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April 2016

Great News!

Your first glimpse at artist's impressions of how the transformed Nottingham Castle might look!

There are also chances to come and see some more images and plans and ask us questions this weekend.

The proposals for the transformation of Nottingham Castle respond to the public feedback that has been loudest and most passionate - the desire for a memorable Robin Hood experience. 

Robin Hood Gallery The creation of this stunning gallery, accessed via the existing tunnel leading from the outer bailey, is one of the most exciting changes to the Ducal Palace. Visitors will step back in time, entering a medieval experience where they are invited to find the outlaw with the help of interactive audio-visual storytelling, being part of the legend by enjoying interactive games and experiences.

Interactive game - The Golden Arrow An opportunity for visitors to try their hand at virtual archery and to pit their skills against the Outlaw - Robin Hood.

First floor galleries - Lace Celebrating the Power of Art and Making in the history of Nottingham, these galleries showcase the pre-industrial Nottingham art forms of saltglaze stoneware and medieval alabasters; the galleries will tell the story of Nottingham’s most famous industry – lace, the manufacture of which inspired the foundation of Nottingham Art School and ultimately the opening of the Castle Museum & Art Gallery in 1878.

Visitor centre A new visitor centre will welcome people to the grounds, encouraging them to enter and explore, and helping to guide them around the site. The centre will include a new café.

Other features will include:

• A new Rebellion Gallery will also be created within the existing structure of the Palace, made possible by the removal of a mezzanine floor which currently divides the service wing into two small spaces. This gallery will explore four major periods of social unrest and rebellion in Nottingham, from the medieval period onwards. It will be evocative, emotionally charged and enable visitors to see how the themes of power, justice, and democracy repeatedly run through Nottingham’s history.
  
  
• The Castle’s Long Gallery will play host to the star objects from the museum’s treasured art collection, displaying paintings and 3D objects in a thoughtful and evocative way, alongside contemporary works inspired by the treasures themselves.
  
  
• Access to the caves within the Castle Rock will be extended and parts of the Castle grounds will be remodelled to reveal more of the medieval site and to re-establish spectacular views of the Castle across the city.  

A chance to see what the transformed Castle will look like Come and meet members of the team  over the weekend 16/17 April to chat about the proposals for the transformation. There will be the opportunity to talk to the architects and exhibition designers too. We will be in the Old Market Square on Saturday 16 April with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) architecture bus. The bus will be open from 10-4 so please come down to see all the latest developments and to let us have your thoughts. We will also be at Nottingham Castle for the BBC Radio Nottingham Big Day Out event (see below) on Sunday 17 April, again with the new designs. We will also be trialling some of the proposed activities and events that may take place at the Castle in the future, and looking for your feedback.

with family, friends and colleagues