TURNER award winning artist Grayson Perry is to host a night of bear-themed events at a museum next month.

The artist, who often appears as his alter ego Claire, will be at the Yorkshire Museum on Thursday, May 15, when there will be family-friendly activities based around the Trust’s bear-themed collections and the chance to meet Grayson.

A record 5,500 people voted for Grayson to come to York for the Connect 10 Museums At Night, organised by Culture 24. Teddy bears have been a poignant theme in his work.

Gaby Lees, assistant curator of arts learning for York Museums Trust said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming Grayson and his bear Alan Measles to York for this very special event.

"He is very keen to come and see our collections and share his thoughts and ideas with the people who voted to bring him here.

“We hope people will get in the spirit of this teddy bear gathering and bring their own bears along to join the party.”

People will be invited to seek out bears from the Trust’s collections, which will be scattered around the galleries.

Bears created by York College students will also be on show in the museum and gardens.

Other activities include making clay bears, making costumes for teddy bears and listening to bear-themed tales.

Visitors can also visit York Observatory to find out how to spot the Great Bear in the night sky and are invited to bring sandwiches and their bear for a teddy bears’ picnic on the lawn.

The free Museums at Night event will run from 5.30pm until 9pm and there is no need to book.

As part of the event, there will be a Grayson Perry in Conversation session in the Museum’s Tempest Anderson Hall at 6pm. Places are also free, but booking is required.

To book visit; www.yorkshiremuseum.org.uk from 10.30am on Tuesday, April 22. Tickets are limited to two per booking.