Braid Museum - Mid Antrim Museum
| County: | Co. Antrim |
| Tel: | 028-2565 7161 |
| Fax: | 028-2563 5941 |
| Email: | braid.enquiries@ballymena.gov.uk |
The new Mid-Antrim Museum at The Braid is designed to world-class standards, with content and storylines to fascinate local residents and visitors alike. The spectacular entrance atrium features special installations revealing the links between people and place, local history and local identity.
Once inside the galleries the story of Mid-Antrim from earliest times to the present day is told through a mix of state of the art interactive technology and amazing original artefacts. Highlights include an exhibition revealing the turbulent medieval history of the region. This features a range of items on loan from the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin and The National Museums Of Northern Ireland.
From Edward Bruce’s expedition in 1315 to the recent Troubles, war and conflict is a recurring theme within the gallery. Living off the land is another key theme. Remarkable family photographs, archive film and objects are combined to evoke rural traditions and folk life.
General Information
| Address: | 1-29 Bridge Street, Ballymena, Antrim, BT43 5EJ |
|---|---|
| Telephone; | 028-2565 7161 |
| Fax: | 028-2563 5941 |
| Email: | braid.enquiries@ballymena.gov.uk |
| Website: | http://www.thebraid.com www.mid-antrimmuseums.org |
| Location: | Ballymena Town Centre |
| Season: | All Year |
| Open Times: | Mon-Fri: 10.00-17.00 Sat: 10.00-16.30 Closed Sunday /Open Public Holidays |
| Tours: | Yes. 45 mins, Max: 30 per Guide |
| Booking Contact: | Braid Administration |
| Manager: | Jayne Clarke |
| Average Visit Length: | 1-2 Hrs |
| Entrance Fees: | Free Admission |
| Audio Visual: | Yes, Used throughout the Galleries |
| Exhibition: | The History Gallery explores the story of Mid-Antrim from earliest times to the present day, with reference to themes of identity, people and place |
| Restaurant: | Yes, Café serving snacks and light lunches. Group catering organised on request |
| Picnic Area: | No |
| Shop: | Yes |
| Information Guide: | Yes |
| Coach Parking: | Yes |
| Group Booking Necessary: | Yes |
| Car Parking: | Yes |
| Disabled Access/Parking: | Yes |
Events at the Braid
Click here for a full listing of events at the Braid Museum & Arts Centre.
Schools
The Museum has a number of curriculum-linked programmes that have been designed to creatively meet the needs of the new Northern Ireland curriculum. These involve stimulating hands on sessions that utilise original and replica objects to explore themes of interdependence, Place and Change Over Time within the World Around Us sections of the Curriculum.
Early Man & Materials KS2: A stimulating hands on session using real and replica objects and role play to investigate the lives of Meolithic and Neolithic people in Mid-Antrim.
Innovation and Impact: A new and exciting session that uses Museum objects, photographs and activities to explore the Victorian inventions of electricity and the camera.
Air Raid Alert KS1: Experience the sights and sounds of the Home Front and the effects of rationing in this interactive session
Houses and Homes KS1: This hands on session uses a variety of museum objects and photographs to explore what houses and homes were like in the past compared to today and how everyday, domestic objects have changed over time.
Conference & Incentive
The Braid complex as a whole includes both a Museum and an Arts Centre. It is a dynamic mix of contemporary architecture alongside an elegant neo-classical Town Hall building that opened in 1928. It incorporates a range of facilities including a 400 seat Theatre (with fly tower), an 80 seat Studio Theatre, an Arts Workshop, a Learning Zone (education room), a Theatre Club (Crush Bar) and Meeting Rooms. The Braid has an Entertainments and Hospitality Licence and has flexible opening hours to include evenings, weekends and public holidays. The complex features a number of specially commissioned artworks from internationally recognised artists
