A VIDEO tour giving a glimpse of the "reimagined" World of Glass to residents has been put together.
Here's a video tour giving a glimpse of the "reimagined" @TheWorldofGlass in St Helens which was opened on Saturday... pic.twitter.com/VtbrBx9x0z
— St Helens Star (@sthelensstar) August 17, 2023
On Saturday, August 12, the Chalin Way attraction held a grand opening following a £1m transformation.
As the Star reported ahead of the opening, a key move will see the entrance to the venue’s heritage gallery attraction made free, as it looks to mirror strategies employed by similar museums in the neighbouring cities.
There will still be small charges for glass-blowing demonstrations, but access to the rest of the space - which opened as part of the Millennium projects more than 20 years ago - is without charge.
In the region of £1m has been invested in a transformation of the Chalon Way visitor attraction, with £890,000 having come from the government’s Town’s Fund regeneration pot.
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Attracting more young families and boosting visitor numbers is at the heart of the new-look venue’s strategy.
The “tired” museum space has had an injection of creativity, with the walk-through gallery now taking visitors on a tour through Victorian St Helens - with street scenes, a shop, pub and a home all featuring as part of the exhibition.
The scene features heritage assets from St Helens' past, including a sign from the former Blue Bell pub.
Once visitors step beyond the historic elements of St Helens’ glass-making past, there are exhibitions looking at the town of today, with a focus on its ambitions for the future and the new Glass Futures development.
The walk-through features a host of interactive elements that curators hope will be a hit with children.
A central point of the museum includes its fascinating glass collection, with some pieces dating back 3,000 years.
The venue’s mezzanine, meanwhile, also has a fresh purpose, with a modern collection of glass art, loaned by collector Mark Halford, going on display.
There is also a central art gallery space - currently hosting the outstanding Creative Roots exhibition, while the spacious cafe - with an outside terrace beside the canal - remaining a popular feature.
Meanwhile, St Helens Council’s Central Library remains an important fixture of the venue which has evolved into a creative hub.
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