District Dispatch - 16 April 2024

'Dinosaurs: Hungry Hatchlings' showcases how even the largest dinosaurs started life as eggs and tiny hatchlings. It will open on Saturday 11 May and run until Saturday 9 November 2024.

Visitors can discover the secrets of dinosaur eggs and babies with amazing dinosaur specimens from around the world. The exhibition will follow iconic dinosaurs such as the Tyrannosaurus rex, Triceratops, and Diplodocus on their perilous journey from egg to adult. Skeletons, authentic models, and stunning artworks will bring the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods to life.

The exhibition will also showcase dinosaur fossils from the local area including Iguanodon and Horshamosaurus kindly loaned from Brighton and Hove Museums and Horsham Museum. Tickets cost £5 for adults, £3 for children or £14 for a family of up to 5.

To coincide with the exhibition, the museum will be offering a new workshop, 'Hungry Hatchlings', and a dinosaur loan box for schools. This workshop will explore the life cycle and habitats of dinosaurs and delve into how their skeletons helped them survive and move in their natural habitats. The workshop will take place in the 'Dinosaurs' gallery, giving children the chance to see the skeletons and models up close whilst their imaginations will transform them into mini dinosaurs!

The loan box will include a selection of real and replica fossils, looking at animals and habitats during the dinosaur age, as well as the role of a palaeontologist. For more information, visit The Novium Museum's 'schools' page (opens new window) or email: noviumlearning@chichester.gov.uk

The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of activities, including a very exciting VIP (Very Important Palaeontologists) opening event. As well as the opportunity to be one of the very first visitors to the exhibition, budding palaeontologists can take part in craft activities and get up close and watch a dinosaur show with realistic baby and adult dinosaurs! Tickets for the launch event start from £18 per child.

This exhibition will replace the popular Star Wars-themed 'May The Toys Be With You', which closes on Saturday, 20 April 2024. This has been a really popular exhibition, so it is definitely worth popping into the museum to see this before it closes.

Chichester Roman Week will also be returning this May half-term from Monday 27 May - Saturday 1 June with exciting events across the district and beyond. This will include a 'Romans at the museum' day, which will take place on Wednesday 29 May when Legio Secunda Augusta, one of Europe's leading Roman re-enactment groups will be taking over The Novium Museum, offering a series of interactive talks and demonstrations throughout the day between 10am and 4pm. For booking information and more information on Roman Week, please visit The Novium Museum's 'Roman Week' page (opens new window) or call 01243 816525.

I'm also pleased to tell you that the museum has also upgraded its lighting to help reduce its carbon footprint thanks to a £4,000 grant from South East Museum Development.

In 2022, the museum was audited to look at possible carbon reduction methods, with LED light installation identified as the most beneficial, impactful and feasible.

The 'Going Green' grant has allowed over a third of the museum's lighting to be upgraded, focusing on areas where lights are used most frequently and in closest proximity to museum collections, which will significantly reduce the museum's energy consumption and help to safeguard the collection.

Sustainability is one of The Novium Museum's core values. We are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and making our building and activities more environmentally sustainable. This is a great step in the right direction, reducing our energy consumption and making a considerable financial saving each year.

To find out more about the museum and the other exhibitions it is running, please visit The Novium Museum's website (opens new window).

Best Wishes

Cllr Jess Brown-Fuller

Cabinet Member for Culture and Events at Chichester District Council