Poole Museum and Scaplen’s Court are celebrating a remarkable first year since reopening, welcoming more than 250,000 visits to the much-loved cultural attractions following their major transformation.
Thursday 5 November marks the first anniversary of Poole Museum reopening its doors after a multi-million-pound redevelopment, with the milestone highlighting the attractions’ popularity among residents and visitors eager to explore the town’s rich history and heritage.
In the year that’s followed, the museum itself has welcomed more than 150,000 visitors whilst footfall across the wider estate – including Scaplen’s Court and the café – was more than 100,000.
The museum has also reached more than 1,250 people through community engagement programmes with volunteers contributing over 7,000 hours to support its continued success.
Alongside its exhibition programme, the museum has become a thriving community hub, offering workshops, events, talks, family activities and outreach programmes that have enabled more people to connect with Poole's history and heritage. The dedication of its volunteers has played a vital role in that success, helping to create memorable experiences for thousands of visitors throughout the year.
Over the past 12 months, Poole Museum has delivered a diverse programme of exhibitions celebrating creativity, culture and the area's rich history.
Visitors have explored Life in Full Colour: The Art of Jason Wilsher-Mills, a bold and imaginative exhibition inspired by Poole's maritime heritage; Power of Poole, which charted the story of the town's former power station and its role in shaping modern Poole; and Coasts in Mind, a community-led exhibition exploring a century of change around Poole Harbour through local memories, photographs and stories.
The museum has also welcomed nationally significant exhibitions, including Lucian Freud's Etchings: A Creative Collaboration, which showcased rarely seen works connected to one of Britain's most celebrated artists, alongside immersive experiences such as Sound of the Sea, bringing the sights and sounds of the coast to life for visitors of all ages.
Cllr Andy Martin, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for museums and cultural activities, said:
“Poole Museum’s first year since re-opening has been a real success story and demonstrates the tremendous appetite for culture, heritage, and curious learning that flows through our communities.
“Both the museum and Scaplen’s Court have become places where people can connect with local history and take pride in the unique and wonderful story of Poole.
“To welcome a quarter of a million visits in our first year is a phenomenal achievement and puts Poole Museum firmly back at the heart of our community and on the map as one of the South Coast’s must-visit cultural destinations.”
To mark the anniversary, Poole Museum will host a special late opening on 5 November to coincide with the Poole Quay fireworks celebrations. Visitors will be invited to join in the festivities as the museum launches a community fundraising campaign to secure the permanent future of Jason Wilsher-Mills' much-loved masthead artwork. A new range of merchandise inspired by the artist's work will also be unveiled.
The anniversary will also highlight the museum's growing partnership with the Lighthouse, helping to bring Poole Museum's collections and retail offer to new audiences and further strengthening the town's cultural landscape.
