June 2024

It’s open! More than 50 Friends of Maidstone Museums attended a reception and exclusive viewing of Lives in our Landscape, the exciting new gallery set to attract even more visitors to the County Town’s “jewel in the crown.” Hosted by Maidstone Museums’ Foundation (MMF), the event on June 5, 2024 gave Friends an opportunity for a close-up look at the £600,000 gallery. Generous donors and Friends contributed more than £100,000 in an MMF campaign.

Friends were impressed by the new gallery which had been formally opened the day before by actor Hugh Dennis, actor, landscape enthusiast and museum supporter. Several commented on its professional look, saying how it easily matched the best London museum standards. Others noted that it added to Maidstone’s  credentials as a great place to visit. The gallery features an array of archaeological and other finds from the Maidstone area over several millennia, all displayed in well-lit and interesting ways, with interactive displays appealing to visitors of all ages. Many objects have not been seen in public before. Earlier, Lyn Palmer, the Museum’s programming manager, and Samantha Harris, collections manager, told Friends about the gallery and what it aimed to achieve.