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Join in the fun at The Bowes Museum this October half term holiday.

With the return of a lantern parade through the grounds on the 30th,  willow lantern making workshops, a visit from Magic Andrew, the chance to join in a theatrical workshop for a day, and lots of crafty sessions as well as the ever popular LEGO® Wedo 2 Robotics and Coding workshops there's plenty to keep everyone entertained during the school holidays.

Don't forget to explore the adventures of Clara family exhibition trails before its last day on Sunday 31 October where you can see, hear and even smell what life was like for the sensational 18th century rhinoceros who inspired painters, poets and sculptors as well as discover how to save the species today.

Calling all budding poets and artists!

The Bowes Museum is launching an open call today, on National Poetry Day, to all to reflect on the COVID pandemic and the impact it has had on everyones lives with the chance to be part of the international award winning artist Martin Kinnear's landmark exhibition Regeneration, which opens in January 2022.

Backed by Children's Laureate Cressida Cowell, poems should be no more than 45 lines long and on one side of A4 paper.

The TV and radio personality Jenny Eclair is a judge for the artwork competiton where entries should be no bigger than A1 size (59.4cm x 84.1cm), including frame, and be able to be hung on a wall.

Entry forms for both categories are available on the Regeneration exhibition page of the website.

 

 

The Bowes Museum has lent 20 pieces of its finest lace to the P.LACE.S exhibition in Belgium.

The exhibition highlights the important role that Antwerp played in the production and trade of lace and with a trail that connects five different locations across the city it promised to be one of the biggest lace exhibitions ever held.

The Bowes Museum's pieces are returning to their homeland for the duration of the show and will be on display in MoMu, the Fashion museum, and the Maidens' House, where orphaned girls learned sewing and lace-making.

Amonth the items the Museum has loaned is the man's cloak band of English needlepoint c.1645, which was shown next to the triple portrait of Charles I at Buckingham Palace in 2013.

Visitors to The Bowes Museum will be able to watch a team of conservators and curators from distinguised institutions across the UK at work on the Silver Swan next month.

The group will be assessing the iconic 248 year old automaton as they come up with a variety of long term maintenance plans and consider the best way forward to conserve it for future generations to enjoy.

They will take part in half hour daily question and answer sessions at midday from Tueday 5 October until Friday 8 October, where visitors can quiz them on their progress.

There is also the opportunity for people to join in two different Zoom discussions where, on Wednesday 6 October from 6 – 7pm, they can put a question to the conservators and curators as they consider the automaton, its conservation, curation and future.

Then young people and the local community are encouraged to tell the Museum what the Silver Swan means to them in the second informal Zoom session on Thursday 7th October from 2 - 3pm, where the conservators and curators will explain how the Silver Swan works and discuss how it could be displayed in the future.

Tickets for these events are available on the Museum's website.  Questions or comments you'd like submitted to them can be sent in advance to jane.whittaker@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Enjoy the magic of Christmas at The Bowes Museum this December.

With the halls and galleries beautifully decorated with trees and garlands, the return of Santa Claus, the ever popular Christmas Market both inside the Museum and on the parterre garden, together with a 12 days of Christmas festive trail, Christmas lates and a delicious seasonal menu in Cafe Bowes, there really does promise to be something for everyone!

The Santa experience is available from 1 - 16th of December and from the 20 - 24th of December, where for £15 a ticket, youngsters will be given their very own craft kit by his elves while they wait in his workshop, before meeting Santa all cosy in his sitting room, where they can tell him if they've been naughty or nice and receive an extra special early Christmas present.  Over the Christmas Market ( 17, 18 and 19th December) there's a shortened Santa experience, where children can meet and greet Santa and receive a gift for £5.

Entry to the Christmas Market is at a reduced rate of £5 for adults, £2.50 for children and under 5's free.