Open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm.

CANCELLED: Relaxed Opening – Autism Awareness

In the light of Government advice on 16 March 2020 to “stop non-essential contact with others” and to “Avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and other such social venues” to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Corvid-19, the decision has been taken to CANCEL this event. Dates will be rearranged in due course.

We welcome children and adults on the autism spectrum at all times at Wiltshire Museum. However, we also understand that there can be challenges for people on the spectrum when visiting public spaces and that they and their families can experience judgement and misunderstanding.

Our Relaxed opening times are a designated period of time when we pro-actively welcome neurodiversity by doing a few things to give people the confidence to visit us and expect understanding when you do.

What can you expect during relaxed opening hours:

Visual Story – this is always available on our website but this document, based around photographs of the museum, can help people prepare for your visit. Copies will also be available at Reception:

Visual Story – WORD Document
Visual Story – PDF

Quiet Space – Our Lecture Hall on the first floor (accessible be stairs or lift) will be available as a quiet space for anyone who needs to take some time out, there will be some quiet paper-based activities in the room and a copy of our visual story

Times – We try to pick times when the Museum is usually fairly quiet. We can’t control when groups choose to visit us but our museum galleries are generally a quiet and calm spaces

Volunteers – the volunteers on our reception desk (and in our galleries at certain times of the year) are always available to tell you more about the Museum or help you find your way. During relaxed hours they will be wearing an ‘I Can Help’ badge to make it clear that they are there to be approached if you have a question

Interactives – all our videos and our touch table will be on during relaxed hours but we will be turned down to a low volume.

Touch and senses – there are lots of opportunities to touch objects and do some hands on activities in our galleries. All of these sensory opportunities are labelled and they are outlined in our visual story.

Trails – There is a children’s trail available from Reception that can help focus a visit to the Museum by enabling young people to work towards something as they move through the gallery. There is a 50p charge of the trail.

Maps – maps of the spaces in the Museum are hand out at reception on arrival

Lanyard – for those who find unsolicited social interaction really difficult you can pick up a green lanyard from reception when you arrive, If you are wearing a lanyard, our staff won’t approach you to talk to unless you ask a question

Pre-booking – not required. However, please do email hello@wiltshiremuseum.org.uk if you would like to advise us of your visit.

Cost: Usual Museum charges apply, children under-16 are free (concessions available for groups, carers and registered disabled)

Dates and Times (last Thursday or Sunday in alternate months):
Sunday 29 March: noon to 4pm
Thursday 30 April: 2pm – 4pm
Sunday 31 May: noon to 4pm

Wiltshire Museum

More information about travelling to the museum – see this page

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