Friends of the Museums

Both Colchester and Ipswich Museums are supported by active ‘Friends’ organisations. They offer valuable advocacy for the service and regularly provide funding to support museum activities. This ranges from the purchase of items for the museum collections to conservation work.

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The Friends of Colchester Museums

The Friends of Colchester Museums were founded in 1949. Their 1200 strong membership currently support the work of the Museum Service, assisting financially with our acquisitions programme and exhibitions, as well as encouraging interest and appreciation for the buildings and collections.

Most recently, FOCM (Registered Charity 310669) have facilitated the display of Turner’s ‘Walton Bridges’ at Colchester Castle, with a generous donation towards the cost of exhibiting the masterpiece. The Friends also helped to acquire at auction a ceremonial trowel that was presented to the Duke of Cambridge in 1898 to celebrate the start of building work on Colchester Town Hall.

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The Friends of the Ipswich Museums

In recent years The Friends of the Ipswich Museums’ Individual, Corporate, Family Members and Acquisition Angels have pledged and donated over £80,000 through donations and fees to support the Museums’ various exhibition, conservation and acquisition programmes. Members enjoy newsletters, many special events and concessions as well as invitations to private views.

The FoIM (Registered Charity 1184000), which won a Government Award for the much lauded 2019 Women 100 exhibition, exists to promote and support the wider knowledge, appreciation and enjoyment of the wonderful art collections housed in Ipswich Museum’s three sites. “We look forward to promote the past.”

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Venues

Colchester Museums

With a unique mix of fascinating displays, the latest technology and hands-on activities, there is lots for your family to explore and discover across Colchester Museums’ three sites.

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Ipswich Museums

Covering thousands of years of both human and natural history, there is so much for families to discover across Ipswich Museums’ three venues.