Press Release April 2014
Whitworth Park: Pleasure, Play and Politics NEW EXHIBITION REVEALS HISTORY OF POPULAR CITY PARK LOCAL STORIES UNCOVERED BY COMMUNITY ARCHAEOLOGY PROJECT ‘ONE PERSON’S RUBBISH IS ANOTHER PERSON’S TREASURE’ Sat 24 May – Sun 5 October 2014 Private View Wednesday 21 May 2014, 5.30pm Manchester Museum FREE ENTRY Manchester Museum’s new exhibition Whitworth Park: Pleasure, Play and Politics will examine how Manchester’s Whitworth Park has changed over time. The displays are the result of a community archaeology project and the range of objects reflect the important role that the park has played for the community over the years. Whitworth Park: Pleasure, Play and Politics will appeal to those with an interest in social and local history and reveal some surprising secrets about this popular city park. Whitworth Park: Pleasure, Play and Politics has been supported by a grant of £39,700 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. Other supporters include: Cities@Manchester, The Robert Kiln Charitable Trust, the Council for British Archaeology and the Council for British Archaeology North West. The exhibition presents the fascinating discoveries that came to light during the dig: glass bottles, broken ceramics, coins, keys and buttons. The project involved a wide range of local people: the Friends of Whitworth Park, students and staff from The University of Manchester, local schools and For more information please contact Tim Manley, Head of Marketing and Communications tim.manley@manchester.ac.uk 07810 152655
community volunteers. The finds reveal the story of a very popular Victorian and Edwardian park that was an integral feature of Whitworth Art Gallery when it opened in 1890. Of particular interest are the children’s toys dropped in the boating lake and recovered by archaeologists over one hundred years later. Other finds shed light on the relationship between the behaviour expected of visitors to the park and what happened in reality. The exhibition reveals the full range of attractions offered by the park including bandstand, boating lake, statues, drinking fountains and formal planting schemes. Although many of these features have now disappeared, the park is still a rich centre of biodiversity in the city. The community archaeology project supports the campaign led by The Friends of Whitworth Park and the redevelopment of Whitworth Art Gallery in stimulating excitement about the park and its future. Sian, Professor of Archaeology at The University of Manchester and Co-Director of the Whitworth Park Project said: Parks are an important part of the urban social environment informing people’s sense of identity, belonging and place. Historical sources provide information on the development of public parks and the ideas behind them - but there's little record of what ordinary people got up to in parks and this is why this project is so unique One person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure: something dropped by the edge of the lake over a hundred years ago gives archaeologists a huge amount of important, and often forgotten, detail about what life was like in those times. By investigating the archaeology of Whitworth Park, we aim to increase everyone’s awareness of the value of these wonderful green spaces in the heart of the city, and encourage people to become more involved in their future. This exhibition is a product of a collaborative endeavour involving local residents and school children, working alongside the University of Manchester Archaeology Department and The Friends of Whitworth Park. Manchester Museum, Whitworth Art Gallery and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre were also key partners. Our main objective is to enhance different local communities’ appreciation and use of this vital and vibrant urban green space, while being involved in archaeological discovery and research. Dr Nick Merriman, Director of Manchester Museum said: Archaeology has the power to play an important role in the way we view the world. Through this project we’ve engaged with local community groups, students and academics to explore the history of the park. The exhibition provides an insight into some of the ways the park has been used and valued, many of them only revealed by fieldwork. For more information please contact Tim Manley, Head of Marketing and Communications tim.manley@manchester.ac.uk 07810 152655
Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Cities@Manchester, The Robert Kiln Charitable Trust, the Council for British Archaeology and the Council for British Archaeology North West. Whitworth Park (#WhitworthPark) will run from 24 May 2014 – 5 October 2014 in the Museum's temporary exhibitions gallery on the third floor. ENDS CONTACT For further information please contact Tim Manley, Head of Marketing and Communication at Manchester Museum tim.manley@manchester.ac.uk / 07810 152655 NOTES TO EDITORS About Manchester Museum Manchester Museum is the UK’s largest university museum and all of its collections are designated by the government as being of national and international importance. Since 2011 the Museum has undergone several major redevelopments, transforming our Ancient Worlds and Living Worlds galleries, as well as opening Natures Library and breathing new life into the Vivarium in autumn 2013. As a university museum, Manchester Museum uses its international collection of human and natural history for enjoyment and inspiration. Working with people from all backgrounds, the Museum provokes debate and reflection about the past, present and future of the earth and its inhabitants and uses its collection to promote understanding between cultures and to help work towards a sustainable world. Manchester Museum, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL 0161 275 2648 museum.manchester.ac.uk Opening times: 10am-5pm every day. Closed: 24-26 Dec, 1 Jan. Follow us on Twitter @McrMuseum Manchester’s cultural investment Manchester Museum is part of a consortium of Manchester creative venues going through an exciting stage in the city’s cultural development. Manchester is proudly investing in its institutions placing itself firmly on the map for local and international creative tourists. The Central Library reopened in March 2014, beautifully refurbished and extended with its historic features sensitively restored and transformed. Whitworth Art Gallery reopens in October 2014, transforming itself into a new 21st Century gallery in the park. Home, the brand new production centre for international contemporary art, theatre and film formed by the merger of Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre Company also, opens in 2015. Heritage Lottery Fund Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported over 33,000 projects, allocating £4.9billion across the UK. Website: www.hlf.org.uk For more information please contact Tim Manley, Head of Marketing and Communications tim.manley@manchester.ac.uk 07810 152655