Birmingham Museums is inviting visitors of all ages to step behind the scenes and discover one of the city’s best-kept secrets at the Museum Collection Centre open day on Saturday 19 April.

The open day provides members of the public with the opportunity to explore the incredible 1.5-hectare site - home to over 80% of Birmingham’s museum collections – all under one roof.

With only a small percentage of collections on display at Birmingham Museums, or on loan to other organisations, it is the only place to see collection items not normally on public display.

Among the hundreds of thousands of artefacts stored at the Museum Collection Centre, visitors can expect to encounter everything from steam engines and sculptures to giant spider crabs and even a kitchen sink.

From 10am to 4pm, the Museum Collection Centre will be transformed into a hub of family-friendly fun, with a packed programme of activities designed to bring the museum’s vast and varied collection to life.

Visitors can enjoy free guided talks, hands-on activities, interactive Museum in a Box displays, family trails, and live jazz music performed throughout the day by talented musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire.

Alex Chalkley, collections access officer at the Museum Collection Centre, said:

“The Museum Collection Centre is unlike anywhere else in the city – it’s where we care for and store the vast majority of Birmingham’s museum collections.
“Open days like this are a fantastic chance for the public to explore objects that are rarely on display and to meet the passionate people who care for them. It’s a day full of discovery, and we’re really excited to welcome everyone.”

For more information and to book tickets, visit the Museum Collection Centre website.