Swansea University’s award-winning Egypt Centre has opened its doors again after a major revamp.
Since it closed to visitors six months ago, the museum which has not only upgraded accessibility but also transformed its popular House of Death gallery – home to some of its most celebrated artefacts.
Now visitors entering the space will pass by walls featuring vibrant, immersive tomb scenes, designed to transport them straight into the world of ancient Egyptian funerary rites.
Entering the gallery, they will be able to enjoy new information panels and modernised display cases which mean even more artefacts can be exhibited including in special drawers where visitors can get closer than ever to the collection and uncover hidden treasure.
Curator Ken Griffin has overseen the whole project including the painstaking job of supervising the careful display of around 650 objects – 250 of them in the new drawers.
He explained that at the heart of the project was a desire to celebrate the deep connection between the museum and the community.
The stunning centrepiece is the gallery’s new vaulted ceiling which celebrates staff and volunteers in hieroglyphs along with a separate section dedicated to members of the public who helped support the refurbishment.
Dr Griffin said: “Looking up at the ceiling – where the names of our staff, volunteers, and even pets are inscribed in hieroglyphs – reminds us that while this gallery explores the ancient past, it is a living space built for the future of our community.”
The refurbishment has been specifically aimed to accommodate and inspire local school groups, aligning with the curriculum while providing a tactile learning environment.
He added: “We are thrilled to be able to welcome the public and local schools back. The new layout, with its vibrant tomb scenes and clever discovery drawers, allows us to showcase more of our collection than ever before.
“Thanks to the generous support of the Welsh Government’s Cultural Transformation Capital Grant Programme, the Wolfson Foundation, and the Garfield Weston Foundation, we have transformed the space from a gallery into a truly immersive journey.”
Dulcie Engel, who has been a volunteer at the centre for almost 12 years, said: “It was a real honour to have a sneak preview. The first impression is one of spaciousness. The lighting in the cases and new labels are truly visitor friendly. And I love the ceiling of night stars and cartouches, which includes my name!
“The murals of tomb paintings set the scene as soon as the doors open. I think everybody will be blown away by this transformation.”
