The long-awaited reopening of the Lapworth Museum of Geology at the University of Birmingham will take place this Friday (10 June), following the refurbishment of the building and installation of new exhibits.
Following an extensive £2.7 million refurbishment, visitors will be able to enjoy a state-of-the-art museum experience showcasing one of the UK’s most outstanding rock, fossil and mineral collections, through a range of innovative and interactive exhibits – all completely free of charge.
Exploring life over the past 3.5 billion years; from rocks and fossils to volcanoes, earthquakes, and dinosaurs, the Museum will capture the imagination of all ages.
Jon Clatworthy, director of the Museum, said: “This has been a transformational refurbishment which will dramatically change the way in which we interact with our visitors. The new exhibits will provide a far more hands-on approach to learning about the 3.5 billion years of history we showcase here, and the building refurbishment means we are able to feature far more of our extensive collection in an inspiring and innovative way. We are very excited to welcome visitors of all ages back through the Museum’s doors.”
The redevelopment has been made possible thanks to a transformative Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant of £1.5m and the generous support of University of Birmingham alumni, and a number of grant awarding bodies, trusts and foundations.
The Museum is situated in the University’s Aston Webb building on its historic Edgbaston campus, with access via the entrance on the University ring road.