PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND
PREAS RÁITEAS THAR CEANN ARD-MHÚSAEM NA hÉIREANN
11th October 2011
Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will officially launch Learning and Creativity at the National Museum of Ireland: Responding to Educational Needs on Tuesday evening, 11th October 2011 @ 6.00p.m. at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
The purpose of this event is to highlight the extensive learning and creativity programmes and services on offer in each of the 4 sites of the National Museum of Ireland. A key element of this event will be to promote the newly re-furbished Learning Resource Room in Kildare Street as a learning space for audiences catering for a wide range of users of all ages – including families, adults and children.
This launch – Learning and Creativity at the National Museum of Ireland: Responding to Educational Needs highlights how the National Museum of Ireland is an excellent learning resource – and a valued destination for students, teachers, parents, other educators and the wider education community.
Commenting in advance of the launch, Minister Deenihan said “the National Museum of Ireland in all four locations provides a tremendously rich educational resource. A visit to any of the locations presents a wealth of knowledge to the visitor be they student, teacher or parent. While learning remotely is a most valuable tool in today’s technology driven world, a personal visit to the museum will leave a lasting memory for all. The Learning Resource Room provides an atmosphere which is conducive to learning for everyone.”
Education and learning are vital keys to unlocking that creative potential that each child inherently possesses. Participating in education and learning here at the National Museum of Ireland, amid the exciting and stimulating surroundings of the four Museums and the unique collections of objects and stories, complements and enriches what already goes on in schools and colleges up and down the country.
Museum Staff in the Education Department are skilled and knowledgeable in the development of child-centred programmes that focus on Museum objects and are linked to the curriculum. In collaboration with their colleagues and external partners in the education and cultural community, the Education Department at the National Museum’s 4 sites has created a range of resources and programmes that take account of the different learning styles and needs of students and their educators and help connect students with their environment, their history, their museum.
The Learning Resource Room at the National Museum of Ireland – Archaeology was a project undertaken by the Education Department in collaboration with Clancy Moore Architects and the result is an aesthetically pleasing room that welcomes you to sit and stare; to read up on objects you would have discovered in the Museum galleries; to participate in workshops and other events. There are Learning Resource Rooms in each of the four National Museum of Ireland sites.
The Director of the National Museum of Ireland, Dr Pat Wallace commented on “how far the Museum’s education programmes had come since he was Education Officer in 1975. He welcomed the Museum’s engagement with the various curricula and relevant bodies”.
FOR MORE PRESS INFORMATION CONTACT THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT
Maureen Gaule, Marketing Executive, Marketing Department
Dublin sites
T: 01 648 6429 | M: 087 9031690| E: mgaule@museum.ie
Bernie Byron, Marketing Executive, Marketing Department
Country Life - Co Mayo
T: 094 903 1773 | M: 087 7987439 | E: bbyron@museum.ie
Ann Daly, Head of Marketing, Marketing Department
All Sites
T: 01 648 6457 | M: 087 2368067| E: adaly@museum.ie
Available for Interview:
Dr Patrick Wallace – Director of the National Museum of Ireland
Lorraine Comer – Head of Education at the National Museum of Ireland
Notes to the Editor:
At the launch meet with our Education Staff from our four sites who will be available to discuss and provide information about the variety of programmes and services available at the National Museum of Ireland to include;
Outreach Projects
Teachers’ information
Resources at the Museum;
Learning Spaces
Self Directed learning literature
Handling Collections
Explore and Learn at the National Museum of Ireland, further information available via http://www.museum.ie/en/education.aspx
Admission to the National Museum of Ireland and its Exhibitions is Free
Open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 2.00pm – 5.00pm
Groups intending to visit the museum and this exhibition need to book via our Bookings Office
Dublin Bookings: Email or telephone: bookings@museum.ie 01 648 6453
Mayo Bookings: Email or telephone: educationtph@museum.ie 01 6486304/ 094 90 31751