This morning l was reunited with my favourite museum gift shop in a city full of such things.
Those lovely people at the Museum of East Asian Art – which you’ll find just above the Assembly Rooms and near The Circus – let me in ahead of tonight’s private preview, to see the transformation that has taken place since the place closed at the end of last season.
There’s been a major refurbishment – and that hits you as you walk in the door and into the colourful shop packed with a wide range of products inspired by the museum’s collections.
In 2024, this plucky little independent museum was awarded a £25,000 West of England Small Museum Grant, funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).
This has enabled them to refurbish the ground floor of the museum, enhancing the visitor experience with new flooring, redecorating, and improving signage throughout the space.
In addition to these physical improvements, the objects in the collection have been redisplayed, and the museum’s website has been refreshed to offer a more engaging and user-friendly experience.
The museum reopens to the public on April 1st.
The theme for 2025 is ‘Nature’, celebrating objects inspired by natural materials and wildlife. As part of the relaunch comes the opening of the new exhibition “In Bloom”.
From museum objects to contemporary art, discover how flowers have inspired generations of artists from East and Southeast Asia.
Visit https://meaa.org.uk/whats-on/ for more information.
This looks stunning ! Best tiny museum in UK. And easily the best shop in Bath! Such a wonderful range of gifts & cards.
Looking fwd to re-visiting after the museum re-opens next week.
And for your readers…. the museum also offers bookable Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremonies, which are very special indeed.