Happy New Year to you all. Christmas is over with for
another year, the celebratory parties are a distant and hazy memory, all the
presents are have been used or are broken, and you have finally polished off
the last of the turkey and your mother in laws Christmas cake that could have
been used as a cheap alternative to that fire retardant house insulation you
plastered your attic in last year. So, with the weather getting you down and the
thought of summer holidays being a long way off it would be easy to just stay
indoors and hibernate like a Blue Peter tortoise and wait for spring to arrive.
But I encourage you to go and spend just an hour or two, maybe an afternoon perhaps,
or even a whole day, wondering around the Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM)
on Queen Street. After being closed for almost 4 years while extensive, and I
have to admit very much needed, renovations and re-organising took place, this
splendid collection of historical pieces and artefacts tells you both the story
of Exeter and the surrounding area as well as presenting you with extensive collections
from civilisations from all across the globe. Take a look at Stone Age tools
that were used by our ancestors over 5000 years ago (that’s your great, great,
great, great... ×200 grandfathers knife!), a set of Samurai Warrior armour, a
whales skeleton and videos of the area from the 50s and 60s. From the
geological formation of the globe to the invention of the microchip all of life
is covered in this great tour through history.
If history isn’t quite your cup of tea though, there is the
stunning collection of wildlife on display with exotic animals from across the
globe including an African elephant, polar bear, tiger and of course the iconic
Gerald the Giraffe who, who, after encountering the big game hunter Charles
Victor Alexander Peel, has been the mascot for the museum since his inclusion
in the 1920s. There are also rooms with impressive collections dedicated to
wild birds from across the world and to discovering the tiny world of insect
life. 
Great! A history and natural history museum all in one, what
could be better? Well how about an art gallery as well. Boasting an impressive
collection of local artists and pictures dating back hundreds of years there is
an ever constant cycle of world famous art to view in the main gallery on the
ground floor. On top of this there are three galleries for temporary or
visiting exhibitions that can range from collections of wildlife photography,
to modern, experimental art works, to themed assortments of art that can include
just about anything. Even if you don’t know your Rembrandt from your Emin,
which if your anything like me includes you (my artistic skills and knowledge
haven’t progressed past potato printing when I was 3), then you can still have
a wonder around, looking at some nice pictures, and occasionally say something
about ‘emotional boundaries’ or ‘juxtaposed colour palettes’ so that those
around you think you are an expert about what you are talking about.
Add into this heady mix of knowledge and fun a great coffee
shop and lunch time cafe run by those fine folks from Otterton Mill (I will
cover this in more detail in a later post), loads of interactive exhibits to
get those brains going, spotlight tours on Wednesdays and Saturdays about each
of the different areas of the museum, a display featuring ordinary peoples
weird and wonderful collections, and so many kid friendly activities and
features that you won’t have to worry about them moaning that there board after
only 5 minutes.
And how much is this going to cost me you ask? Well it’s all
for FREE!!! With no admission charge you can escape the hustle and bustle of
the city any time you like, for as long as you like, and discover something
new, without having to pay a penny.
Plus, for the price of a little bit of money, you can go
along to one of their adult learning courses throughout the year for those
wanting to improve their artistic or writing skills, as well as special lectures
and evening events that both highlight some of the terrific pieces on display
and give you a detailed insight into their origins and raise much needed money
and awareness for the museum charity itself.
So as we usher in 2014 we all take our time, both looking
forward to what the future might bring us all, and as a chance to reflect on
the year that has passed and where it has brought us to now. History is
something of a passion of mine. I studied it for a number of years and am fascinated
by both how the world and the people in it have changed so much over thousands of
years, but also how much we have stayed the same and share in common
experiences that connect us through generations. You get a great sense of this at
the RAMM, together with many other things, that combine to make a great day out
for all ages and interests. It is a rare luxury that we have such a fine institution
within our midst and it would be a great shame for it to go unappreciated by
anyone who has the chance to experience it. So make the most of this quiet
period and go explore some culture and history, you will learn something and
you might even enjoy it.
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 5pm. Closed Mondays and bank holidays.
Free Admission
Address: Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery Queen Street Exeter EX4 3RX
Tel: 01392 265 858
http://www.rammuseum.org.uk/
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