Six week summer programme at Bowes Museum revealed

The Bowes Museum has unveiled a packed six-week programme running from July 18 to August 31, offering children of all ages the chance to explore, play and create, both indoors and out.

With free entry for under-18s, full-time students and carers, the museum is keen to make its activities accessible to as many families as possible.

Families are invited to explore the galleries together at The Bowes Museum (Image: Claire Collinson)

Nature lovers can head outdoors to the wildflower meadow to spot wildlife and build bug hotels from recycled materials, while others can enjoy Nature Spotters sessions around an indoor campsite, discovering the plants and animals that thrive in the museum’s parkland.

Inside the museum, The Wonder Workshop will encourage young visitors to explore the stories behind objects in the collection. Gallery Takeover invites children to search for stories throughout the museum before crafting their own characters out of clay and recycled materials.

For those keen on experimenting with new techniques, Artist Makers sessions will be with help from an expert team of artists and makers.

Young visitors discover museum objects up close during summer holiday activities at The Bowes Museum. (Image: Claire Collinson)

Under-fives are also catered for, with Stay and Play sessions in the galleries and Bowes Babies, a sensory experience designed to build confidence and spark curiosity in a relaxed, supportive setting.

This summer will also be the final opportunity for families to take part in Vivienne Westwood-inspired workshops, as part of the museum’s celebration of the late designer’s rebellious spirit and creative legacy.

Pattern and Protest invites families to work with designer and Fashion Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith to experiment with fabric, marks and messages inspired by Westwood’s iconic designs.

Creative workshops for children of all ages at The Bowes Museum this summer (Image: Claire Collinson)

Westwood: A Family Adventure through Fashion Rebellion takes visitors of all ages on an interactive journey through her life and designs, while older children can join Art as Protest, a creative workshop exploring fashion as a tool for activism and expression.

Visitors can also take part in daily activities such as Spotlight Tours at 11am and the museum's much-loved Silver Swan performances at 11.45am and 2pm.

The museum’s newest exhibition, Norman Cornish: A Life in Sketchbooks, gives a personal look at the Spennymoor-born artist through his drawings, paintings and watercolours alongside the sketches that shaped them.

Creative summer sessions at The Bowes Museum include free-play and artist-led activities (Image: Claire Collinson)

Visitors are also encouraged to explore the reopened Founders’ Galleries, which have been redesigned to encourage curiosity and closer inspection of the collection.

New displays introduce Joséphine and John Bowes and tell the story of the museum’s origins in an accessible way for visitors of all ages.

The Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary exhibition remains on display until September 6.

The museum recommends checking its website for activity dates, booking details, and further information.

The best value admission for adults is through a membership ticket, starting at £25 for a local single membership.

This allows unlimited entry throughout the year.