National Museum under renovationThursday, July 11, 2013 The National Museum is currently undergoing a two-week renovation for the first time since it was established in 1985. The Gambia National Museum has as its primary goal the collection and preservation of artifacts, documenting the material culture of The Gambia, for use as tourist attraction and as important aids to introducing the value of the heritage into information programmes for the local population and in the country's school syllabus. According to Hasoum Ceesay, director of Copy Rights at the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC), the building that houses the national museum has been in existence for over 100 years. He said that this is the first time the museum is undergoing a major renovation`and that it is being sponsored by Trust Bank Gambia Limited. Because of the renovation, Ceesay said visitors especially students are now redirected to Arch22 Museum, Banjul and all other museums at Fort Bullen, Juffureh, Wassu and Kerr Batch. Giving a brief background of the building, the Copy Rights director said it was earlier occupied and used by the parliament, British Council and National Library. During the olden days, he went on the place was Bathurst Club and it was strictly meant for only Europeans to dine, wine and relax after work hours and weekend. He commended Trust Bank for the ongoing renovation of the museum and described the bank as a strong supporter of the international heritage sites in The Gambia. He therefore urged other institutions to emulate the bank in rehabilitating heritage sites in The Gambia, describing culture as an important tool for development, and as an instrument of national identity. Author: Yunus S Saliu |
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