MUSEUM VISITS ON TARGET FOR 2008!

THIS year, National Museums Liverpool has welcomed more visitors than ever before with 1,608,133 people enjoying visits to the eight museums and galleries in the group. This is a 5% increase on the number of visits in 2004/05.

World Museum Liverpool, one year old on 29 April 2006, has been the star of the show, becoming one of the most popular museums in the country outside London. Over half a million people have flocked to attractions such as the Aquarium, the World Cultures gallery and the Bug House, as well as to the hugely popular temporary exhibitions Face to Face, Eye for Colour and Mongolian Buddhism.

The Lady Lever Art Gallery has continued to build a loyal group of fans, with figures a massive 20% up on last year. This fascinating gallery, nestled in the heart of the Wirral, has continued to delight visitors with its quirky collection and through exhibitions such as Beside the Seaside and Pulling the Lever: Pete Ellis, and most recently the hugely popular Pre-Raphaelite Drawings. The Lady Lever Art Gallery also had the honour of hosting a Picasso painting on loan from the National Gallery in Berlin.

Other highlights of the year have included the Steady States, an exhibition of work by contemporary artist Conrad Shawcross at the Walker Art Gallery, showing our new Beatles acquisitions at the Museum of Liverpool Life and 100% Cotton at the Merseyside Museum.

David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool, says:- "Local people are voting with their feet and visiting our museums in huge numbers. These visitor figures mean that National Museums Liverpool is the fastest growing national museum service in Britain. And, as we embark on a massive programme of improvements, we are going to be even busier over the next few years. This is really important, because the eyes of Europe are on culture in Liverpool, and it's crucial that the city's cultural assets, such as its museums, are seen to be successful and popular."

This news comes as National Museums Liverpool embarks on an unprecedented capital development programme across a number of venues to improve the experience for visitors. The Conservation Centre is to be relaunched later this year followed by a refurbished Sudley House in 2007. Other plans include a new Museum of Liverpool to replace the Museum of Liverpool Life, the development of an International Slavery Museum, improved access and displays at the Lady Lever Art Gallery and a new home for the HM Customs and Excise National Museum in the basement of the Maritime Museum with brand new displays.

Walker Art Gallery William Brown Street, Liverpool, admission FREE, open 10am to 5pm every day, information 0151 478 4199.  WEBSITE.

World Museum Liverpool William Brown Street, Liverpool. Admission FREE. Open 10am to 5pm every day. Information 0151 478 4393.  WEBSITE.

Lady Lever Art Gallery Port Sunlight Village, Wirral. Admission FREE. Open 10am to 5pm every day. Information 0151 478 4136. WEBSITE.

Merseyside Maritime Museum Albert Dock, Liverpool. Admission FREE. Open 10am to 5pm every day. Information 0151 478 4499.  WEBSITE.

Customs & Excise Museum inside Merseyside Maritime Museum, Albert Dock. Open 10am to 5pm every day. Admission FREE. WEBSITE. Information 0151 478 4499

YOU CAN’T BEAT BEATLE ART

INSIGHTS into the mind of the fifth Beatle go on display at a Knowsley museum next month.

Artwork created by Stuart Sutcliffe, the ill fated bass player who was one of the original members of the Beatles, will be available to view at the exclusive exhibition at Prescot Museum from May 5 to June 26.

One of John Lennon’s closest friends, Sutcliffe may only have been in the band for a year and a half but was a major influence on the Beatles’ development, particularly their distinctive look. He left the band to concentrate on his art studies but died on April 10, 1962, of a brain haemorrhage.

The exhibition of his work includes pieces reproduced as high quality prints on paper, steel, glass, canvas, banner material and kappa board. Five of the works on show can even be purchased as limited edition framed paper prints a must for Beatles collectors.

The exhibition offers a special insight into Stuart's particular and celebrated creativity with interesting supporting comments from his peers, teachers and fellow band members. The breadth of Stuart’s images and artistic expertise is highlighted through an exciting use of high-tech reproduction processes on different materials.

These exclusive Stuart Sutcliffe prints are usually permanently exhibited in St Helens at 5athegallery.

Prescot Museum is on Church Street, Prescot, Merseyside. It is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 1pm and 2 to 5pm, and on Sundays from 2 to 5pm, and Mondays by appointment (excluding bank holidays). Admission is free.

Body of release

CHILDREN'S charity MedEquip4Kids are organising a 46 mile bike ride between Manchester and Liverpool on 18 June 2006 and are looking for volunteers with pedal power to join them.

The route, which starts in Salford Quays leaving Manchester via Old Trafford, where it joins the Trans-Pennine Trail. This mostly traffic free route, ideal for cycling, takes you along part of the Manchester Ship Canal towards Liverpool and the Mersey, which you will reach by travelling down the famous Penny Lane.

MedEquip4Kids is a North West based Children’s Charity which is dedicated to helping children in and out of hospital. MedEquip4Kids aims to improve the health care of babies and children by providing equipment and facilities to aid their recovery. MedEquip4Kids works very closely with local hospitals and agencies across the region.

The fundraising event will be fully marshalled, with first aid and refreshments available on route.

If you would like to join MedEquip4Kids in this exciting bike ride,please call the Appeals office on 0161 798 1600 for a registration form or visit their  website.

Educational scholarships manufacture future leaders

A £115,000 educational scholarship fund has been launched by The Manufacturing Institute to create the elite industry leaders required to drive the North West’s future manufacturing economy.

The funding will help companies to develop the ‘rising stars’ who will manage the agile and innovate manufacturing businesses of tomorrow.

The North West based charity, which is dedicated to the advancement of manufacturing excellence, is awarding scholarships on its Diploma in Manufacturing and MSc in Manufacturing Leadership. Both are results-led, nationally recognised programmes, developed by manufacturers and delivered in partnership with the UK’s top universities.

"UK industry urgently needs to seek competitive advantage through knowledge and people. If businesses are to compete against the 50 cent an hour workforce of China and productive powerhouses of the US and other parts of Europe, they need to differentiate themselves as smart and nimble operators, driven by highly skilled innovators who are able to provide niche, value-added products with higher profit margins." said Dr Julie Madigan, chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute.

The Manufacturing Institute’s new part time MSc in Manufacturing Leadership, which is delivered in partnership with the six-star Lancaster University Management School centres on the resolution of complex manufacturing and business challenges. It combines practical know-how and academic insight to equip manufacturers with the expertise necessary to champion enterprise and growth.

Since 1996, more than 250 manufacturers have pursued the Diploma in Manufacturing programme, applying learning to their factories to achieve hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of productivity improvements.

Senior industrialists from leading manufacturing companies, including Hewlett Packard, Jaguar and Unilever, work alongside some of the UK’s foremost university academics to deliver the part-time Diploma.

Both educational programmes have been specially formulated to minimise workplace disruption, with the MSc based mainly around interactive e-learning.