Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus by Édouard Manet
Wed 24 Apr 13 - Sun 02 Jun 13
We are delighted to announce that a painting by Édouard Manet, judged to be of outstanding cultural importance, is to go on show in April. Manet’s Portrait of ... view details
Forthcoming Events
The display of the collections and exhibitions are accompanied by a vibrant events programme. Gallery talks and lectures, family fun days, outdoor festivals, theatre and music are some of the delights on offer.
See below for upcoming events.
Meet John Dixon, great-great-great-great-great-nephew of Jeremiah Dixon (1733-79) 23 May, 2.00 - 3.00,
John will be in the exhibition gallery to meet visitors and add his personal account of the life of Jeremiah and the Dixon family. ...more
Terrific Tudors - Family Fun Day 28 May, 11.00-4.00,
Learn about the Tudors and try our fun drop in activities: 1. Make a tussy mussy (herb filled bag) 2. Create a Tudor jester stick 3. Try a Tudor art technique called ‘Pricking and ...more
Portrait of Mademoiselle Claus by Edouard Manet: Children's Activities 29 May, 11.00 - 4.00,
This major work comes to The Bowes Museum on the first stop of a national tour. Sit in front of the painting and participate in fun craft activities. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for ...more
Treasure Boxes! 31 May, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Look at the Museum’s collection of decorated boxes and be inspired to create your very own treasure box to take home! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, ...more
Drawing the Line: Jeremiah Dixon on his Life & Measurements 31 May, 7.30,
A dramatic performance in character, by Howard Burnham. Audience in costume welcome. B £12.00 Adults (with dinner £30.00), £11.00 Friends of The Bowes Museum (with dinner ...more
Painting Workshop - Manet's Flower Painting in Oils 31 May, 10.00 - 4.00,
A look at the painting style of one of the most famous painters of the Impressionist period. Towards the end of his life Manet painted a series of remarkable flower studies. The day will look at the ...more
Landscape Photography for Beginners 4 June, 10.00 - 2.00,
Join Eva Zandman to learn the basics of composition, working with natural light and exploring manual setting, to complement the current exhibition Tim Walker: Dreamscapes . £25.00 inc ...more
Gallery Talk - Dreamscapes 11 June, 2.30,
Join former Turner Prize judge Greville Worthington for this talk about the current exhibition, Tim Walker: Dreamscapes . ...more
Jeremiah Dixon, his Life and Times 11 & 12 June, 9.30 - 4.30,
A fascinating, two-day seminar. Speakers include Prof Sir Arnold Wolfendale FRS, 14th Astronomer Royal; Dr Nils Johansen, University of Oslo; Dr Diana Collecott, formerly University of Durham; Diana ...more
The Unfolding Sky - Turner in the North 14 June, 7.00,
An innovative reinterpretation of the North East countryside originally captured on canvas by the great English landscape painter, J M W Turner. A collaboration between choreographer Dora Frankel ...more
Gallery Talk - Dreamscapes 25 June, 2.30,
Join former Turner Prize judge Greville Worthington for this talk about the current exhibition, Tim Walker: Dreamscapes . ...more
The Bowes Museum Lates! 27 June, 6.00 - 10.00,
Come along and experience the joys of the Museum after hours in the first of a series of late night openings each with a different theme. ...more
The Big Vintage Picnic 30 June, 10.00 - 4.00,
Get dressed up for a delicious day out, with stalls selling a wide range of vintage clothes and home ware, artisan crafts, original art and fine local food. Bring a blanket, and enjoy your delicious ...more
Dixon, the Navy & the Seven Years' War 3 July, 2.30,
An illustrated talk by Martin Saville, ship model-maker & expert on the 18th century Navy. £11.00 Friends of The Bowes Museum, £12.00 Guests (to include afternoon tea). Booking ...more
Interopera 6 July, 7.45pm,
Locally-based company InterOpera is returning to the Museum with their increasingly popular blend of high-quality solo singers, brass band and chorus, with a programme of popular operatic ...more
Gallery Talk - Dreamscapes 9 July, 2.30,
Join former Turner Prize judge Greville Worthington for this free talk about the current exhibition, Tim Walker: Dreamscapes . ...more
A Midsummer Night's Dream 9-13 July,
The annual outdoor theatre production by the acclaimed Castle Players. Watch this space! ...more
Handlebards Theatre - Twelfth Night 16 July, 6.30pm,
This free outdoor event in the Museum grounds features four actors, four bicycles, 40 characters & a 926 mile adventure! For two months the HandleBards troupe of players are travelling from ...more
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Durham 20 July,
A specially commissioned play to celebrate the exhibition of the Lindisfarne Gospels in Durham in 2013. Tickets are available exclusively from the Gala Theatre box office at £15.00 per ticket. ...more
Summer School 22 July, 10.00?2.00,
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch. ...more
Gallery Talk - Dreamscapes 23 July, 2.30,
Join former Turner Prize judge Greville Worthington for this free talk about the current exhibition, Tim Walker: Dreamscapes . ...more
Swan Cup Creations 23 & 24 July, 10.30?12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Take a look at the swan cup in the Museum collection and recreate your own cup using air hardening clay. Please note: you are not able to drink from the cups, they are purely for decoration. Booking ...more
Silver Swan Crafts 25 & 26 July, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Sketch the famous Silver Swan and then create some wonderful swan inspired crafts! Activities include: a Silver Swan foil collage, a finger puppet and a swan bookmark. Booking required on 01833 ...more
The Bowes Museum Lates! 26 July, 6.00pm - 10.00pm,
Come along and experience the joys of the Museum after hours in this series of late night openings each with a different theme. Admission £5.00 ...more
Summer School 29 July, 10.00 - 2.00,
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch. ...more
Painting Workshop - Decorative Mediaeval Illustration 29 July, 10.00 - 4.00,
A look at the delightful drawings found down the sides of illuminated books and in the capital letters of texts, for painters who wish to explore the work of the picture makers of illuminated books. ...more
Shiver Me Timbers! - Family Fun Day 30 July, 11.00 - 4.00,
Come and join The Bowes Museum in this fun packed day of drop in fun for all the family. Activities include: 1. Pirate hats 2. Treasure boxes 3. Simple model boats 4. Storytelling with Adam ...more
Ships ahoy! 31 July, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Come and see a wonderful model boat in the Jeremiah Dixon exhibition and create your very own boat to take home! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom ...more
Printing Birds! 1 & 2 August, 10.00-12.00 or 1.00-3.00,
Sketch some of the amazing birds in the Museum collection and then transform your artwork into amazing prints! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom ...more
Summer School 5 August, 10.00 - 2.00,
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch. ...more
Birds, birds, birds! 6 August, 10.30-3.30,
Take part in this fun drop in workshop and use wire to create your very own bird hanging mobile taking inspiration from birds in the Museum collection. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for ...more
Summer School 12 August, 10.00 - 2.00,
Explore the Museum collection and try a variety of fun craft activities including clay work, printing and silk painting. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must bring a packed lunch. ...more
Hanging Clay Birds 13 & 15 August, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Use air drying clay to make some beautiful hanging birds. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event. £3.00 per ...more
Kite Making Workshop 16 August, 10.00-12.00 or 1.00-3.00,
Back by popular demand – Meet Kiteman, Malcolm Goodman, and see some of the wonderful kites in his collection. Learn interesting facts about kites and then have a go making one – he ...more
Painting Workshop - Line & Watercolour in the 19th Century 16 August, 10.00 - 4.00,
Working in sepia and colour with pen & ink, the day explores the work of artists such as Turner’s topographical painting, Thomas Girtin, Francis Towne, and others of the period. ...more
Native Indians 19 August, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Come and try the fun craft activities in this bookable session relating to the Native Indians that Jeremiah Dixon met whilst exploring America. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be ...more
Birds Galore! - Family Fun Day 20 August, 11.00 - 4.00,
Come and join The Bowes Museum in this fun packed day of drop in fun for all the family. Activities include: 1. Bird badges 2. Finger print birds 3. Bird collages 4. Explore the Museum ...more
Beautiful Bird Feeders 21 August, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Decorate your own wooden bird feeder to place in the garden! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event. £4.50 per ...more
Animal Silk Painting 22 & 23 August, 10.00-12.00 or 1.00-3.00,
A swan, monkey or even a mouse could be the inspiration for your silk painting! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the ...more
Beautiful Bird Feeders 27 August, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Decorate your own wooden bird feeder to place in the garden! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom there is no charge for the event. £4.50 per ...more
Little Explorers! 28 August, 10.30 - 3.30,
Try this fun drop in workshop and make a map and telescope so that you can become an explorer just like Jeremiah Dixon! Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom normal admission applies. ...more
The Bowes Museum Lates! 29 August, 6.00pm - 10.00pm,
Come along and experience the joys of the Museum after hours in this series of late night openings each with a different theme. Admission is £5.00 ...more
Bird Crafts 29 & 30 August, 10.00-12.00 or 1.00-3.00,
The Bowes Museum is full of bird themed objects. Take a look and then create your very own wonderful foil bird model! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for ...more
Collograph & Printmaking - Weekend Workshop 7 & 8 September, 10.00 - 4.00,
During this two-day practical workshop learn the techniques involved in this unusual method of printmaking. Taking inspiration from the exhibition Material Remains, and the museum’s fashion ...more
Illustrated Talk by Ed Danson, author of 'Drawing the Line' 10 September, 2.30,
The Story of the Mason-Dixon Line. Tickets including afternoon tea: £12.00; (Friends £11.00) ...more
Painting Workshop - Boudin & the Beach Scene 16 September, 10.00 - 4.00,
Oil painting in the style of Monet’s early mentor, Eugene Boudin, whose little beach scenes of Northern France are gems of the period. £35.00 Adults, £30.00 Friends of The Bowes ...more
The Bowes Museum Lates! 27 September, 6.00pm - 10.00pm,
Come along and experience the joys of the Museum after hours in this series of late night openings each with a different theme. Admission is £5.00 ...more
Autumn Market 29 September, 10.00 - 4.00,
Come and enjoy a glorious Autumn feast in the grounds of The Bowes Museum. Come and experience the best in local food and produce, and take in the Autumn colours on a woodland walk in beautiful ...more
The STONE Festival 2013 21 - 29 September, 10.00 - 4.00,
Dust off and sharpen your chisels. The STONE Festival is back for its second year, celebrating the past, present and future of stonework in the North Pennines, still a hotspot for the UK’s ...more
Antiques & Fine Art Fair 12 & 13 October,
Watch this space! ...more
How To Hide A Lion - Family Fun Day 29 October, 11.00?4.00,
Celebrate the opening of the new children’s exhibition and take part in this fun packed day of drop in fun relating to Helen’s amazing books. Activities include: 1. Make a pop-up ...more
Look out! It's Halloween 30 & 31 October, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Be brave and take part in this Halloween themed craft workshop. Activities include: pompom spiders, foil bugs and hanging bats! Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an ...more
The Bowes Museum Lates! 31 October, 6.00pm - 10.00pm,
Come along and experience the joys of the Museum after hours in this series of late night openings each with a different theme. Admission is £5.00 ...more
Shhhhh Storytime! 1 November, 10.30-12.00 or 1.00-2.30,
Listen to ‘Fleabag’ written by Helen Stephens and make some wonderful crafts relating to the book. Booking required on 01833 690606. Children must be accompanied by an adult, for whom ...more
Meet the Author Day: Helen Stephens 24 November 2013, 11.00 - 3.00,
Listen to Helen Stephens reading her wonderful stories before trying a variety of fun craft activities linked to the books. Suitable for all ages No booking required. Normal admission applies. ...more
Christmas Fun 21 & 22 Dec, 10.00 - 4.00,
The Bowes Museum Christmas Market has everything you need for a delicious, hand crafted Christmas. Come and enjoy delicious hot food, take home local produce for your Christmas table and truly unique ...more
Mini Illustrators 26 January, 10.30 - 12.00 or 1.30 - 3.00,
Learn about being an illustrator with Helen Stephens before having a go yourself!Booking required. £4.00 per child. Suitable for children 5+. Children must be accompanied by an adult for whom ...more