Archives

A painted still life shows a large bouquet of flowers arranged in a blue‑and‑white ceramic vase, set on a wooden tabletop. The bouquet includes roses, poppies, irises, carnations, and small daisy‑like flowers in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, white, and deep blue, with green leaves and stems spreading outward. The background is dark and plain, creating contrast with the brightly coloured flowers and the reflective surface of the vase.

Botany at The Bowes Museum

Step into a world where plants aren’t just part of the landscape, they’re the inspiration behind art, design and groundbreaking

13 Apr 2026
A child crouches beside a small outdoor “bug hotel” made from stacked wooden pallets filled with twigs, leaves, and natural materials. A hand‑painted sign on the front reads “BUG HOTEL” and is decorated with autumn leaves and a small illustrated insect. The child wears a long‑sleeved grey top, bright pink trousers, and trainers, and rests one hand on the structure. The setting is a park or garden with grass, fallen leaves, trees with autumn foliage, and a large tree trunk behind the bug hotel.

Bug Hotels

Join us in the wildflower meadow behind the museum to find bugs at the Bowes. Build eco-friendly bug hotels and

13 Apr 2026
A person stands behind a wooden display table in a museum or gallery shop. Stacks of books are arranged neatly on the table and in wooden crates, with a central display featuring a book titled “Gibside” showing a photograph of a formal landscape on the cover. Behind the table, shelves hold postcards, stationery, and small gift items. The setting includes an arched doorway and soft indoor lighting, suggesting a heritage or museum shop environment.

Front Row: The Bowes Legacy

Join Gibside historian and writer Val Scully, author of My Name is Eleanor, a work inspired by John Bowes’ grandmother.

1 Apr 2026
A person wearing an orange apron over a yellow knitted sweater stands in a workshop space, holding a bundle of brightly coloured handmade notebooks. The notebooks are stacked together with their covers facing outward and ribbon-like ties hanging from the spines. The workshop environment includes tables, tools, and storage units in the background.

The Art of Bookbinding

In this two hour creative workshop regional artist and designer Emma Tominey will share her passion for the art of

1 Apr 2026
A young girl making art in a bright gallery space

Birthday Cards for John Bowes

Help us celebrate the birthday of The Bowes Museum’s co-founder, John Bowes. Create a special birthday card in his honour

1 Apr 2026
A person stands in the foreground of a fashion exhibition gallery, surrounded by mannequins dressed in vibrant and patterned garments. The display includes tailored suits, dresses, and coordinated outfits in colours such as red, blue, tartan, and multicoloured patchwork. The walls of the gallery are deep red, and a large framed painting hangs behind the mannequins. Exhibition lighting highlights the clothing while the room remains dim overall.

An Audience with Peter Smithson

Join us for an exclusive private view of the Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller Visionary exhibition with dinner, followed by an

30 Mar 2026
A person stands in the foreground of a fashion exhibition gallery, positioned in front of tall glass display cases. Inside the cases are mannequins dressed in tailored jackets, skirts, and patterned garments, alongside accessories such as shoes and small objects. A bright orange bag with the text “Vivienne Westwood” is visible on an upper shelf to the left. Additional mannequins wearing coordinated outfits stand to the right of the person. The space is dimly lit with display lighting highlighting the clothing and objects against dark walls.

Front Row: Making Westwood

Join designer and Northumbria University Fashion Professor Emma Jane Goldsmith for insights into the cut and construction methods of Vivienne

27 Mar 2026
The interior of a red garment is shown with the lining pulled open to reveal a gold satin interior. A bright red fabric label stitched into the lining reads “Vivienne Westwood” in yellow lettering, along with a small size tag marked “10.” The outer red fabric of the garment is visible at the edge of the image.

Wearing Westwood and Sharing Stories

Join Fashion Professors Dr Suzanne Rowland and Emma Jane Goldsmith for fun, lively narrative sessions celebrating the joy of wearing Westwood. Bring your

27 Mar 2026
A person sits in a cushioned armchair inside a café or lounge setting, holding and reading an open book. The chair has patterned cushions, and a small table is nearby. The background features a counter area with metal taps, a chalkboard-style menu board with handwritten text, and tall windows with light filtering through. The space has warm indoor lighting and a relaxed seating arrangement.

Bowes Book Club

Embrace curiosity and join the conversation as we explore stories that celebrate the arts, culture and creativity. Each session will

23 Mar 2026
A person sits at a table using a white Singer sewing machine, guiding a piece of white fabric under the needle. The table is covered with colourful fabric pieces in the foreground. The scene is set in a bright indoor workshop space with orange walls and soft natural light coming from windows behind. The sewing machine, fabric, and tools are the main focus of the image.

Sew-cial at The Bowes

Unleash your creativity in our Vivienne Westwood–inspired sewing workshops. Each of the sessions stands alone with a complete project, while together they form a

17 Mar 2026
A basket full of toy bugs and small animals.

Bug Club

Join us as we investigate the effects of insects on collection items. We will look at a variety of different materials in

10 Mar 2026