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In addition , both organisations are strongly committed to promoting the STEM agenda and helping empower future generations through science , technology , engineering and mathematics to grow a dynamic railway for the 21st century .
Mary Grant , CEO of Porterbrook said : “ The National Railway Museum plays a hugely important role in curating rail ’ s history and heritage while articulating a vision and ambition for its future . Porterbrook is at the forefront of innovations which are shaping the railway and we are delighted to support the museum ’ s Railway Futures Gallery to help inspire the railwaymen and railwaywomen of tomorrow .”
Judith McNicol , Director of the National Railway Museum said : “ The new Railway Futures Gallery is a key part of the museum ’ s Vision 2025 masterplan and through a mix of fixed and changing displays , an immersive media-led experience and on-gallery programming , we will showcase the most exciting engineering projects and highlight the role of innovation on the railway . Thank you to Porterbrook for its generous support .”
Wonderlab The National Railway Museum ’ s ground-breaking new interactive experience , Wonderlab : The Bramall Gallery , is on track to welcome visitors from May 2023 as building work begins and the gallery ’ s second artist is appointed .
Elmwood Projects have been appointed as main contractors for the base building of Wonderlab . They are a specialist fit-out contractor operating predominantly in the museum , heritage , and commercial sectors and have delivered high profile projects at venues such as the British Museum , the V & A London and Dundee and National Museums Scotland .
Construction work has now begun on the 1,500m2 Wonderlab in the museum , with works to create the new gallery expected to take just under a year .
The gallery will be packed with 18 interactive exhibits with an engineering theme and two specially commissioned art installations , one of which will be designed by Pippa Hale , in a partnership announced in November 2021 .
County Durham-based artist Steve Messam can now be unveiled as the creator of the second artwork . He is wellknown for his ephemeral , site-specific , and ‘ bigger than a house ’ installations that have appeared at cultural and historic sites around the world .
His piece , Portico , was shortlisted for a 2022 Aesthetica Art Prize and is now on display at the York Art Gallery as part of that exhibition .
The new installation will feature at the heart of the new Wonderlab gallery . Visitors will be able to get up close with the piece and think about the engineering behind the artwork .
Steve Messam said : “ I ’ m thrilled that the National Railway Museum has commissioned me to create a new installation in their Wonderlab gallery . My piece will aid the museum ’ s vision of inspiring the next generation of engineers by allowing visitors to walk through and see first-hand how the work is able to stand tall at the heart of Wonderlab .”
Rose Mockford , Lead Interactive Gallery Curator at the National Railway Museum , said : “ We ’ re delighted that building work has begun , marking an exciting milestone in the development of Wonderlab : The Bramall Gallery . This has been a long time in the planning and now our ground-breaking new Wonderlab is starting to feel like a reality . By this time next year , we ’ ll be seeing visitors in the new space and hope that they ’ ll be inspired by what they experience .
“ It ’ s also great to be able to unveil Steve as our second specially commissioned artist for the gallery . Steve ’ s work is held in high regard and to have our own individual Messam installation in our Wonderlab is a real privilege .”
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