The Bowes Museum General Information
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EXHIBITIONS DISPLAYS
All exhibitions & displays are included in the cost of admission unless otherwise stated
Now showing . . .
New Light
17 October 2015 – 7 February 2016
Hotly tipped as one of the most exciting shows of contemporary work in the North, with the prestigious Valeria Sykes Prize heading up a range of other awards for best work by Northern artists in this selling exhibition.
Robert Mapplethorpe: The Magic in the Muse
28 November 2015 – 24 April 2016
An exhibition exploring the work of renowned American photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. He found inspiration from a wide range of sources: musicians, artists, the famous and the unknown – each treated with both reverence and playfulness in his search for ‘the one with the magic.’ The exhibition focuses on three key themes – movement, celebrity and musicians.The exhibition forms part of ARTIST ROOMS – a diverse collection of works held by the Tate and National Galleries of Scotland – which will be shown at the Museum for the first time.
Quiltscapes & Quiltline by Pauline Burbidge
28 November - 10 April 2016
This renowned contemporary quiltmaker and textile artist has a long and dedicated career. Her work has been purchased by many international museums and collectors. This exhibition will feature newly developed textile landscapes.
Looking forward to 2016 . . .
Burning Belief
27 February - 1 May 2016
Featuring over 50 paintings, drawings and etchings by the renowned artist Anthony Clark A.R.C.A. He has been holding both one-man shows and mixed exhibitions for the last forty years and his work is represented in numerous public and private collections. Clark focuses on atmosphere, juxtaposing this with a strong sense of space to create astonishing paintings.
The English Rose – Feminine Beauty from Van Dyck to Sargent
14 May – 25 September 2016
The exhibition features a wonderful portrait of Dame Olivia Porter,(recently authenticated as a Van Dyck by BBC’s Culture Show) a beauty in the court of Charles 1, alongside famous‘English roses’ painted by Lely, Kneller, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Romney, Millais and Sargent.
From Temple to Home: Celebrating Ganesha
21 May – 18 September 2016
This vibrant, colourful exhibition from the British Museum centres on a large stone sculpture of the elephant-headed god Ganesha, depicted standing on a lotus petal. The arch supporting the figure is decorated with the mask of a lion, flanked by aquatic monsters. Key objects include a delicate woodcut depicting Ganesha, Buddhi and Siddhi on a swing worshipping women, a painting showing Ganesha riding his mount, the rat ‘Vahana’, framed with red and gold paper, rare photographs and porcelain figures revealing different aspects of the iconography around this elephant-headed god.
EVENTS2015
Events are included in the admission charge unless otherwise stated
DECEMBER
Christmas Market
Date 19 & 20 Dec Time 10.00 – 4.00 Cost £2.50 Adults (inc admission to Museum). Children free.
Over 80 stalls featuring the best in local food and crafts, offering everything you need to make your Christmas complete. Seasonalentertainment, Santa’s winter wonderland grotto, elves, real reindeer and children’s activities add to the magical atmosphere.
Introduction to New Ceramics Galleries
Date 19 Dec Time 2.00
Join Dr Howard Coutts, Keeper of Ceramics, for a short introduction to the beautifully refurbished ceramics galleries, officially opened by BBC Antiques Roadshow presenter Lars Tharp. Meet by the Silver Swan, following its 2.00pm performance.
Nativity Introduction
Date 20 Dec Time 11.00
Join the Museum’s Assistant Curator of Fine Art, Bernadette Petti, for a short introduction to Nativity by Jacques Stella, an enchanting and festive painting in the Museum’s collection. Meet by the Silver Swan.
Christmas Fun
Date 21 & 22 DecTime 10.30–12.00 or 1.00-2.30 Cost £4.00 per child
Get into the festive spirit bycreating some wonderful crafts to make your Christmas Day extra special! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.
JANUARY 2016
Gallery Talk
Date7 JanTime 2.15Cost Free with admission
Join one of our fashion & textile curators to learn more about the techniques used to create the quilts in the current exhibition, Quiltscapes & Quiltline by internationally acclaimed textile artist, Pauline Burbidge.
British War Widows of World War 1 (PLEASE NOTE CHANGE OF DATE)
Date12 JanTime 2.30Cost £3.00 for talk only (or free on payment of Museum admission charge), to include light refreshments
To complement The Bowes Museum’s ongoing WW1 Project, Angela Smith will give a talk on the subject of British War Widows of WW1. Booking required via
Painting Landscape in the Round
Date 15 JanTime10.00 – 4.00 Cost £35 Adults, £33 Friends of The Bowes Museum, inc morning refreshments
Join artist Linda Birch to create a landscape painting ‘alla tondo’ (in a round format), a fascinating and easy to achieve method used by many artists. Booking required on 01833 690606 or
Exhibition Tour
Date 21 Jan Time 2.15
An opportunity to walk round The New Light Prize Exhibition in the company of an artist and a judge, gaining an insight into preparing works for an exhibition, how the shortlist is selected and the tricky art of choosing the prizewinners.
FEBRUARY 2016
Etching Demonstration
Date Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout FebruaryTime 2.15pm
Join renowned artist Anthony Clark for an etching demonstration to complement his current exhibition, Burning Belief.
Gallery Talk
Date4 FebTime 2.15
Join one of our fashion & textile curators to learn more about the techniques used to create the quilts in the current exhibition, Quiltscapes & Quiltline by internationally acclaimed textile artist, Pauline Burbidge.
Buying Art: Investment, Decoration or something else?
Date 5 Feb Time 3.00pm and 7.00pm Cost £12.50 Adults, £10.00 Friends of The Bowes Museum.
Run to complement the New Light Prize Exhibition, this is a fascinating opportunity to debate the ins and outs of collecting and investing in contemporary artwith London gallery owner, Matthew Hall. He will discuss what to take into consideration when assessing and buying contemporary art and the pleasures of collecting. Having worked in commercial galleries in the Cotswolds and London for 10 years, Matthew established Panter & Hall in 2000 and currently deals in contemporary figurative and modern British painting. He was also one of the judges for the 2015 New Light Open Exhibition.
Representations of Chivalry in the Poetry & Literature of WW1
Date13 FebTime 2.30Cost £3.00 for talk only (or free on payment of Museum admission charge), to include light refreshments
To complement The Bowes Museum’s ongoing WW1 Project, Ashley Somogyi will speak on the topic of representations of chivalry in the poetry and literature of the First World War. Booking required via
Fabric Landscapes
Date 15 19 FebTime 10.30 - 4.00
Be inspired by the Pauline Burbidge, Quiltscapes & Quiltline exhibition to create your own fabric landscape collage during these drop in activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Let’s Celebrate Chinese New Year – Family Fun Day
Date 16 Feb Time 11.00 - 4.00
Celebrate the Year of the Monkey at The Bowes Museum with the following fun drop in activities for all the family:
- Try origami with Lip Lee
- Make a Chinese lucky envelope and New Year card
- Create a Chinese lion mask
- And much more!
Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Jay’s Animal Encounters
Date 1718 Feb Time 10.00, 11.00, 12.30, 1.30, 2.30 (sessions last 1½hours) Cost £6.00 per child
Jay returns to The Bowes Museum with a selection of wonderful creatures including tarantulas, snakes and scorpions. During this bookable workshop children will be able to handle the animals and learn interesting facts about these marvellous creatures before creating a snake mask to take home. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event. NB: PAYMENT REQUIRED AT TIME OF BOOKING.
MARCH 2016
Gallery Talk
Date3 MarTime 2.15
Join one of our fashion & textile curators to learn more about the techniques used to create the quilts in the current exhibition, Quiltscapes & Quiltline by internationally acclaimed textile artist, Pauline Burbidge.
Etching Demonstration
Date Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout March Time 2.15
Join renowned artist Anthony Clark for an etching demonstration to complement his current exhibition, Burning Belief.
Gallery talk
Date 3 Mar Time2.15pm
Join renowned artist Anthony Clark to learn more about his current exhibition, Burning Belief.
Quilting with Pauline Burbidge
Date 3-5 Mar Time 10.00 – 4.30 Cost £235 Adults, £230 Friends of The Bowes Museum (inc lunch & refreshments)
Join textile artist Pauline Burbidge at this 3 day non-residential workshop to learn a selection of design & printing techniques, including mono and cyanotype printing, and drawing with resistant fluid. There will be plenty of opportunity to experiment, incorporate your own individual style and discuss your aims for your future. Places are limited so early booking is advised on 01833 690606. Suitable for participants of all abilities.
Quilting Talk with Pauline Burbidge
Date 6 Mar Time 11.00Cost Free with admission
Join textile artist Pauline Burbidge to learn about the creative processes behind her current exhibition: Quiltscapes and Quiltline. Booking required on 01833 690606.
Flowers Reassembled – a look at Dutch Flower painting
Date 11 Mar Time10.00 – 4.00 Cost £35 Adults, £33 Friends of The Bowes Museum, inc morning refreshments
Join artist Linda Birch to create a work based on Dutch flower paintings. Using artificial flowers, this workshop will trace the planning and painting of a vase of flowers (plus an insect or two). Booking required on 01833 690606 or
The Culture of Remembrance
Date 18 MarTime 2.30Cost £3.00 for talk only (or free on payment of Museum admission charge), to include light refreshments
To complement The Bowes Museum’s ongoing WW1 Project, Douglas Davies will speak about death, acceptance and remembrance, dwelling on the shift from War Graves to the creation of the National Memorial Arboretum. Drawing on research around cremation and woodland burial, he will contrast these with the strong visibility of the dead through memorials such as the above. Booking required via
Easter – Family Fun Day
Date 28 Mar Time 11.00 - 4.00
Celebrate Easter with these fun drop-in craft activities:
- Easter baskets with a treat
- Cute lamb and chick pompoms
- Beautiful bunny ears
- Explore the Museum with an Easter themed Egg Hunt
Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Spring has Sprung!
Date 29 30 MarTime 10.30 - 4.00
See the wonderful daffodils growing in the Museum grounds and be inspired to create a flower picture before decorating a plant pot and planting a seed to take home. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies, for these drop in sessions.
Clay Creatures
Date 31 Mar 1 Apr Time 10.30 – 12.00 or 1.30 - 3.00 Cost £4.00 per child
Look around the Museum and see the range of ceramic creatures on display. Draw your favourite and recreate it in this fun workshop using air hardening clay. Suitable for children aged 5+, who must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event. Booking required on 01833 690606.
Gallery talk by Anthony Clark
Date 31 Mar Time2.15
Join renowned artist Anthony Clark to learn more about his current exhibition, Burning Belief.
APRIL 2016
Etching Demonstration
Date Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday throughout AprilTime 2.15
Join renowned artist Anthony Clark for an etching demonstration to complement his current exhibition, Burning Belief.
Cyanotype Printing
Date4 & 5 Apr Time 10.30 - 4.00
Be inspired by the Pauline Burbidge, Quiltscapes & Quiltline exhibition in this fun drop in craft workshop. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Treasure Boxes!
Date6 & 7 Apr Time 10.30 – 12.00 or 1.30 - 3.00 Cost £4.00 per child
Look at the Museum’s collection of decorated boxes and be inspired to create your own treasure box to take home! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.
Gallery Talk
Date7 AprTime 2.15Cost Free with admission
Join one of our fashion & textile curators to learn more about the techniques used to create the quilts in the current exhibition, Quiltscapes & Quiltline by internationally acclaimed textile artist, Pauline Burbidge.
Robots
Date 8 Apr Time 10.30 – 4.00
See the robots on display in the Museum toy gallery before trying a variety of robot themed crafts in this drop in session. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Sea and Ship Painting
Date 8 AprTime10.00 – 4.00 Cost £35 Adults, £33 Friends of The Bowes Museum, inc morning refreshments
Join artist Linda Birch to create a work based on the Dutch sea painters, in particular Van de Velde, who was Turner’s great hero when it came to marine painting. Booking required on 01833 690606 or
Gallery talk by Anthony Clark
Date21 AprilTime2.15
Join renowned artist Anthony Clark to learn more about his current exhibition, Burning Belief.
MAY 2016
Nineteenth Century Pencil & Wash Drawing - Trees
Date6 MayTime10.00 – 4.00 Cost £35 Adults, £33 Friends of The Bowes Museum, inc morning refreshments
Join artist Linda Birch to explore Turner and Constable’s methods and create a work based on the highly original work of 19th century lady sketchers. Booking required on 01833 690606 or
Kings and Queens – Family Fun Day
Date 31 May Time 11.00 - 4.00
During this fun packed day of drop in activities you will:
1.Become royalty for the day, making your own crown jewels
2.Create a king or queen using a cardboard tube!
3.Produce a unique Coat of Arms for your family
4.And much more!
Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
JUNE 2016
Fantastic Founders – John and Joséphine Bowes
Date 1 JunTime 10.30 - 4.00
Learn about the founders of the Museum in this interactive drop in workshop before exploring their amazing collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
It’s Me!
Date2 & 3 Jun Time 10.30 - 4.00
Explore the new English Rose exhibition with a children’s trail before creating your own self portrait to take home in this drop in workshop. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Gilding the Elephant
Date3 JuneTime10.00 – 4.00 Cost £35 Adults, £33 Friends of The Bowes Museum, inc morning refreshments
Join artist Linda Birch for an exciting day based on exquisitely decorated Indian miniature paintings. Create a work based on the Hindu elephant god Ganesh to celebrate the Museum’s current exhibition. Booking required on 01833 690606 or
JULY 2016
Fantastic Fish
Date21 & 22 JulTime 10.30 - 4.00
When you look closely there are hundreds of fish decorating the Museum objects. See if you can find them and then try a variety of fishy themed crafts in this drop in workshop. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Simple Sewing
Date 25 Jul Time 10.30 – 4.00Celebrate Thread a Needle Day by exploring the Museum textile collection and be inspired to try some simple sewing in this drop in workshop. Suitable for children aged 5+, who must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Tick Tock!
Date26 & 27 JulTime 10.30 - 12.00 or 1.30 - 3.00 Cost £4.50 per child
Explore the Museum and see how many clocks you can see before decorating your own working clock to take home! Suitable for children aged 5+, who must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.Booking required on 01833 690606.
Ganesha Pots
Date 28 & 29 Jul Time 10.30 - 12.00 or 1.30 - 3.00 Cost £4.00 per child
Learn about Ganesha in the new From Temple to Home exhibition. Sketch in the gallery before trying to create a Ganesha pot using air hardening clay. Suitable for children aged 5+, who must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event.Booking required on 01833 690606.
Fabulous Feasts
Date1 & 2 AugTime 10.30 - 4.00
Explore the Museum and see lots of food inspired artwork and then create your favourite foods in a fun collage drop in workshop. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
National Play Day
Date 3 AugTime 10.30 - 4.00
Be part of National Play Day and let your imagination run wild as you create your very own game to take home in this drop in session! Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Boats, Trains and Planes
Date 4 & 5 Aug Time 10.30 - 4.00
Transport is the theme in this drop in fun day! See how many different modes of transport you can spot in the Museum collection before trying a variety of themed crafts. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Stories and Rhymes - Family Fun Day
Date 9 AugTime 11.00 – 4.00
Come and join The Bowes Museum in this fun packed day of drop in fun for all the family. Activities are linked to well known nursery rhymes and tales. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Celebrate the Olympics
Date10, 11 & 12 Aug Time 10.30 - 4.00
Be inspired by the Olympic Games to try a variety of themed crafts including making a salt dough medal and much more! Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies, for this drop in session.
Mandalas
Date 15, 16, 30 31 AugTime 10.30 - 4.00
Mandalas are elaborate repeated patterns inside a circle and are created by Hindus as a form of worship. Use this drop in workshop to learn more about Hinduism in the From Temple to Home exhibition before creating your own mandalas design. Suitable for children aged 5+, who must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Horse Play
Date 17 & 18 Aug Time 10.30 - 4.00
Explore the Museum’s collection and see if you can find any horses decorating objects before trying a variety of horse themed crafts in this drop in event. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies.
Seascapes
Date 19 AugTime 10.30 - 4.00