Colchester Museums has launched a crowdfunding appeal in a bid to stage an exhibition on magic and witchcraft later this summer.

Working together with Art Happens – a platform run by Art Fund – Colchester Museums is hoping to crowdfund a total of £15,000 so they can hold the Wicked Spirits, Witchcraft and Magic exhibition at Colchester Castle.

It will run for six months from July 16 until January 6, and will tell the story of people who were imprisoned and executed in Colchester Castle on suspicion of witchcraft and magic.

But Colchester Museums, which is part of Colchester Council, has said it will need a total of £15,000 via crowdfunding because the exhibition, which will collaborate with the Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, was unplanned.

The overall budget for the exhibition, including the £15,000 Colchester Museums is hoping to receive in donations, is £45,000.

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According to the Art Fund website, the crowdfund money will go towards exhibition research, curation, talks and tours.

Darius Laws, portfolio holder for economy, business and heritage for Colchester Council, described the summer exhibition as a milestone.

He said: “This is a milestone moment for Colchester Museums – witchcraft and magic are emotive subjects that fascinate and intrigue not just local people but resonate around the country and the whole world.

“Working with the Boscastle Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, Colchester Castle will host yet another ground-breaking summer exhibition.”

Mr Laws also appealed for donations so the exhibition would go ahead.

“If you can donate any amount, no matter how small, you can help play your part in preserving Colchester’s rich heritage for future generations and ensure its stories continue to live on,” he said.

Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art, named Firstsite as its winner of the Art Fund Museum of the Year last year.

The window for donations close The deadline for donations closes at midnight on Monday, June 6, with a total of £371 out of £15,000 having been donated so far.

Donations can be made via www.artfund.org/donate/art-happens/help-us-bring-the-history-of-witchcraft-and-magic-to-life.