Free family fun day at The Hive as it celebrates its 10th Birthday

The Hive in Worcester, the county’s largest library and the only fully integrated university and public library in Europe, is gearing up to celebrate its 10th birthday on 2nd July when it hosts a free family fun day.

Running from 10:00am-2:00pm, activities will include circus skills, comedy performances, art workshops, a giant marble run and the opportunity for families to work with a local artist to create a piece of artwork to mark the celebration.

Stephanie Jones, Library Manager said, “We have a fantastic range of free activities and performances lined up for Celebration Day with something for everyone to enjoy.  We can’t wait to welcome families on 2nd July to join in with our celebrations!”

Further information and a full agenda for Celebration Day can be found here: www.thehiveworcester.org/hiveat10

About the HiveAt10 Celebrations

The HiveAt10 Celebrations marks a successful 10-year partnership between the University of Worcester and Worcestershire County Council. This milestone is being celebrated with a series of events and exhibitions that showcase what The Hive has to offer, past, present and future. Activities range from the launch workshops on The Hive’s historical Stuart book collection, workshops with a children’s illustrator, digital drop-in sessions and a Heritage Jubilee Exhibition. To find out more and be a part of the celebrations visit: http://www.thehiveworcester.org/HiveAt10

Professor David Green CBE DL, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Worcester said: “The Hive is a shining example of what can be achieved when organisations come together for the good of the wider community. This transformative partnership has had a profound impact on the city, the wider region and many individuals.

“Over the past 10 years, it has become a real beacon of success, a place where children, students, business people and citizens can come to be inspired, to learn and to share.”

Councillor Marcus Hart, Cabinet Member for Communities at Worcestershire County Council said: “It is fantastic to be able to celebrate 10 years of this amazing community resource. The Hive has reimaged what a library should be in the 21st Century, connecting and engaging communities, creating opportunities and promoting a love of learning.

“By working together, the University and County Council teams have realised their shared belief that books, services, events and spaces should be equally available to everyone and created a cultural, learning and information centre of excellence.”

The striking building has won numerous awards for its design, sustainability and provision of inclusive services over the past decade. Its distinctive roofline, featuring seven irregular cones, mirrors both the nearby Malvern Hills and the kilns of the City’s Royal Worcester Porcelain works. It was a decade in the planning and the two-year construction programme was completed in January 2012.

Opened by HM The Queen in July 2012, as part of her Diamond Jubilee tour, it is fitting that The Hive will be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee this year with an exhibition charting The Queens’s visits to Worcestershire over the last 70 years.

The exhibition starts with her visit in 1951, whilst still a Princess, and runs through to 2012 when she officially opened the only fully integrated university and public library in Europe.

Photos within the exhibition have been sourced from collections across the county including historical societies, local libraries and Worcestershire Archive & Archaeology Service 12 miles of archives located at The Hive.

Since The Hive opened it has welcomed 6.3 million visitors, signed up 160 thousand new library members, loaned 7 million books and hosted events attracting over 300 thousand people.

For more information about The Hive visit: The Hive – (thehiveworcester.org)