On Saturday 23 July, Durham Cathedral unlocked the doors to Open Treasure, a new worldclass exhibition experience, offering visitors access to the Cathedral’s buildings and collections as never before and Star Radio was there to help with the promotion of the launch with interviews and programming support. Supported by a grant of £3.9 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Open Treasure tells the story of Durham Cathedral and its place in the development of Christianity in the North East of England through the display and interpretation of its magnificent collections. Combining old with new, Open Treasure embraces the latest in interactive exhibition technology, within the most intact surviving medieval monastic buildings in the UK. Among the permanent exhibits is an extensive collection of Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Roman stones and casts, a timeline of the Cathedral’s history and interactive exhibits detailing 14th Century monastic life at the Cathedral including the sounds and smells! The newly created Collections Gallery will house a rolling programme of exhibitions starting with finds made during the work on Open Treasure. This will be complemented at a later date by exhibitions from other prestigious institutions. The Treasures of St Cuthbert, including fragments of his wooden coffin and his Pectoral
Star Radio Help Multi-£million Exhibition for Durham Cathedral
Cross, will have their home under the magnificent vaulted octagonal ceiling of the Great Kitchen once a 12 month period of environmental monitoring has been completed. Ahead of this, a display of stunning metalwork is housed, including elaborately decorated altar crosses, archaeological finds of medieval metal and objects associated with the Prince Bishops. As a development project, Open Treasure has ‘open access’ at its heart. As well as creating a new visitor experience, the £10.9 million development project will help to maintain free entry to Durham Cathedral, the ultimate ‘Open Treasure’ and one of the world’s most beautiful cathedrals, located at the heart of the Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dean of Durham, The Very Revd Andrew Tremlett, said: “Open Treasure is a fantastic way for visitors of all ages to discover more about Christianity in the North East, the Cathedral’s fascinating history as well as our current life as a working church. We hope that the interactive displays, fascinating artefacts and amazing spaces will draw visitors young and old from near or far to share this wonderful new venture with us.” Open Treasure will be open Monday to Saturday 10am – 5pm (last entry 4pm) and Sunday 12.30pm – 5pm (last entry 4pm). Tickets to Open Treasure, priced from £2.50 – £7.50, are available at the Durham Cathedral information desk at the rear of the Cathedral Nave, online at www.durhamcathedral.co.uk/ open-treasure
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