History Centre announces first ‘Explorer in Residence’
The team behind the History Centre has appointed polar explorer Antony Jinman as the project’s first-ever ‘Explorer in Residence’.
The Plymouth-born adventurer is one of only a handful of people to have skied to the North Pole and solo to the South Pole. He also runs an organisation called ‘Education Through Expeditions‘ which gives school children the chance to learn more about climate change and sustainability in some of the world‘s most remote regions - and sometimes experience them first hand.
Over the next four years Antony will act as an ambassador for the History Centre which will feature a number of explorers, mountaineers, navigators and other famous characters who are connected to the city in its permanent galleries when it opens in 2020.
Councillor Glenn Jordan, cabinet member for culture said: “We’re really pleased to have Antony on board and to start the process of unveiling a range of History Centre patrons and ambassadors over the next three years as we build towards our opening.”
“Antony’s achieved a great deal and has well and truly secured his place in the history of exploration. We’ll be featuring him in our ‘100 Journeys’ gallery which will highlight a number of the voyages and expeditions which have emanated from Plymouth and helped put it on the map.”
The History Centre team hopes to announce other high profile representatives at various intervals over the next three years including a series of Artists in Residence.
“My love of exploration began as a boy when I dreamed of following in the footsteps of Scott of the Antarctic and Ernest Shackleton,” said Antony Jinman. “It’s exciting to know that visitors to the city will get the chance to learn more about these men and their heroic feats when the History Centre is complete. The plans for the galleries and the venue as a whole are really ambitious and I’m looking forward to helping the public understand the adventure that’s ahead.”
To stay up to date with the progress of the History Centre project visit www.plymouth.gov.uk/loveourpast or find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. You can also read regular posts about different aspects of the project at www.plymouthartsandheritage.wordpress.com
To find out more about Antony Jinman visit www.antonyjinman.com.
