extInked Big Saturday - 24/09/2011

FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY!

Come and join us for the extInked Big Saturday at the Manchester Museum on 24th September 2011, 11.00 - 4.00pm.

Activities include:

ARTS & CRAFTS - Get involved with a variety of creative activites for all ages.

Drop-in, free, all ages, Discovery Centre, Floor G.

11am-4pm: Create your own animal ears & explore our bag of beasts.

11am-1pm & 2-4pm: Become a mini Ambassador and get your own temporary tattoo of an endangered species.

TALKS - Enjoy fun and informative talks from conservation experts.

Drop-in, free, all ages, Discovery Centre, Floor G.

12.30pm: The plight of the European Hedgehog.

Hugh Warwick, author of A Prickly Affair, has been studying hedgehogs for over 25 years and became the extInked ambassador for the animal back in 2009. He will be talking about his fascination (obsession) with these wonderfully charismatic beasts and why he thinks that they are the most important wild animal on the planet. Learn about their prickles, their habits and why they are disappearing from the countryside and our towns and cities and leave knowing how to make the world a better place for our delightful hedgehogs.

1.30pm: Fauna & Flora International & The Native Oyster.

extInked Ambassador, Elizabeth Allen has been passionate about conservation her whole life, so much so she got a job at leading conservation charity. She will be talking about her experience of becoming an extInked Ambassador for the Native Oyster and the fantastic work of Fauna and Flora International.

2.30pm: The Marine Conservation Society - Biodiversity, Fisheries and Pollution.

Rebecca Lowe, Conservation Support Officer at the Marine Conservation Society is stopping by to talk about the importance of marine conservation and what initiatives the MSC are currently focused on. The Marine Conservation Society has worked with UHC since 2009 to support the extInked project as a project partner.

FILM SCREENINGS - Enjoy a series of family friendly short films all about Bugs & Insects.

Drop-in, free, ages 7 and above, Kanaris Theatre, Floor 2.

2.00-3.00pm: Films include Roberto & the Insect Architect and Shaun the Sheep, Buzz off Bees.

OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Drop-in, free, all ages, Museum Entrance, Floor G.

- Find out about the work of leading conservation organisations and ways you can do to help wildlife.

- Have an opportunity to meet and touch some endangered species from the museum’s vivarium.

- extInked artist Jai Redman to do some live drawing.

- Meet Ambassadors and talk to them about their experiences.

All events are free!

For further information please contact the Manchester Museum.

'We are extInked' launches tonight at the Manchester Museum

Come and join us this evening as we celebrate the launch of We are extInked at the Manchester Museum.

This exhibition documents extInked, a unique arts and ecology project which began in 2009 as a response to species loss in the UK.

We are extInked brings together the original pen and ink drawings, documentary footage of the tattooing process and extraordinary photographic portraits of the ambassadors created on a rare 19th century camera by Anatomy Projects. The work will be shown alongside rare specimens from The Manchester Museum collections and documentation of the progress of the 100 volunteer ambassadors as they work to protect and advocate for their species.

The exhibition opens to the public on July 9^th 2011 and will be situated alongside the new 'Living Worlds' Gallery, which explores the connections between all living things, including us, and shows how we can all shape the future by the choices we make.

We are extInked launch:

Friday 8th July 2011 -

6.00 - 8.00pm

(Speeches at 6.30pm)

The Manchester Museum

The University of Manchester

Oxford Road

Manchester

M13 9PL

For more information on how to get to the museum please click here.

For more information about the extInked project and the We are extInked tour please click here.