Pop Up Shop at Maidstone Museum
The MMF shop opened again in May.
In 2019, together with the Museum, Friends gained the use of a substantial shop in Fremlins Walk Precinct – at no cost. The shop had been vacant for some months and agreement was reached with the precinct management company for MMF/Museum to use the premises under a short term lease, providing no commercial use is secured . No rent is charged, MMF receive a significant rate relief, and the company pay the residue.
Clearly, the shop had to close during the Covid 19 first lock down period, but when retail premises reopened in early September 2020 MMF took on the premises, but then it had to close again in November. But, it is now open again. It is there to sell artwork by Kentish artist, Geoffrey Hall, to raise money for the Museum and raise its and MMF’s profile. The artwork is in the form of various sized prints, cards, table mats and coasters – we acquired this at no cost from the artist’s family. Part of the display has been recently developed to show historic photographs off the Town. They are there to ‘jog’ visitors’ memories of the town as it was.
The one year lease was extended on a rolling basis,
