8 hours Ago
Following the end of the exhibition on Saturday, Creative Basildon, the team responsible for bringing the installation to the town, has revealed that almost 5,000 people visited during its short run. “The Museum of the Moon provided a unique opportunity for local residents to engage with art and culture, fostering community pride and participation,” said programme director at Creative Basildon, Rachel Brown. “The programme featured workshops and performances from local groups, showcasing Basildon’s diverse talent and enhancing the town’s cultural vibrancy.
“We had more than 4,750 visitors and we are overwhelmed with the response and community pride it has generated.” Over the course of the past three weeks, a range of workshops and activities took place beneath the breath-taking art installation. Rachel said: “The programme has been really successful, people have experienced it as an art piece, but they’ve also got to enjoy it through the various events we’ve held.
” Among the jam-packed schedule of events that have taken place at St Martin’s Church throughout February are puppet shows, storytelling sessions, yoga and even a lecture on Basildon’s history of witchcraft. Taking six months to create in 2016, the Museum of the Moon is typical of Luke Jerram’s other large, public installations and has previously been exhibited at the Natural History Museum and the Commonwealth Games. “You make a decision to bring this thing to the town, and don’t know how people will react.
“We’ve been blown away by the success, and momentum has built and has all built towards the closing weekend,” said Rachel, adding that she hopes the exhibition’s popularity has proved that Basildon is a place where there is the capacity and desire to hold world-class events such as the Museum of the Moon..
