|
Several new experiences, including an interactive gallery, are scheduled to open in April
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 01 Mar 2022
The Open Era gallery will be divided into five themed interactive zones Credit: Mather & Co
The Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum is currently undergoing a major redevelopment that will see the creation of several new interactive zones as well as a new gallery.
The redesign is being spearheaded by Mather & Co, the experiential design firm behind the British Golf Museum and Inverness Castle.
Scheduled to open in April 2022, the new experiences include ‘The Open Era’ gallery. Named after the point in history when professionals were permitted to compete against amateurs, a practice that was banned until 1968, the gallery will feature five themed areas: Broadcasting Wimbledon, A Year in the Life of A Player, Behind the Scenes in the Dressing Rooms, The Rivalries Immersive Show and The Fame Game.
The Broadcasting Wimbledon zone will include an interactive wall displaying facts, key dates and statistics relating to specific players. The area will also include a timeline showcasing media coverage of the yearly Championships, and its evolution from printed press to the multimedia coverage we experience today.
Visitors will also be able to explore how players record and celebrate their achievements, from the personal diaries of Arthur Ashe to social media posts of contemporary players.
Behind the Scenes in the Dressing Rooms is designed to foster an emotional connection between visitors and the players. It invites guests to ‘step into the mind of the players’ by immersing them in the atmosphere of this ‘unique and sacred place’ by sharing original stories from players. It also features an original dressing room bench.
The Rivalries Immersive Show is a video art piece showing the greatest rivals battling for the ultimate prize on the famed Centre Court. It will also feature a mannequin display with several tennis legends including Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Bjorn Borg, Martina Navratilova and Roger Federer in iconic poses. The figures have been painstakingly recreated using photo references and true dimensions taken from the players’ actual tennis kit.
The museum will also offer several fun interactives designed to appeal to young and old audiences alike.
“This redevelopment has given us the chance to showcase new objects, explore current themes and experiment with display techniques to bring the excitement of Wimbledon to life,” said Emma Traherne, curator at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum.
Museums and galleries
|
|
Storm surge: How Chimelong Spaceship’s award-winning and record-breaking Bermuda Storm was brought to life
|
