A brand new Storytelling Zone is opening at People’s History Museum (PHM), creating an exciting Family Friendly experience within the galleries of the national museum of democracy. Launching on Wednesday 10 June to coincide with Manchester’s Festival of Libraries, the dedicated space will invite young visitors to discover stories, spark their imaginations, and explore the power of storytelling through play.
The Storytelling Zone offers a welcoming place for families to relax, play together and have fun during their visit to PHM. Like the galleries, entry is free and no booking is required.
At the heart of every campaign for change is a person with an important story to tell. In the Storytelling Zone, children can ignite their own storytelling superpower by taking part in a range of activities. A spin of the story generator is the starting point for a new adventure, while the emotions mirror encourages children to think about how characters feel. Toys, play figures and interactive elements help to bring these story ideas to life.
The bookshelves are filled with stories that celebrate the themes of the museum, featuring diverse voices and showing how words, ideas and imagination can inspire change. Comfortable seating, cushions and rugs create a space to take time out, read together and let imaginations wander.
All the colourful artworks in the space, which is designed for under 10s, are by artist and illustrator Sam Selley. The transformation of this area of the gallery into the Storytelling Zone has been made possible thanks to a Museum Renewal grant from Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), enabling some exciting new editions to be made to the visitor experience at People’s History Museum.
The Storytelling Zone is the perfect place to visit during the Festival of Libraries, taking place from Wednesday 10 June to Sunday 14 June. The award-winning festival features a programme of events celebrating reading, wellbeing and creativity across 133 of Greater Manchester’s libraries, plus literary-loving venues such as PHM.
People’s History Museum’s opening hours are 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays. Gather café is open 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays and there is a picnic area for those bringing their own food. PHM has a Changing Places toilet and lifts to its galleries. Museum entry is free, with most visitors donating £10.
For further information about PHM, its latest programme of events and visiting the museum visit phm.org.uk, and you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to receive PHM’s e-newsletter.
ENDS
For further information about PHM, to arrange a visit or interview please contact Fido PR:
laura.sullivan@fidopr.co.uk / clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
About People’s History Museum
People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the UK’s national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. Through an eclectic and colourful mix of historic and contemporary collections, featuring banners, badges, posters, photography and more, the museum celebrates the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for.
Offering an engaging programme of exhibitions and events, collaborating with communities to create authentic content, the museum is Family Friendly throughout – inspiring the next generation to be active citizens.
People’s History Museum encourages visitors to be empowered by the past to make a change for the future. We are all together in the fight for a fairer world.
About Arts Council England (ACE)
PHM is an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The work of PHM is supported using public funding by ACE, the national development agency for creativity and culture. ACE have set out their strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 they want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 they will invest over £467 million of public money from government and an estimated £250 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.
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