Collections and Exhibitions
The aim of the museum is to record, preserve, display and interpret the history heritage of the Craigavon area. In the past the museum service has collected, for example, photographic material, objects associated with the linen industry, objects illustrating the canal systems and local waterways, objects illustrating industries and life around the southern shore of Lough Neagh and material telling the story of the development of the new town of Craigavon.
Please note that it is not always possible for the museum to accept all offers of donations. Details of what the museum collects can be found in our Acquisition and Disposal Policy. Please ask the museum for details. Items are regularly offered to the museum and if you wish to donate an object to the museum please contact us on 028 38 341 635 or by email at
museum@craigavon.gov.uk
To meet our responsibility to care for these items to the best of our ability the museum is continually improving standards in collection care. Our staff ensure our artefacts are documented and stored correctly. The museum has also developed a handling collection for educational work with school children and community groups.
Exhibition Programme
An agricultural exhibition is display at the Barn Museum at Tannaghmore Gardens, Lurgan and an exhibition illustrating life on the Newry Canal is displayed at Moneypenny’s Lockhouse, approximately 3 miles south of Portadown.
A temporary exhibition programme is in place throughout the year at Waterside House with an exhibition in the Enterprize barge telling the story of the barge and its use on the Lagan Canal and Lough Neagh.
Learning Programmes and Outreach
The museum offers range of formal and informal learning programmes for all ages.
For schools we can offer outreach in the classroom or facilitate visits to our museums. Our sessions can be tailored to complement the World Around Us curriculum in particular.
Handling boxes are available to loan for use in schools or by community groups. These are based on a range of themes including the victorians, how homes have changed over the years, wartime, mystery objects, toys and games, school and childhood.
The museum also provide talks on a range of topics including the history of Lough Neagh, local industries, local towns and villages and talks on the museum collections. Talks can be held in the museum or a member of staff will be happy to visit a group in their own venue if requested.
If you would like to arrange a talk or borrow handling items on a theme not mentioned above, please ask the museum as we can adapt many of our existing services to suit your group’s needs. There is a charge for some of the services offered. Please contact the museum in advance for details.
Local History Projects
The museum can provide a range of material including books, journals, maps and photographs to assist with local history projects. If you are interested in researching local history, the museum would like to hear about your project.
Reminiscence Projects
The museum can provide loan boxes for reminiscence activities which are available free of charge from the museum. These can be booked in advance by contacting the museum. Loan boxes are collected and returned to the museum at Waterside House. The loan boxes are themed on the following topics and come with a folder of suggested activities - School and childhood, home life, 1940s, 1980s, Men at Work. Highdays and Holidays and In Style.
The loan boxes were set up through a project ‘Valuing Heritage by Valuing Memories’ in partnership with the Reminiscence Network Northern Ireland.
