THE Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster is reopening its doors to the public on Tuesday, July 7, with free entry for all visitors. 

The Covid-19 enforced closure put a huge strain on the museum’s immediate financial security but after an overwhelmingly positive response to a crowdfunding page, and support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, final preparations are under way for a reopening.

To thank the local community for their support over the last few months, the Museum of Carpet will be offering free admission to Green Street for all visitors in July and August. Instead, there will be a donations box in the museum entrance.

In line with the Government’s advice the museum has put in place a series of new safety measures; the number of visitors permitted at one time will be limited, hand sanitiser stations have been installed and social distancing will be in place in all of the galleries.

Prior to reopening, the museum has undergone thorough cleaning on all surfaces, kindly organised by the National Carpet Cleaners Association whose offices are now based within the Museum of Carpet.

In accordance with these measures, for the first time the museum is offering its visitors the opportunity to book in advance with the new online booking system at museumofcarpet.org/book-here-2/

The museum has decided to postpone the planned summer exhibition Focus on Photographs. The exhibition was set to open last month and showcase 150 photographs from the museum archives to celebrate 150 years of the Kidderminster Shuttle newspaper.

The exhibition will now go on display in the summer 2021 and the galleries will exhibit highlights from previous exhibitions.