Record visitor figures for Newcastle museum

For the first time since reopening in 2009 the Great North Museum: Hancock in Newcastle, has attracted half a million visitors in a single year.

The Newcastle University museum passed the post of 500,000 visitors in March 2016, which includes the busiest February the museum has seen with more than 60,000 people crossing its doors.

Museum Manager Caroline McDonald said:

“What a fantastic year the museum has had - we’ve had some wonderful feedback from visitors. I’m very proud of the team and we’re looking forward to welcoming even more visitors to the Great North Museum: Hancock in the future.”

Professor Eric Cross Dean of Cultural Affairs at Newcastle University said:

“We are delighted so many people are enjoying what our wonderful museum has to offer. This shows it continues to holds a special place in our region’s affections.

“In the past year the museum has launched three high profile exhibitions created by its team and in close conjunction with academics from the University. Their success demonstrates the relevance of our work to wider society.”

In the past year the museum has launched three high profile exhibitions created by its team.

Spineless, exploring the worlds of invertebrates ran from 1 August – 1 November 2015 and drew over 146,000 visitors, and on 30 January 2016 the museum opened a double bill: The Extraordinary Gertrude Bell and Polar Explorers.

The Extraordinary Gertrude Bell, about the North East born explorer and linguist who shaped modern day Iraq, was co-curated by the museum and experts at Newcastle University. The exhibition uses the extensive Gertrude Bell Archive at the University alongside loans from the British Museum, The Imperial War Museum and personal items specially loaned by Bell’s family.

Polar Explorers was created specifically for families and includes newly created Makaton symbols – a language programme which aids communication - describing life in the polar extremes.

Both exhibitions are still open and continue to draw in the crowds, with over 99,000 visits to date.

Gertrude Bell, officially opened by Belinda Lewis, Deputy Ambassador to Iraq, has had a fantastic response, attracting interest from people all over the world.