An East Cleveland museum has received a special visit from the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries in recognition of its increasing success.
The Minister for Culture, Ed Vaizey, visited the Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum in Skinningrove, East Cleveland, yesterday to congratulate staff and to take a personal tour around the museum - including a long walk down a real mine shaft.
The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum received record visitor numbers last year with 14,090 visitors - almost a third more than in 2013.
The museum continues to be volunteer led and with increasing numbers of visitors every year, there is a need for more volunteers to guide them around the museum as well as take up jobs in the shop and reception area and many other areas.
Mr Vaizey’s visit allowed the minister to tour the museum and also congratulate the volunteers for their hard work in making the museum a success.
“It’s good to see such passionate volunteers,” said Mr Vaizey.
“I loved the whole experience and I think what’s brilliant is when you walk down that brick tunnel you get a real feel of what it must have been like to work here.
“Kids especially must love it, I mean I loved it, but for kids to be able to go down that mine they must think it’s amazing.”
Mr Vaizey’s visit comes after Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland Labour MP, Tom Blenkinsop called on Arts and Culture ministers to grant ‘National Museum’ status to the East Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum.
Mr Blenkinsop said: “I feel it is crucial that the Skinningrove Museum should be granted ‘National Museum’ status by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports who have responsibility for the country’s museums.”
Responding to Mr Blenkinsop’s comments, Mr Vaizey said: “National recognition can mean different things. For the national Coal Mining Museum for example, we put under a wing of The Science Museum.
“For this museum, I’m sure there are other local museums that it can get together with to create a network.”
Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum education officer Jean Banwell said that the museum was unable to access further funding because of restrictions put in place,
In response Mr Vaizey said: “That’s a challenge for government. It’s not a lack of money, it’s a technical point but if you let me have the details I will certainly look into that for you.”
The Cleveland Ironstone Mining Museum is currently open for school and other group visits until February half-term school holiday, and thereafter until the Easter holidays. During the half-term holiday the museum will be open for mining experience tours February 16–21 Monday to Friday from 10am-3.30pm, and Saturday 1pm-3.30pm.
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