The Egypt Centre at Swansea University recently held a special event commemorating 25 years since its doors opened for the first time.
On Saturday 7 October, the award-winning museum welcomed 158 guests, in-person and via Zoom, to mark this incredible milestone.
The free event included a series of captivating presentations on themes at the heart of the Egypt Centre: education, collaboration, and volunteering.
In the lead-up to the event, the museum received several congratulatory video messages from past and present volunteers and staff.
Played during the event and now available to watch online, the videos highlight the lasting impact the museum has had on the local community and beyond.
In her video, Hannah Sweetapple, the Egypt Centre's Learning and Engagement Officer from January 2019 to July 2023, said: "It's really hard to explain the impact the Egypt Centre has had on my life in 30 seconds. I started as a volunteer when I was an undergraduate student. It was there that I discovered my love of museum learning, and as my time as a volunteer and as a member of staff, I was always supported to grow and develop, given every opportunity to do that, and I can honestly say I would not be where I am today without the Egypt Centre.
Excitedly, the event saw the unveiling of the Egypt Centre's first temporary exhibition from the Harrogate loan, a collection of more than 700 Egyptian items from Harrogate Museums to be displayed over the next three years.
Attendees were given an exclusive look at the Causing Their Names to Live exhibition, which includes thirty extraordinary objects, including stelae, statues, shabtis, funerary cones, a canopic jar and scarabs, allowing visitors to connect with the rich history of ancient Egypt through the significance of remembrance.
One guest said: "It was such an interesting day. Hearing from the staff and students and knowing more now of what goes on behind the scenes and the colourful history of the collection from its inception! It was fascinating to view the Harrogate Collection for the first time and make new friends. A great day. Thank you so much for the invite. I'm so lucky to have this gem of a museum on my doorstep."
Also on display was the plaster cast of Djedhor the Saviour in what is believed to be the first time that items from the Wellcome collection have been physically reunited, the statue previously being in London's Petrie Museum and the base in Swansea.
Commenting on the event, Egypt Centre curator Ken Griffin said: "We are grateful to everyone who attended these celebrations on Saturday, whether as presenters, volunteers to help the event run smoothly, or participants who attended to hear all about the wonderful achievements of the Egypt Centre. Here's to many more years!"
View the Harrogate collection through the Egypt Centre's new online catalogue, a collaboration with Harrogate Museums (North Yorkshire Council) and Abaset Collection Ltd.
Join the celebrations by watching recordings from the event.