After the fantastic success of the free blues festival here at the Museum of East Anglian Life during Stowmarket festival 2011, we’re happy to announce that StowBlues will be making another appearance on the 2nd June 2pm-10pm. Organiser of StowBlues Mike Rushmore, himself lead singer and percussionist of Back Porch, has pulled together another fantastic lineup. Click on the bandnames to find out more about the great acts that will be performing this year.

2.00pm Jamie Williams & the Roots Collective
3.00pm Second Hand Blues
4.00pm Electra
5.00pm Absolution
6.15pm Back Porch
7.30pm Blues Situation
8.45pm Saiichi Sugiyama Band

We’ll have a well stocked real ale bar on the day, and onsite cafe The Osier will be providing food and other refreshments throughout the day. For any enquiries contact us on 01449 612229 or at enquiries@eastanglianlife.org.uk

Check out pictures of last years Blues Festival on our Blues Festival Gallery page here

Visit the StowBlues website at www.stowblues.co.uk

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Art In Mind stowmarket PDF 2012

For further details or to book a place visit the Inside Out Community Arts in Mental Health website or email juliet@insideoutcommunity.com 07847 894602

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The house and our opening weekend was recently reported on by the East Anglian Daily Times, including a video with our Director Tony Butler which you can watch on the East Anglian’s website EADT

Abbot’s Hall will be open year round from this weekend onwards. For more details contact the museum on 01449 612229 or via our contact us page.

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For more information, contact the Museum on enquries@eastanglianlife.org.uk or 01449 612229

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Museum Activist

Organisation: Museum of East Anglian Life

Salary: £27,000

Location East of England

Closing: Date 30 April 2012

Supporting Document

Museum Activist

The Museum of East Anglian Life (MEAL) situated in 80 acres of beautiful Suffolk countryside, 5 minutes from Stowmarket town centre. It was one of the first museums in the UK to describe itself as a Social Enterprise and has developed a range of innovative learning programmes with volunteers, offenders, learning disabled adults, mental health service users and Travellers

In June it will open the newly developed Abbot’s Hall providing new  permanent and temporary exhibition galleries exploring the idea of home and belonging in East Anglia

To deepen engagement with the people of the region, MEAL needs additional capacity in the areas of research and community activism. We’re seeking someone to help the museum connect with people and the issues which impact their lives (especially in rural areas where there is isolation and a lack of real and virtual connectivity).

We’re looking for someone with a good knowledge of museums but who is also prepared to  develop relationships a range of civil society groups. We want someone who is alert to contemporary issues and is able to promote debate and conversations around them

This post is funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation’s  Our Museum programme.

For an application pack and more details email enquiries@eastanglianlife.org.uk

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We’ll have lots going on to keep all the family amused this easter, with an Easter egg hunt and lots of art activities and games on Sunday 8th April. Our newly refurbished Activities Room will be open and bustling with Easter fun. Try your hand at the Egg Shy or see if you can beat your family at an egg and spoon race. Have a go at designing an Easter egg and solve the Easter Hunt clues to claim your eggy prize!

Families can also get back to nature. This Easter people of all ages can plant a seed for spring at our seed workshop. The nature trail will also be open – keep an eye out for White Egrets, Herons, Ducks and, if you are very lucky, Otters.

Food and refreshments are available in our on-site cafe The Osier or you are welcome to bring a picnic to eat enjoying the wonderful views across the museum’s 80 acre site.

Enquiries to:     enquiries@eastanglianlife.org.uk  or Tel: 01449 612229

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The military advisor for programmes such as ‘Downton Abbey,’ ‘All the King’s Men’, and stage productions of Michael Morpurgo’s ‘War Horse’, Taff also has trenches outside of Ipswich which have been used in numerous programmes and movies, as well as a number of documentaries. Known for his attention to detail and accuracy, Taff Gillingham is a sought out expert in his field, and we’re lucky enough to welcome his talk on Remembrance, ‘The Great War, A Very British View.’

Held at the Museum of East Anglian Life, tickets are just £7.50 and include a cheese and wine supper. All funds raised will go to the Museum.

Tickets are available to purchase from Stowmarket Tourist Information, 01449 676800

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The Museum of East Anglian Life opens for the 2012 season with its annual free Stowmarket day on the 25^th March, with a special 25% discount on all Season Tickets.

With Historic traction engines in steam, family activities and demonstrations of 19^th Century printing, Stowmarket day provides the perfect opportunity for locals to see the Museum come alive and check out what’s new around the Museum.

This year will be very special one in the life of the Museum as it finally sees the opening of Abbots Hall just a few short weeks after Open Day. The £3m restoration project of the beautiful Queen Anne House, Abbots Hall, has seen the creation of a 9 room exhibition centre, a working walled garden and the restoration of two derelict workers cottages giving a snapshot into the home life of a rural worker. Museum Director Tony Butler says “this is probably the Museum’s most important development for 30 years. Displays in the Hall will explore the ideas of home and belonging in East Anglia. We’ll also have a new temporary exhibition programme which will host a series of new displays kicking off with Simon Costin’s Museum of British Folklore.

“The Abbot’s Hall really raises the standard of all our other activities around the museum. We’ve also re-equipped facilities for schools and we also plan to have more people demonstrating crafts on site and more activities for families.

“A season ticket enables unlimted access to the site during opening hours for a whole year, a £25 for an adult and £55 for a family we think this offers great value, especially if you take advantage of the 25% discount period at the end of March.  There has never been a better time to be a Season Ticket holder.”

The Museum will also hold its popular events programme. After the success of last year’s Blues Festival, we will once again be playing host to this fantastic live music event, complete with a Real Ale bar, as well as our ever popular Easter Fun Day, Beer Festival, Traditional Music Day, Bonfire Night and a range of family and children’s activities throughout the year.

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For just £60 a family can sponsor a tree and take part in MEAL’s family planting day. The museum will also welcome back all our sponsors for a family fruit picking day annually, where they can take away the offerings from the sponsored tree! Sponsors will have a family name plaque displayed with their tree in the Victorian Walled garden.

Paul Palmer who is co-ordinating the development of the Walled Garden said “SPONSOR A FRUIT TREE’ is a great opportunity for local families to participate in the creation of the new garden at the Museum. It could be a gift to a family member,or a project that the kids can see grow over the years.  Your name will be preserved within our beautiful gardens for years to come.

“We have a range of trees on offer, from apple trees to pear trees (Espalier) to soft fruit trees such as apricot, nectarines and peaches (Fan). We only have limited numbers of each so sponsor a tree today and guarantee your place in the history of Abbot’s Hall.”

The Museum of East Anglian Life is open in 2012 from 25 March Mon-Sat 10-5, Sun 11-5

For more details Tel: 01449 612229

Website: www.eastanglianlife.org.uk

Email: enquiries@eastanglianlife.org.uk entitling your e-mail Sponsor a fruit tree

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Become a Season ticket holder in 2012

We’re getting ready to open for a very exciting 2012 season here at the Museum of East Anglian Life. Be a part of all the action with one of our great value season tickets!

Why should you become a MEAL Season ticket holder…

Our season ticket is cheaper than….

A gym membership… You can get fit in the fresh air walking round our nature trail with the whole family.

1 trip to a theme park would buy you 3 family season tickets – that’s enough for 15 people to visit as many times as they liked for a whole year!

And you get access to all of these great family activities

Easter Fun Day… Easter egg hunt, easter games and more!

Victorian Fun and Games

A safe place to run off some steam

Mud, Bugs and Baking…summer holidays at the museum

Early Years Storytime

New Family activities every year

October Family Film showings in the Barn

Animals to visit

Family Fun together

Great value for money

We offer a range of season tickets to fit every individual or family. As a MEAL season ticket holder, you’ll have unlimited in season access to all of our site and historic buildings for the entire 2012 season. You’ll have access 7 days a week during the season to our beautiful 75 acre site, including nature trail, meaning we’re the perfect place for walks. With animals, play areas and educational activities, we provide a safe environment for children to play and learn.

Prices for this year are as follows

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