Our Events

Santa’s Enchanted Wonderland Grotto

21 December 2017, 16:30 - 17:00

Wander through an enchanted corridor to arrive at Santa’s workshop, where you will be entertained by one of his elves: write your letter, look for his naughty friend and browse in the toyshop windows before taking a magical journey to meet Santa all cosy in his sitting room, where he will complete the magic with an early Christmas present.

Prices: Child Under 1 - £4.00 (only 2 Child Under 1 tickets left!); Adult - Free

This event is not currently open for booking.

FISHDANCE! - Dance Workshop

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

You will get tuition from a professional choreographer through workshops held in Barnard Castle over the coming weeks. The final dance will take place in the streets of Barnard Castle on Monday 28 May and will last about 30 minutes; get dancing!

Prices: Adult - Free; Child - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

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FISHDANCE! - Costume Workshop

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

The Bowes Museum’s Centre for Craft and its education and textiles department will work with individuals, schools and other community groups in workshops to create costumes. Participants will decorate hoodies, provided free of charge, to represent the silver fishes to be worn during the performance and kept as souvenirs after the event.

Prices: Adult - Free; Child - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

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FISHDANCE! - Music

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

The Silver Swan has six songs. The TCR Hub will provide workshops for groups to compose music inspired by the six tunes of the Swan to form a soundscape, moving ahead of the schooling fish. Groups will be able to record their compositions in the Hub’s digital recording studios.

Prices: Adult - Free; Child - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

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FISHDANCE! - Sculpture

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

The Centre for Craft at the Bowes will help participants design a dynamic rotating sculpture at Scar Top representing the flowing glass rods of the Swan, responding to the river Tees. Workshops will help participants with the necessary materials manipulation skills during the design process.

Prices: Adult - Free; Child - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

Click here to make a booking

FISHDANCE! - Volunteers

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

We need the help of volunteers to help with workshops and organising the event on the day of the performance. If you have textiles, dance, music recording, making skills, filming experience or could help marshal the event on the day.

Prices: Adult - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

Click here to make a booking

FISHDANCE! - Shopkeepers and Businesses

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

Make FISHDANCE! a truly sparkling event by decorating your window as a FISHDANCE! fishtank!

Prices: Exhibitor - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

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FISHDANCE - Audience

13 March 2018 - 25 May 2018

On the weekend of the performance, we invite all to take part in participatory workshops to make devices to recreate the spirit of the beckoning river Tees.

Prices: Adult - Free; Child - Free

Event website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/Whats-On/Fishdance (opens a new window).

Click here to make a booking

Skin Deep - Painting the Face in pastel, acrylics or oils

04 May 2018, 10:00 - 16:30

The human face is eternally interesting. Join artist Linda Birch to create a human visage, taking inspiration from the current exhibition Skin Deep by Jonathan Yeo, who explores conceptual themes in his Surgery Series, depicting in the classical medium of oil paint, the intricacies and complex issues surrounding the current cult for cosmetic surgery and the quest for physical ‘perfection’.

Prices: Adult - £35.00; Friend - £33.00

Sorry - This event is fully booked!

Rebuilding a Man

12 May 2018, 14:15 - 15:30

Join Eilis Boyle, from the University of Leeds, to learn about pioneering methods of surgical reconstruction used to treat WW1 soldiers and how expectations of gender affected their care.

Prices: Adult - £3.00; Member - Free

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Queen Victoria, Napoleon III and the Events of 1855

15 May 2018

Join Rosie Razzall, Curator of Prints and Drawings at Royal Collection Trust, to learn more about Queen Victoria’s historic state visit in Paris in 1855; a remarkable moment in Anglo-French relations. The events of this ten-day tour – spectacular balls, firework displays and cheering crowds as well as the quieter moments – are brought to life through discussion of the watercolours on display in the upcoming fascinating exhibition Queen Victoria in Paris.

Prices: Adult - Free

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The Nude: Idealising the Human Body

18 May 2018, 14:15 - 15:30

Join Assistant Curator, Bernadette Petti, to learn more about the art historical context of the exhibition and how it relates to the Museum’s own collections.

Prices: Adult - Free

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Life Drawing

19 May 2018, 10:00 - 12:00

Suitable for all levels, materials are provided, and you are welcome to bring your own familar equipment if you have some. Please note that in order to protect the paintings charcoal cannot be used in this class.

Prices: Adult - £20.00 (only 7 Adult tickets left!); Member - £18.00 (only 7 Member tickets left!); Student - £10.00 (only 7 Student tickets left!)

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Life Drawing

11 June 2018, 10:00 - 12:00

Join artist Gavin Watson and life model in the Jonathan Yeo Skin Deep exhibition, for a special opportunity to study the human form from different perspectives

Prices: Adult - £20.00

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Gouache Townscapes in the French Tradition

20 July 2018

Gouache, an opaque form of watercolour, was always more popular in Europe than the English tradition of transparent watercolour. It has many attributes in that it can be used thickly like oil painting or in rich washes similar to watercolour. Join artist Linda Birch to create your own work inspired by the Museum’s collection of Gouache paintings.

Prices: Adult - £35.00; Friend - £33.00

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A Nursery Rhyme in Line and Wash

14 September 2018, 10:00 - 16:30

Join artist Linda Birch to create your own illustration inspired by the current exhibition of Quentin Blake’s lively illustrations to Roald Dahl’s tales for children. Using simple steps, this day course will enable you to create a charming picture for a nursery wall.

Prices: Adult - £35.00; Friend - £33.00

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Painting Everyday Life in Oils or Acrylic

09 November 2018, 10:00 - 16:30

Join artist Linda Birch to be inspired by the work of Courbet, the socialist realist painter of everyday life, whose work hangs in the Museum. This class will examine how to depict people at work or pursuing leisure interests, including sporting and social events, farming and shopping.

Prices: Adult - £35.00; Friend - £33.00

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Let it Snow – Two Small Christmas Pictures

07 December 2018, 10:00 - 16:30

The Bowes Museum has some lovely winter paintings, including the work of Joséphine Bowes. Based on a Hans Christian Andersen story about a little fir tree, join artist Linda Birch to create a small but richly decorative picture using watercolours or acrylics. The painting will be of two small images on a folded piece of mount card with a richly decorated edge.

Prices: Adult - £35.00; Friend - £33.00; Member - £33.00 (only 1 Member tickets left!)

Click here to make a booking