The new Ulster Museum has welcomed 100,000 visitors in its first month since reopening - making it the busiest tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board said “The Ulster Museum has been a huge success since its re-opening and the number of visitors is evidence of the increased appetite for new and unique experiences in Northern Ireland. We are seeing more residents choosing to holiday at home this year and many of those people are taking advantage of the huge range of things to see and do on their doorsteps.  I am sure that with the impressive improvements at the Museum it can expect to welcome many more visitors from near and far.”

Tim Cooke, Director & Chief Executive of National Museums Northern Ireland which runs the Ulster Museum said many people who hadn’t been regular users of the Museum were now visiting to see what was on offer.

Mr Cooke said: “We are delighted that the new look Ulster Museum has been such a huge draw for people of all ages from across Northern Ireland and to visitors from around the world.  There has been a great response to our exhibitions and the new discovery areas which offer a real hands-on experience with our interactive displays.”

The Ulster Museum reopened on Thursday 22nd October following the completion of a major £17million landmark rejuvenation project.

Described as one of the most important cultural projects ever to be undertaken in Northern Ireland, the Ulster Museum’s refurbishment has resulted in a dramatic but sensitive transformation of the south Belfast building. The project, funded by the Department of Culture Arts & Leisure, the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as private donations, has literally raised the roof of Northern Ireland’s principal museum and visitors will now be welcomed into an impressive 23 metre high atrium area, leading to new History, Art and Nature Zones.

White walls, polished steel and glass interconnecting walkways and bright, airy spaces are just some of the new features of the Ulster Museum. A ‘Window on Our World’ gallery, scaling four levels, features iconic objects from across the museum’s collections and, from a variety of viewing points throughout the museum, gives visitors a sense of the scale and diversity of the museum’s collections. Using the latest technology, a series of stunning audio-visual shows will be projected onto the walls surrounding the tower on the hour, every hour, each time focussing on an object from the gallery and providing an insight into sights, sounds and history of various exhibits.

Tim Cooke, Director of National Museums Northern Ireland, says, “The Ulster Museum’s rejuvenation has been radical and deliberate, designed not just to improve and develop the building, galleries and visitor facilities but also to allow new ways of exploring the collections and engaging with learning while offering both space and activity for reflection and creativity.     

“We are delighted with the results and believe this project will make a substantial contribution to Northern Ireland’s cultural and tourism sectors. The new Discovery Zones will allow the Ulster Museum to play a greater role in learning for all ages. This is a flagship project of a world-class standard and we very much look forward to people enjoying the new-look Ulster Museum for themselves”, says Tim Cooke.

The new layout is divided into four levels and three zones: History, Art and Nature. The ground floor includes the Welcome area, the museum shop, a new lecture theatre, education suites, the Belfast Room (for community events), a multi-purpose room and a 150-seater restaurant overlooking Botanic Gardens. The restaurant will be a high quality operation managed by Armagh-based restaurant group, Stonebridge.

The History Zone
The history galleries are situated on the first floor and offer a fascinating journey through Irish history from prehistoric Ireland through to the present day. The History Zone includes an impressive Armada exhibition with a collection of 16th century jewellery recovered from the Spanish Armada galleas, Girona. Locally-discovered Stone Age axes made from porcellanite in the Early Peoples gallery. One of the many fascinating artefacts found in the ‘Plantation to Power Sharing’ gallery is St Patrick’s Regalia – a gold collar of seven roses joined by fourteen knots to six harps, once worn by the Earl of Shaftesbury.

The Nature Zone
An imposing Irish icon greets visitors on their arrival to the Nature Zone. A Giant Deer (often referred to as Irish Elk) skeleton and, beside it, the first reconstruction of the living animal ever to be displayed on the island of Ireland, provides a sense of what is to come in the exhibitions. The Nature Zone travels through numerous galleries exploring the Ice Age, Deep Time, Earth’s Treasures, Living World and the Sea Around Us, finishing with Fossils and Evolution. Full of fascinating objects, the Nature Zone includes a beautiful Emperor Penguin, brought back to Ireland in the 19th century by legendary explorer, Captain Francis Crozier. A 200 million year old fossil of ammonite shells and driftwood provides a wonderful snapshot of an ancient sea floor.

The Art Zone - the Opening Exhibition 
The Ulster Museum will headline its reopening with an exhibition by the most celebrated abstract artist of his generation, Sean Scully. The exhibition, entitled Constantinople or the Sensual Concealed: The Imagery of Sean Scully, will run from late October through to February 2010 in the museum’s top floor suite of nine adjoining art galleries. Sean Scully’s work is known throughout the world and Tim Cooke, Director National Museums Northern Ireland, said the Scully retrospective signalled the Ulster Museum’s ambitions to host landmark international shows and to establish Belfast as a leading venue for outstanding art exhibitions.*(A full press release regarding the exhibition is included in the press pack.)

The George and Angela Moore Applied Art Gallery
The George and Angela Moore Gallery of Applied Art is a treasure trove of intricacy and delicacy, housing the museum’s fine Belleek and jewellery collection. One of the many eye-catching pieces is the Belleek covered Urn Vase; adorned with daisies and forget-me-nots. Extremely rare, this decorative vase exemplifies the skill and patience of Irish craftsmen of yesteryear. Visitors can also take a peek into the dressing room of an 18th century lady and view the most complete silver gift toilet set remaining today.

A ‘Hands-On’ Museum
The Ulster Museum will place a major emphasis on engaging all ages with the Ulster Museum’s diverse collections. New education suites and ‘Discovery’ areas will provide opportunities to build a Stone Age tomb, work a sun dial, touch a real elephant skull, try on corsets and crinolines, be a forensic scientist and discover a whole new world under the microscope.  Discover Zones are located in the History, Art and Nature Zones.

Design and Build
The design team has been led by Hamilton Architects from Belfast while Patton Construction from County Antrim carried out the construction work. Specialists including gallery designers Haley Sharpe Design and gallery fit-out contractors Becks have brought great imagination and expertise to the gallery designs and exhibitions.

A Garden View
The new Ulster Museum experience begins outside with a redefinition of the relationship with Belfast’s fabulous Botanic Gardens. The piazza at the entrance offers views over magnificent specimen trees from around the world and a greater sense of the scale and magnificence of the building.