VISITORS are being given a rare opportunity to see for themselves how the transformation of Bolton Museum into a major arts and cultural attraction is taking shape.

The museum will be opening its doors to allow people to tour the site as it undergoes a multi-million development to showcase its collection at its very best.

Galleries are being transformed into a stunning space to provide a new experience for visitors.

The centrepiece will be the Egyptology Gallery where people can immerse themselves in the land of the Pharoahs, but the other galleries are set up to be a huge attraction too.

Visitors will enter the Portico Gallery as their start – and be able to enter the local history and nature, the Egyptology and art galleries.

Project Manager Sam Elliot, Crescent and Collections Manager at the Museum, said: “Visitors will come in and out via the shop, and the dinosaur is going to be suspended from the ceiling so it will look as if it is coming at you.

“We have got a suspended installation which will be formed from different objects from all of the collection, not just from the Egyptology. We will have Bolton Nature, Bolton’s Art, Bolton Egyptology.”

Ms Elliot said that the new look museum was to show as much of the collection as possible, with the new art gallery, which will feature both traditional masterpieces and more modern pieces having more hanging space.

The National History Gallery will display more of its pieces in innovative interesting ways and with a temporary art gallery showcasing local artists and being a space for major exhibitions.

The museum is taking part in Open Doors and people will see how the rooms are being transformed including the Chadwick Room inspired by the Chadwick Museum in Queens Park – where people will feel as they are actually in a park.

Ms Elliot said: “We will tell people why Bolton has this amazing collection because we feel that is as important as they collection in the Chadwick room.”

She added: “People want to work in live and work in a town where there are things to do whether that’s culture — arts music theatre, or shopping retail. That’s why cultural redevelopment goes hand in hand with town centre regeneration.We know it will bring people into the town when they come here we know they will go shopping they will use transport so it goes hand in hand.”

Building manager Graham Leigh said: “It is really exciting and I am from Bolton so it is really good to work on. I used to come here when I was a child and now bring my nephews here.”

John Byrne, cabinet member for culture youth and sport, said: “As each week progresses it’s exciting to see the new gallery taking shape. The new multi-million pound improvements will be revealed to the public later this year and we can’t wait to see the end result. In the meantime, there will be opportunities for the public to have a look behind the scenes at a Willmott Dixon open day in March.”

To book a place visit http://opendoors.construction/site/93