NMB To Host Free Community Day On Feb 25
The National Museum of Bermuda [NMB] is set to host a free Community Day on February 25th.
A spokesperson said, “There will be food vendors, door prizes and a multitude of free activities for all ages for everyone to engage with the Museum and dive deeper into Bermuda history and culture. Sponsored by Butterfield, the Community Day is part of Free for February which gives all residents free admission to the Museum during the entire month of February, also sponsored by Butterfield.”
NMB Executive Director Elena Strong shared, “We want to put community at the centre of our National Museum. By removing the barrier of admission during Free for February and our Community Day, we hope everyone can engage with Bermuda’s history and culture, fostering a sense of belonging and collective heritage.”
The spokesperson said, “Community Day activities will run from 10am to 3pm and the Museum will be open for free for everyone [residents and visitors] all day, 9:30am to 5pm. Yoga teacher Lisa Wingood will teach a yoga-inspired breathing and movement class open to all ages and abilities. Local artists Jayde Gibbons and Graham Foster will hold short artist talks on their exhibits FAMILY [FAM, I Love You] and Hall of History, respectively, sharing their creative process and links to NMB’s programmes and work.
“Performer Rajai Denbrook will treat young audience members to some dynamic storytelling using two stories from Bermuda’s own folklore tradition, as researched and retold by Florenz Webbe Maxwell in the book The Spirit Baby and Other Bermudian Folktales. Jake Commandeur, art educator and Saltus teacher, will use NMB’s Bermuda Family Scrapbook project as inspiration for a communal clay sculpture experience about family and memory. Taking inspiration from the mobiles of Alexander Calder, Julio Le Parc, and Yuko Nishikawa, participants’ clay sculptures will be assembled into a large mobile for display at the Museum.
“Dr. Michael Bradshaw will be in Commissioner’s House sharing objects from the Princess Royal Union Lodge [P.R.U.] of Cobb’s Hill: a branch of the Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria, an egalitarian friendly society which empowered and supported Bermuda’s Black community for over a century. In 2022, The Trustees of P.R.U. of Cobb’s Hill, Warwick signed a Collections Management Agreement with NMB to ensure the preservation of the Lodge’s historic papers and other holdings for the benefit of residents and visitors to Bermuda.Dr. Bradshaw will share how the Good Samaritan’s lodges impacted social events from marriages to funerals and education of children and adults among other benefits to the community.
“Other activities include lunch time family-friendly music performance by local musician Rivah, cannon firings to mark the lunch hour, two Dolphin Quest demos, and a performance by the Warwick Gombeys which will close the Community Day with a festive air in the Keep Yard at 3pm.
“All day activities include games in the Keep Yard, family scavenger hunts [pick up in the NMB Ticket Office or Community Day welcome tables] a “Black History in Bermuda” digital tour on the app Smartify [free download on any smart phone] and Q&A with the NMB curatorial team, who will provide information on NMB projects like Bermuda Family Scrapbook and permanent and temporary Museum exhibits.
“Butterfield & Vallis are kindly providing free beverages and FourWays will have free beef and vegetarian chili stations in Commissioner’s House. Dockyard Brewing will be pouring free samples of their local craft beers in the Keep Yard and providing free coffee for those that arrive before 11am. Other vendors will be in the Keep Yard include Pacos Tacos, Ashley’s Lemonade and Winky Dinky Dogs with food and drinks for sale. It is recommended that you bring cash and card for purchases.
“Visit https://nmb.bm/communityday/ to see the full schedule of events, download scavenger hunts, and for more information.”
NMB Advancement Director Katie Bennett shared, “Thank you to our sponsor Butterfield and our supporters, vendors and activity leaders who will make our second annual Community Day a fun, family-friendly day. Last year, we welcomed over 1,100 people for our first Community Day and look forward to expanding this year to celebrate the Museum’s 50th anniversary. We hope you join us for this fun day at NMB!”.
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