‘Pop-up’ museum launched in Leeds Tuesday, December 1, 2009 - 18:12

Stretch secured a £70k grant from the £20m Learning Revolution Transformation Fund and is today launching an innovative scheme to bring Leeds museum to the people, as they go about their daily business.

Together with Leeds Museums and Galleries, Stretch is launching its ‘pop-up' museum in the Merrion Centre located in the middle of Leeds - just half a mile from the city museum - which has over 200,000 visitors a week.

Staff, artists and curators will be interacting with the public and the real museum objects on display; including stuffed animals, dinosaur footprints and fossils. Emerdale actor, John Middleton, will be attending the event to cut the ribbon.

Leeds Museum's Geology curator will be doing a rock trail from the ‘pop-up' museum to Leeds museum and Art students from Leeds College of Art will be building installations with shells and natural objects.

Carlotta Goulden, Stretch Director, said:

"I am particularly excited about this project as it is something we have been wanting to engage and deliver for some time. As a result of the recession there are a lot of empty shop fronts and we felt this is a great way to use the space and change the way people interact with the cultural community. We want to show how accessible it can be, informal learning can be like window shopping!"