Annual Review
Welcome to our 2024-25 Annual Review
We are delighted to have welcomed so many of you to the museum during another busy and successful year. More than 50,000 people visited us, and we have been heartened by the positive feedback received from our visitors.
Our headline exhibitions have been particularly well received. Dinosaurs: Hungry Hatchlings attracted dinosaur enthusiasts of all ages and quickly became our second most successful temporary exhibition to date. I Grew Up 80s brought a wave of nostalgia and sparked conversations about childhood memories. Younger visitors especially enjoyed learning about the toys, fashion and music of their parents' generation.
In our community gallery, we worked with Chichester Pride to create an exhibition celebrating the lives and stories of LGBTQ+ individuals in the Chichester District. Out & Proud in Chichester highlights local, national and international LGBTQ+ history, with a special focus on the lived experiences of people in our community. Featuring personal stories, objects and archival material, the exhibition marks an important step in amplifying voices that have often been overlooked or erased. It also celebrates the journey of Chichester Pride, who have championed local LGBTQ+ advocacy and visibility since 2018.
We were pleased to make two important additions to the museum's archaeology collection this year through the Treasure Act 1996 process, supported by grant funding and the generosity of our supporters. The first was a first-century AD Roman gold cuff bracelet discovered near Pagham. The second, an extremely rare Saxon pyramidal sword mount dating from AD 600-700, was found near Stopham. To secure this extraordinary piece, the museum ran its first ever crowdfunding campaign, raising over £9,000 in just three weeks thanks to the incredible support of 167 donors. The mount will go on display in winter 2025.
Throughout the year, we have also been working on our Arts Council England supported project to unlock the advertising archive of Shippam's. This exciting initiative explores how family and community helped shape one of the best-loved brands of the 20th century. Through digitisation, oral histories, a public engagement programme and a headline exhibition, we are uncovering fascinating stories, memories, artefacts and records. We look forward to sharing these with you when the exhibition opens in July 2025.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us this year. We are proud of all that has been achieved and look forward to what the year ahead will bring.
If you would like an accessible version of our Annual Review, please contact us by email: thenovium@chichester.gov.uk or telephone: 01243 775888 (option 1)
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