High-tech future for National Museum

A FIVE-year commitment by the Finnish government to restore and modernise the National Museum of Namibia is on the way to becoming a reality – earlier this month work started on renovations.

The agreement between the Finnish government and the National Museum was signed last year with the aim of eventually turning the Library and the Museum into a combined information and learning centre The existing two-story building between the Library and the Museum will be remodelled to become an open exhibition area connecting the two institutions – once the Archives and the Government Storage Rooms have been fully moved. The remodelled building will boast a new main entrance in the centre as well as a coffee shop and a museum shop.A new auditorium with the latest modern audio and info technology will be built at the back of the present library.The exhibition area of the old museum will grow from the present 700 sq. metres to a total of about 2 200 sq. metres after the renovations and expansion.The Museum will not close during construction and there will be temporary exhibitions as new space becomes available.The first such exhibition, which will focus on ‘Human Evolution’, is set to open within months and will eventually go on tour to all the museums across the country – thus benefiting the small museums.Once the remodelling of the Museum is complete, old exhibits will be destroyed and redone with the latest technology.All exhibits will be built in the Museum workshop where staff is being trained at present.The new museum will have a section dealing with Namibia’s natural environment in all its diversity, the reasons for its diversity, and, in the last section, cover conservation and changes in diversity.The remodelled museum is intended to be ‘exciting and fun’ as well as to incorporate modern exhibitions and the latest information and learning technology.The remodelled building will boast a new main entrance in the centre as well as a coffee shop and a museum shop. A new auditorium with the latest modern audio and info technology will be built at the back of the present library. The exhibition area of the old museum will grow from the present 700 sq. metres to a total of about 2 200 sq. metres after the renovations and expansion. The Museum will not close during construction and there will be temporary exhibitions as new space becomes available. The first such exhibition, which will focus on ‘Human Evolution’, is set to open within months and will eventually go on tour to all the museums across the country – thus benefiting the small museums. Once the remodelling of the Museum is complete, old exhibits will be destroyed and redone with the latest technology. All exhibits will be built in the Museum workshop where staff is being trained at present. The new museum will have a section dealing with Namibia’s natural environment in all its diversity, the reasons for its diversity, and, in the last section, cover conservation and changes in diversity. The remodelled museum is intended to be ‘exciting and fun’ as well as to incorporate modern exhibitions and the latest information and learning technology.