The Bowes Museum > Friends > Join the Friends

Information

In addition, there are many opportunities for Friends to meet and become more involved through helping at events, joining mailing teams (these are large, busy occasions as over 2,000 Friends are mailed quarterly) and volunteering in a number of different capacities.

For more information please contact:
Friends' Office
The Bowes Museum
Barnard Castle
County Durham
DL12 8NP

Telephone: (01833) 690606 ext 233 (voicemail)
Email: friends@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Please note that the Friends' office is run by volunteers and is not continually staffed, so voicemail messages can only be dealt with at intervals. Emails are picked up daily, however.

Click here to download a membership application form.

Links

Benefits

The benefits of Friends' Membership are as follows:

• Free entry to the Museum at all times, including to temporary exhibitions
• Four copies a year of the Friends' newsletter, Bowes Arts
• Invitations to Preview Events for new exhibitions (these are not open to the general public)
• Behind the Scenes tours (these are not available to the general public)
• Discounted ticket prices for visits and outings to other places of interest 
• Discounted ticket prices for an entertaining programme of events and concerts throughout the year
• Discounted rates in Café Bowes when spending any sum over £10
• Discounted rates on selected merchandise in the Museum Shop when spending any sum over £10 

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Information about closing

19 March 2020

Unfortunately, due to the continuing development of the Coronavirus situation, The Bowes Museum is now closed until further notice. The health and wellbeing of both our customers and our staff is our priority.

Where events can be rescheduled we will endeavour to do so but please be assured that all ticket holders for cancelled events have options on refunds and can contact info@thebowesmuseum.org.uk, however by not requesting a refund you would be making an exceptionally generous and much appreciated charitable donation to The Bowes Museum during these unprecedented times.

Whilst the Museum is closed, we will be working on other ways of sharing our story and collection via our digital platforms. Stay posted for online videos, conversations and more.

We thank you for your patience and your continued support for The Bowes Museum during this unpredictable time. We hope to come back to you with a reopening date shortly, for now, please stay safe and help protect the vulnerable.

25 March 2020

It is with great sadness that The Bowes Museum has taken the decision to temporarily close all gates to the grounds following a spate of vandalism around the parkland.

Since the Museum closed on Wednesday 18 March the benches in the story area have been damaged, the totem pole pulled over and broken, there have been attempts to pull out outdoor trail markers and branches have been pulled down and plants uprooted.

The Museum is working with the police to find the perpetrators of these actions. PC Michael Banks of Durham Constabulary said "This is a shameful piece of criminal damage within the grounds of a historical location in Barnard Castle anyone with information please contact Durham Constabulary quoting reference number DHM23032020-0189"

The Director of The Bowes Museum, Adrian Jenkins, said: "It is a shame that the actions of a few will have an impact on many but this closure also ties in with the latest government advice to stay at home to help restrict the spread of coronavirus and the Museum is following in the footsteps of other organisations who have closed gated parks and gardens.

There are tips from our education officer on the Museum's social media platforms for keeping the kids, and yourselves, entertained while in isolation and we'll be updating the website regularly with new and exciting information about the collection.

In the meantime, please keep safe and we look forward to welcoming you back to the Museum and grounds when it reopens."

You can keep up to date with developments here or on our Facebook and Twitter.

We’ll be back…

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