Jersey Heritage prepared for new season

James Qualtrough | March 30, 2012 | 0 Comments

The long months of winter are finally over and with spring comes the launch of the Jersey Heritage 2012 season.

New exhibitions as well as many regular attractions are ready to help Islanders and visitors alike enjoy heritage sites and interpret the Island’s rich cultural past in modern and engaging ways.

Some of the highlights include:

The Past Unravels in the Victorian House at 16 Pier Road – a visually stimulating interpretation of family life in St Helier told through an intriguing use of fabrics and poetry;

The Death of Major Peirson – an historic moment as this iconic painting by John Singleton Copley of the Battle of Jersey in 1781 arrives in the Island for the first time to form the centrepiece of an exhibition telling the story of the people behind this famous event;

The Queen – to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee this evocative display of photographs by artist Chris Levine will form a fitting and thought provoking tribute to Her Majesty as she enters her 61st year as Monarch;

Occupied, Behind Barbed Wire – a rare collection of items that tell the story of internment during World War II, crafted by the hands of deported Islanders who foraged for any materials they could get hold of and recycled them into artwork and artifacts.

As well as these remarkable exhibitions and events, Jersey Heritage will once again be organizing regular features that enable people to create their own stories using historic sites and venues as a backdrop. Discovery Days, member-events, seasonal festivities such as the Fete de Dolmens and Faisie d’Cidre will all be taking place to create many months of activities and opportunities to enjoy what makes the Island special and interesting.

To support the season a new visitor guide with fold out year planner has been produced while, for younger time travelers, the popular Scrapbook has been updated and expanded and once again there will be a full programme of Living History activity to bring the past to life.

Jersey Heritage Director Jonathan Carter said: ‘The team has worked extremely hard to create a season that is at once engaging and educational. It is important for us to maintain Islanders’ interest in our heritage and to provide a valuable attraction for the visitor market, so we are constantly striving to enable people to interpret and re-interpret the past in new ways. I believe this season’s exhibitions and events will deliver an amazing experience for those who go to the Island’s key heritage sites and who visit Jersey Museum and the Maritime Museum.’

The Jersey Heritage season begins on Saturday 31st March and full guides are available from Jersey Museum at the Weighbridge. There is also information available online at www.jerseyheritage.org