Speaking to Lusa, the director of the equipment claimed that these figures represent the evolution of “a dream that began 20 years ago,” when, in 1995, Headgear Industrial Company closed its activity and the local authority began the process of preservation the respective assets, with a view to adapting the factory museum headquarters.
“What has been achieved in these 10 years – or in the 20, if you like – was the consolidation of a different museum, which already has its little place in the panorama of national museology,” says Suzana Menezes.
“This is due to the fact that we present the story of the hat in all its dimensions, which means that the museum object goes far beyond the production process of the headgear and the old factory itself,” he explains. “It gives also know the lives of people who have worked in this industry and often these accounts are counted still in the first person, what more excites the public, causing you both tears and laughter and even some shock when the stories are those they deserved red dot, “he adds.
For Suzana Menezes, the success of the museum is also reflected in the “pride” that motivates the community of S. João da Madeira, in the “scientific credibility” that it is recognized by peers and “public diversity” attracted to the site by a programming that, in addition to the museum’s exhibits, also includes conferences, workshops, concerts, theater, craft bazaars, green markets, etc.
The pricing policy adopted by the institution will also be a stimulus to demand, to the extent that citizens resident in the city continue to have free access to the museum and normal adult ticket still only costs 1.5 euros. “It could have upgraded these values, but we felt that the Portuguese did not need more bad news,” quips the director of the museum.
“The truth is that our cultural programming is self-sustaining, the prices of access to cover their costs,” he adds. “For the rest, we have the protection of the City Council, which is very motivated to cultural issues and encourages us to move forward with all projects that idealized. We really lucky in this aspect”, emphasizes.
Of the more than 210,000 visitors to the Museum of Millinery received between June 2005 and May 2015, 58,000 have moved to the place in schools and 46,000 individually.
Foreign visitors were about 2,700, mostly integrated into business delegations or autonomous trips from the Port. In the first five years of operation the house, when all access was still free, “some were almost offended for not paying ticket not being able to leave a contribution, as is done now in British museums,” says Suzana Menezes.
As the estate of the house, to the thousands of parts that made possible the opening to the public in 2005 were added however more 19,000 items, including 15,000 documents, 2,054 hats, 1,800 technical parts such as machinery, tools and laboratory equipment, 170 raw materials and 68 garments and fashion accessories.
Donations left 130 collectors, each of which offered the museum between one and more than 120 articles.
In its first decade, this equipment also hosted 87 temporary exhibitions, the last of which opened Saturday, with about 150 hats of the 50s and 60, selected from the 600 that the National Costume Museum has entrusted the care of his counterpart S. João da Madeira.
The exhibition remains open until September 27, but, by way of exception, today and on Monday the entrance is free.
tags: Headgear, CAA,
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