The Crown Jewels will be on display at a special evening opening at The Dorset Museum.
No, not those Crown Jewels, but those of a horde of naked history…er… buffs.
There’s a special deal for British Naturism members, at £16 for the event, on Tuesday, September 17 from 6.30pm till 10.30pm. It’s £20 for non-members.
This is a chance to browse the 250 million years of natural history exhibits, focusing on the geology, landscapes, habitats, and wildlife that surround us, all while on display yourself.
Organiser Ed Brand said: “I visited the museum a few months back when they were holding a special exhibition of Elizabeth Frink’s works. Amongst her sculptures were several of naked men.
“Anyway, somewhere in the back of my mind I remembered seeing some YouTube clips of naked visits to museums in places like Paris, Barcelona and Tokyo. And for some reason I thought… and why not Dorchester!
“Anyway, I hand-wrote a letter to the museum on reused paper on the basis that it might get read rather than an email which can be got rid of straight away. In the letter I suggested that we have a naked visit to the museum.
“Much to my pleasant surprise I got a reply and here we are!”
He added: “I did suggest to Dorset Museum that it might be a first for a provincial museum and could show that they might be provincial in location but not provincial in attitude.”
The event is being hosted by British Naturism. A spokesman said: “Discover the life and work of Dorset’s famous novelist and poet Thomas Hardy and dive into key themes of his personal and professional life.
“Enjoy a beautiful gallery full of the museum’s superb collections of paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, textiles, and fine and decorative art. Marvel at the historic Victorian Hall as well as the modern Acheson’s Atrium adorned by Roman mosaics on the walls and floors of these spaces. This is an amazing opportunity to enjoy a private viewing of the museum NAKED.”
In case you need relaxing, there’s a glass of wine or other beverage on arrival, and changing facilities with a locker for your clothes and other personal possessions.
If you are busy that evening, or you fancy other opportunities to get your kit off with others, you can swim in Southampton on September 28 naked, for just £8, or enjoy a naked quiz and social evening on October 19 for £15.
Not only can naturists enjoy money off events if they join up, they can also get discounts on BN merchandise – featuring a range of T-shirts, hoodies and caps alongside mugs, stickers and even doormats.
n Visit bn.org.uk to find out more.