The Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust has received a prestigious honor from Arts Council England, as they have been awarded Accredited Museum status. This recognition serves as a UK-wide benchmark, highlighting the Trust’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of management, education, care, and access to their historic collections.
In celebration of this achievement, the Trust has relaunched their Visitor Centre, located on the Leigh Woods side of the bridge, as the “Clifton Suspension Bridge Museum.” Along with this rebranding, the Trust has also unveiled a new brand identity.
The museum, which is open to the public seven days a week, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors each year. Inside, visitors have the opportunity to discover objects from the museum’s collections and learn about the construction and maintenance of the iconic bridge. The museum also offers free and ticketed tours throughout the year, as well as activities for families and school groups.
The process to obtain Museum Accreditation took approximately three years, during which time the Trust’s Archivist worked diligently to properly catalogue, preserve, and make accessible important documents, drawings, photographs, and objects. Many of these items can already be viewed online, and the Trust has plans to unveil more exciting projects before Christmas.
Trish Johnson, Bridge Master of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, expressed her excitement about the Museum Accreditation, stating, “We are thrilled to announce this achievement for our heritage site. This award is a testament to our dedication to preserving the rich history of our bridge. Our ultimate goal is to continue sharing captivating stories for present and future generations.”
Dr. Hannah Little, Museum Archivist, added, “We are extremely pleased to have achieved Museum Accreditation. While the Clifton Suspension Bridge is a familiar landmark to many, our museum and its collections are not as well-known. These objects and stories provide a window into how the bridge was seen, built, and used in the past, allowing people to view Bristol’s famous landmark in new and unique ways. It is crucial to preserve and share these items for the benefit of the public.”
This news article was distributed by https://pressat.co.uk/ on Tuesday, 1 October 2024.
