Turner prints, a book launch and local gifts are among the many Malmesbury offerings on Museum Shop Sunday

The Athelstan Museum will be opening its shop on Sunday November 27 as part of an international event to promote and highlight the vital role that retail plays in helping arts, cultural and heritage venues to survive and thrive.

Museum Shop Sunday takes place every November. This year’s event will involve more than 1,800 visitor attractions worldwide celebrating the shops that help them thrive and, in some cases, survive. Often the sales from those shops are reinvested back into the venue. 

Each attraction will have its own special events and attractions, with the ultimate aim of:

• Grow awareness of their shop and products
• Reaching new audiences and driving sales
• Involving and engaging their teams and the local community.

Athelstan Museum has been participating in the event for a number of years. 

Sharon Nolan, one of the trustees at the Athelstan Museum said: “It is important to be part of this event because our museum shop enhances our visitor experience and provides a range of items for visitors to buy as presents or souvenirs. 

“We buy from local artists and suppliers wherever possible. There is a small team of volunteers who run the shop very professionally. All profits support the museum which offers free entry and relies on donations, events and the Museum shop for its income. We offer the best Malmesbury-focused products in our town.”

The shop will be open on the day from 11.30am to 3.30pm and will feature a number of special events, including:

• A new edition of the popular book, The Fascination of Lace by Alison Lewis will be launched. The book tells the fascinating story of Malmesbury Lace and Alison will be available on the day to sign copies.
• Chas Gould will be signing his new book, The Same Tree, which features three time periods, one of which is set in Malmesbury. 
• Framed Turner prints, featuring the artist's watercolour of the town’s Abbey, which is on display in the museum, will be available on the day, priced at £17. A book about Turner’s watercolour will also be available as well as shopping bags featuring the Turner image and some calendars depicting other Turner paintings. 
• A full selection of local artists’ cards, local history books by local authors and plenty of Christmas gift ideas for adults and children will also be on sale.

The museum acquired the Malmesbury Abbey Turner thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Art Fund and local Wiltshire donors. It has pride of place on the mezzanine level of the museum. To find out more about the shop at Athelstan Museum, visit https://www.athelstanmuseum.org.uk/visit/shop/

You can follow Museum Shop Sunday on social media, #MuseumShopSunday