Award tops Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery's first year at new site

And this week staff at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery have been celebrating a year since it opened in its new home in the town's former Music Hall and 13th century Vaughan's Mansion.

The project, which was not without its difficulties, took five years to complete and cost £10.7 million.

The transformation of the Music Hall in Shrewsbury into the Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery was not, to say the least, without controversy.

The cost was over £10 million and there were delays when the project ran into difficulties which had not been expected.

As the London Olympics of 2012 demonstrated, there is a sure cure. Success washes all those things from the collective memory. There were many critics before the Games, but now it is as if they never existed.

In its first year the museum and art gallery in Shrewsbury has welcomed 80,000 visitors and it has also won an award.

It is a cultural venue in which the county town can take pride. It is packed with treasures to appeal to visitors and has taken its place among the forefront of Shropshire's many attractions.

In the process, a historic complex of buildings has been given a new life and a useful new role – which is generally the best way to preserve such gems.

It has, says Louise Cross, visitor economy manager with Shropshire Council, been an incredible first year.

May this positive start be a springboard for even better things in the future which add more lustre to Shrewsbury as a visitor destination.

To mark the anniversary of its opening ion April 1 last year, the venue has launched a new family ticket which gives entry to two adults and up to three children aged 5 to 17 for £10.

Staff at the stop.Café, which is based in the venue, also made a birthday cake to commemorate the occasion.

This week's celebrations come after the quality of the transformation was recognised with an award.

The project won a commendation award at the 2015 Civic Trust Awards ceremony with a plaque being presented to Shropshire Council.

The Civic Trust Awards scheme was established in 1959 to recognise the very best in architecture, design, planning, landscape and public art.

Venue bosses say not only are the buildings packed with treasures from Shropshire dating from before Roman times, but exhibits are inspiring people to explore the many historical sites around the county, such as Wroxeter and Ironbridge.

The museum and art gallery's special exhibitions programme has seen internationally famous works of art put on show in Shrewsbury for the first time.

The current presentation, Secret Egypt – Unravelling Truth From Myth, has , attracted thousands of families and pupils to view its exhibits, including a real mummy.

Staff are now predicting a busy Easter with t the Railway Heritage and Treasure! Discovering The Staffordshire Hoard exhibitions running alongside Secret Egypt.

Tim King, tourism officer with Shropshire Council, said he was pleased with the visitor numbers.

"We have got a number of things helping us such as the new family ticket and we have been doing a lot of promotions online," he said.

"We work really hard at promoting what we do here and we are building on what we have achieved in the past.

"Our facilities are also fantastic for outside organisations. It's not just about the museum, it's about Shrewsbury as a place and putting the town on the map.

"We have had a lot of school groups recently, they are coming from all over the region. We have also had visitors come down from Manchester to see the museum.

"Its another draw to bring people into Shrewsbury and Shropshire."

Louise Cross, visitor economy manager with Shropshire Council, said: "It's been an incredible first year for the new museum and art gallery.

"The buildings have been superbly restored and were recently honoured with a Civic Trust Award. I have been delighted that so many people have come to enjoy the facilities including the galleries, special exhibitions, visitor information centre and stop.Café.

"I look forward to the coming year when we will have lots of new attractions at the museum and art gallery for local people and visitors to enjoy."

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council's cabinet member for business growth and culture, said: "The quality of the restoration of these historic buildings has been exceptional and visitors have been coming to the new museum and art gallery in their thousands since it opened almost a year ago."

As of this week the venue will be open from 10am to 5pm daily through the spring and summer season.

For more details visit www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk or follow @shrewsmuseum on Twitter.