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Category: Museum Notices

  • Restoration and extension of trolleybus network made possible thanks to investment

    Restoration and extension of trolleybus network made possible thanks to investment

    We’re delighted to share that the Museum has secured £272,000 from the DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund to restore and relaunch our historic trolleybus network. 

    This is a significant moment for the organisation and a real vote of confidence in our work, following a highly competitive national process. 

    The project will allow us to return three locally built trolleybuses to operation and extend their route into the 1940s–60s High Street, completing a key part of the Forging Ahead vision. 

    Why this matters 

    For the past three years, the trolleybus network has been out of use. As many of you know, it’s not just a popular visitor experience, it’s a vital part of how we move people across site, and a key part of how we tell the story of the Black Country. 

    This investment: 

    • Safeguards an important part of our collection 
    • Improves accessibility for visitors 
    • Reduces reliance on diesel vehicles 
    • Strengthens the overall visitor experience 

    A timely moment for the region 

    This all comes as Dudley prepares to welcome the Metro later this year, reconnecting the town to the wider transport network. 

    There’s something powerful about bringing historic electric transport back at the same time as new electric transport arrives. 

    What happens next 

    The grant secures the core of the project, but we’ll now be working to enhance what we deliver, including interpretation and accessibility. 

    There will be opportunities for teams across the Museum to get involved as the project develops. 

    A huge thank you to everyone who contributed to the bid, and to the teams who will help bring this project to life. 

     

  • Woodside Library now open

    Woodside Library now open

    We would like to share our sincere thanks to every individual who has contributed to the successful launch of Woodside Library. This beautiful building forms the final piece of our 1940s-1960s development, the largest capital development that the Museum has ever embarked on. The project has been incredibly rewarding, challenging and transformative for the Museum and we’re so proud of every individual who has helped us bring this ambitious plan to life – thank you.

    On Monday 16 March we hosted a press day, where members of the community who donated books and shared memories had the opportunity to enjoy a first look of the space. Guests included current librarians who donated books, former users of the community room including pupils of ballroom dancing classes and a former bride who enjoyed a wedding reception at the Library, and members of the community who were part of the campaign to save the library and kick-start the works to bring it here to the Museum.

    From this, we have received significant coverage so far from Express & Star, BBC Birmingham & Black Country, Museum & Heritage Advisor and Black Country Radio.

    On Wednesday 18 March we opened the Library for the first visitors. Our first ever visitor to Woodside Library was Simon, who arrived at the Museum extra early. His enthusiasm was rewarded with a “Weit’o” Dudley Library Circle Members badge!

    This project has been supported by several key major investors. Woodside Library in particular has been specially supported by the FCC Communities Foundation, as well as our funders National Lottery Heritage Fund, Arts Council England, Black Country LEP, Dudley Council, West Midlands Combined Authority and DCMS.

  • National Lottery Open Day – Thursday 12 March

    National Lottery Open Day – Thursday 12 March

    We are once again taking part in National Lottery Open Week this year, with free entry to the Museum on Thursday 12 March 2026 for Lottery players.

    To say thank you for the £32 million raised for good causes every week by players, there is free entry and special offers at a range of National Lottery funded venues across the UK as part of National Lottery Open Week.

    National Lottery Heritage Fund have made a significant investment in our brand new 1940s-60s development, which sees us bringing our historic storytelling into living memory once again. Set foot into the post-war era in our largest development yet, from a whole high street of shops to a fascinating industrial area.

    As our way of saying a big thank you to you, the Lottery players, we’re giving National Lottery players the opportunity to visit the Museum for free on Thursday 12 March.

    Tickets can be booked via the Museum website. To find out more about all of the venues and offers, visit the National Lottery Open Week webpage.

  • Japanese Ambassador Visit – Thank you

    Japanese Ambassador Visit – Thank you

    Yesterday, we were honoured to be joined by His Excellency Hiroshi Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to the UK, for a visit to the Museum. He was invited by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, to spend a few hours exploring our region’s incredible heritage at our venue. The group were also joined by Sonia Kumar, MP for Dudley.

    His Excellency enjoyed trying on some 1930s Peaky Blinders style clothing in Morrall’s Gentlemen’s Outfitters, saw a chain making demonstration, met our pony Charlie on “Charlie’s Yard”, and even sampled our famous fish and chips. We were thrilled that His Excellency agreed that it was “bostin fittle”!

    You can watch His Excellency’s verdict on the fish and chips on our Instagram or TikTok.

    We would like to extend a big, bostin’ thank you to everyone who helped to make the Ambassador’s visit a huge success. With particular thanks to historic characters for delivering our amazing story to the group, our wonderful horse handler team for introducing Charlie to the Ambassador, to Tim and Jordan for providing excellent transportation and our enterprise colleagues for providing an unforgettable lunch. It is a fantastic team effort to present the Museum at its very best for special visits like this, and we’re proud to have provided such a brilliant experience for His Excellency.

    Special thanks has been passed on to everyone by Richard Parker, Mayor of the West Midlands, who thanks the Museum for hosting the Ambassador and describes the team as being magnificent.

    The visit was also featured on BBC Midlands Today’s evening broadcast on Wednesday 18 February, which you can watch back through iPlayer.

    Thank you!

  • Dog Days update – 2026 plans

    Dog Days update – 2026 plans

    Following a detailed review meeting and consultations with colleagues across the Museum, it has been decided that we will be continuing with our Dog Days on Thursdays and Sundays through 2026.

    Through our new system, visitors who book online on these dates who intend to bring a dog are prompted to book them in with a free ticket. This will help us to understand ahead of time how many dogs we will be expecting. We will also work on improved signage and messaging for these days to ensure that dog owners are fully aware of the Canine Code.

    As part of the new offer, we will now be allowing dogs to enter the Bottle & Glass Inn and the Elephant & Castle Pub (downstairs only). There are no plans to allow dogs in any other buildings.

    We’d like to thank everyone who shared insight and feedback which helped us to arrive at the decision. We’ll be continuing to monitor both positive and negative feedback throughout the year so please do continue to share your thoughts with your line manager.

    Please note that dogs will not be allowed entry on special daytime events that land on these days:

    • Festival of Vehicles (Sunday 14 June)
    • 1960s Weekend (Sunday 17 May)
    • 1940s Weekend (Sunday 12 July)
    • Any attendee at Santa Hunts may not bring a dog
  • Annual AIM Conference 2026

    Annual AIM Conference 2026

    The AIM (Association of Independent Museums) annual Conference will be held at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels and Gardens, and Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, Co Durham on 10 & 11 June 2026.

    This year’s conference theme of ‘Independent advantage: Rethinking your museum operating model’ will see colleagues from across the UK explore; What defines a truly successful museum? This perennial question lies at the heart of this year’s conference. Drawing on groundbreaking new research into the sector’s most effective business models, it will unpack the essential strategies and practical steps your institution needs to succeed.

    This year promises a dynamic mix of inspiration, practical advice, and sector-wide collaboration. Two days of learning, networking, and sharing strategies that will act as a catalyst for change. As ever with the AIM Conference, delegates can look forward to a schedule packed with inspirational and practical advice, debate and discussion.

    We are offering up to 3 colleagues the opportunity to attend this year’s conference. All you need to do is complete an expression of interest and provide us with some information as to how you think this will be of benefit to you in your role here at BCLM.

    More information is available on the AIM website; AIM Conference 2026 – AIM – Association of Independent Museums

    If you are interested in attending, please complete the AIM expression of interest form by using: Expression of Interest and return to [email protected] by 3pm on Friday 27 February 2026. Colleagues will be selected based on their interest and informed in early April.

  • Red By Night event – postponed

    Red By Night event – postponed

    After careful consideration we have made the decision to postpone our Red By Night event, which was due to take place on Saturday 21 March. The new date will be Saturday 3 October. The additional time will allow us to ensure that we’re able to deliver the best possible visitor experience and fully do justice to the planned programme.

    Customers who have already purchased tickets have been contacted and have been offered either a transfer of their booking or a refund.

    We appreciate that this change may have implications for teams across the organisation, and we thank everyone for their flexibility and continued support.

  • Colleague tickets – available soon

    Colleague tickets – available soon

    Following the launch of our brand new ticketing system and website, we’re now working through and finessing all of our processes.

    This means that, for the time being, your colleague allocation of general admission tickets is not yet available to redeem. If you would like to visit for general admission using your colleague allocation, please make yourself known to the admissions team on arrival – we will record this and deduct those tickets from your allocation when colleague admission tickets are live in the system.

    Special event tickets are not yet available for colleagues to purchase using their colleague discount. An allocation of colleague tickets for special events is ring-fenced, so we thank you for your patience while we work on this in the background – we’ll share an update as soon as tickets are available.

    Thank you again for your support and patience while we’re bringing you the brand new system.

     

  • Underground Mine – Essential Maintenance

    Underground Mine – Essential Maintenance

    Following routine site-wide testing, we have discovered that some essential maintenance is required in the Underground Mine. For the health and safety of our colleagues and visitors, it is important that this work is completed promptly which means that the experience will remain closed for the time being while work is carried out.

    We will be providing updates as and when we have them. If you have any questions please do share them with your line manager.

  • January Reset 2026 Brochure

    January Reset 2026 Brochure

    With Storm Goretti now behind us, we’re pleased to confirm that, this week, January Reset 2026 is going ahead as planned.

    Our ‘All Colleague Core Days’ are taking place on Tuesday 13, Tuesday 20, and Thursday 22 January 2026. Join us for an All Colleague Briefing led by Andrew Lovett OBE (Chief Executive), followed by Strategic Directions and Action Planning sessions delivered by the Leadership Team and Heads of Teams. We are also delighted to welcome a series of guest speakers, as well as West Midlands Police who will be delivering ACT Awareness training, on each of the Core Days. We will conclude the day with a session about the Bostin Promise, led by Heads of Teams.

    A range of other training opportunities, including essential training sessions for colleagues in visitor-facing roles, have also been programmed across the January Reset period.

    Many of you will have already been booked onto sessions by your line manager. If you are unsure which training you are signed up for, or have not yet been scheduled for any training, please contact your line manager directly.

    Full details, including locations and the full timetable, are available in the January Reset event brochure.