(Above) This shot from the Museum of English Rural Life became a symbol of last year's Museums at Night festivities
The conference room at the Museum of English Rural Life, admits the centre’s Alison Hilton, is "a venue much more used to hosting University lectures and business meetings" than the camping gear it will be besieged by for Museums at Night 2009.
But the Museum, which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, has every confidence their sleepover will provide a refreshing alternative to the usual academic posturing the venue hosts, inviting children aged between seven and 12 to take over for garden games, torchlight tours and felt making with textile artist Ellen Brown.
"We don't actually sleep in the Museum because of the concrete floor and the fact that we'd all be up with the birds at the crack of dawn," explains Hilton. "Although that means that our event caters for a relatively small number of people, it also means we can do more interesting activities and there's a great atmosphere."
Felt-making is back at the Museum thanks to textile artist Ellen Brown
Last year's activities spawned a now-famous group picture which became a firm favourite in promotional Museums at Night material, and Learning Manager Bekky Moran says families were "clamouring" to book the follow-up to the "exciting and memorable" triumph of their 2008 venture.
Kids can choose where to set their tent, watch a DVD before bed and sneak in a midnight feast before breakfast. The only problem for latecomers to the party is the news that this one's already fully booked.
