25th February 2010

BRIDPORT: Campaign to keep museum free off to great start

BRIDPORT Museum will remain free to visit next year if the offer for goods and services continue to flood in.

Items ranging from photographs to restaurant vouchers have been donated in the three weeks since Keep Bridport Museum Free Appeal launched.

The items will now be sold in an auction as the South Street museum aims to raise around £2,000 in order for it to remain free this year.

Museum curator Alice Martin said: “The response has been fantastic, people have been absolutely brilliant. A lot of them understood straight away what a great cause this was and were very generous.

“But judging by what people have donated so far I think that we have gone a long way to ensuring it will be a success.

“We still need as many lots as possible to keep the museum free, so if anyone has anything they could donate I’d love to hear from you.”

It follows the success of the abolition of entry fees for the first time in its 77-year-history last year, which resulted in a huge rise in visitors.

Miss Martin, who initiated the idea to scrap the charge, said she thought people had really understood the importance of scrapping the entrance charges as it not only benefited tourists, but also the people of Bridport

So far the offers include a personal portrait by Bridport’s internationally renowned photographer George Wright, pottery lesson from Miles Bell of the Symondsbury Potters and a £100 voucher for acclaimed chef Mark Hix’s restaurant the Oyster and Fish House.

And the auction has already got off to a flying start after Denhay donated £300 to the appeal.

A catalogue with the full list of goods and services will be published in the next few weeks in time for the auction on March 12th at Bridport Arts Centre.

For more information contact Alice Martin on 07956 674866 or Tony Bonnici on 07790 020579.

PICTURE: DONATIONS WELCOME - Bridport Museum volunteer Sandy Hashimi and curator Alice Martin are hoping a fundraising auction will enable them to offer free entry to visitors

BRIDPORT: Campaign to keep museum free off to great start

BRIDPORT: Campaign to keep museum free off to great start

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