed the museum’s spaces and includes a new entrance, new exhibitions, retail area and activity/meeting room.

“The museum’s new exhibition has been such an incredible project to be involved with. Our visitor facilities and expanded space now mean that we can offer a much better presentation of the fascinating stories behind one of Birmingham’s core industries” comments Anthony Hayes, Volunteer & Operations Manager for the museum.

“I look forward to welcoming both new and returning visitors and encourage everyone to come along and discover a fascinating chapter in this city’s history.”

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities. The awards were created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on the 2^nd of June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.

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