The Box is reopening as Covid restrictions ease
PLYMOUTH’S new £47 million cultural attraction The Box reopens today – with more than 4,000 tickets already booked.
The Box, described as the UK’s “most significant cultural development of 2020”, has already welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, even though it opened in the middle of the global coronavirus pandemic and had to close during three national lockdowns.
It will reopen to school parties today and to the general public tomorrow, with bookings to view the exhibits described as “steady”.
There are restrictions in place, however, and a spokesperson said: “Like other visitor attractions across the country, the safety measures and pre-booking that we put in place last year will remain until the Government confirms the end of social distancing.”
The Box has a number of safety and social distancing measures in place to help visitors feel as comfortable as possible. These include an easy-to-follow booking system for all visitors via its website, www.theboxplymouth.com; reduced capacity and clearly marked one-way systems throughout its buildings; increased invigilation by staff and volunteers at key points throughout its buildings; hand-sanitising facilities; enhanced cleaning and waste disposal.
A spokesperson for the venue said: “The Box is very popular with schools and the schools programme is currently fully booked until the end of the summer term, with the first school group attending on Monday.
“From now until schools break up, there will be four schools and one nursery group attending The Box each week, with 20 different workshops all relating to the curriculum on offer.
“The Box will be reopening to the public on Tuesday, May 18. Booking numbers have been very steady, with over 4,000 tickets already booked.”
The Box is partly new-build and partly refurbished inside the old Grade II listed museum and library in North Hill, and in a former church behind it. It contains astounding displays and visiting art works, and the “unique archive in the sky” where Plymouth’s most valuable and important cultural and historic artefacts are stored. The project has transformed three historic city-centre buildings, augmenting them with an “ambitious contemporary extension” and a new public square.
The overall development contains eight galleries, seven exhibition spaces, six national collections, and two million artefacts, archives, films and photographs spread over the three buildings.
The St Luke’s Chapel former church, in Tavistock Place opposite The Box, was built in the 1820s but has been converted into a temperature and light-controlled art gallery, which will host displays of national importance.
In February this year, The Box began searching for a new boss after the man who steered it though from concept to opening decided to step down.
Paul Brookes had been interim chief executive since 2014, but his role was always intended to end once the attraction opened. Plymouth City Council, which owns the museum and art gallery, is looking for a permanent replacement.