A FULL programme of exhibitions and activities continues at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle during the spring, including family fun for half-term next week.

The Road to Impressionism, which includes important works by Courbet, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir and Sisley, has been hugely popular, drawing audiences from around the country.

The paintings have been brought together to explore development in French landscape painting during the nineteenth century, which laid the foundations for the Impressionist movement.

A colour catalogue has been produced to accompany the exhibition, which runs until March 30, and a painting workshop has been arranged for Sunday, March 23.

It will focus on watercolour, and a materials list can be obtained in advance.

Edinburgh-based ceramist, Philomena Pretsell, who is renowned for her flamboyant vessels, explores human emotions in a contemporary installation that runs from now until March 23 (see review below).

An antiques fair takes place from today until Sunday, with a large collection of stalls offering a wide selection of antiques.

As part of half-term week, a family fun day will be held on Tuesday, giving an opportunity to learn while having fun.

As part of the day, drop-in painting and clay impression making workshops will take place, along with a treasure hunt around the museum. Activities take place between 11am-4pm.

An opera evening on March 29 features Richard Morrison and Lesley Ann and Alistair Dawes.

Details of all the events can be obtained by calling the Bowes Museum reception on 01833 690606 or by logging on to the web site at www.bowesmuseum.org.uk.

* Regional museums in the North-East, including the Bowes, will benefit from £70m in Government funding, it was announced this week.

The North-East is one of three regions in England chosen to take forward phase one of Renaissance in the Regions which will provide funding for key museums to develop their services for a wide range of users.

This process began with the setting up last autumn of an operational hub comprising Tyne and Wear Museums as the lead partner, with the Beamish, Bowes and Hartlepool museums as the other members. The grant is to improve services, increase access to collections, explore new approaches to interpretation, develop outreach projects and invest in the development of staff.

The money is to be spread over the next four years, with a significant amount being allocated towards supporting the three museum hubs. The other two regions are the West Midlands and the South-West.

Most English regional museums do not receive direct support from Central Government and many suffer from under-funding and neglect.

The report Renaissance in the Regions, issued in 2001, called for a new framework based on a network of nine regional hubs. The estimated cost was £267m over five years.

In October, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced it would allocate £70m over the next three years to support Renaissance in the Regions: this is based on £30m of new funding added to £10m per year already allocated up to 2005-6.