February Half-Term at The Bowes Museum

14 February – 1 March 2026

Last chance to play, cuddle and leap in Pippa Hale: Pet Project

Make the most of February half-term at the museum with fun-filled family days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, plus a special Family Open Day on 21 February.

Discover the museum together through our Family Story Tour: Collecting Art, a story-filled adventure that brings the collection to life. Get hands-on in our Gallery Takeover sessions, where you can create their own clay sculptures inspired by the collection.

Explore art and science in Arty STEAM, taking a fresh look at museum wonders like the famous Silver Swan, or step into history with Play the Part, an interactive dance workshop inspired by the acting career of the museum’s co-founder, Joséphine Bowes.

On 21 February, join us for a free day of family-friendly activities inspired by the exhibition Pippa Hale: Pet Project. Celebrate all things pets at the museum with creative, playful activities for all ages.

This is also your last chance to experience Pippa Hale: Pet Project before it closes on 1 March. Get playful among larger-than-life, squishy cats and dogs inspired by the museum’s collection of ceramic pet figurines, perfect for cuddling, climbing and imaginative play.

Don’t miss out on a joyful February half-term at the museum!

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What's On

A woman leans over a table helping two young children with an arts-and-crafts activity. The children sit at a bright yellow table covered with paper, glue sticks, markers, string, and other craft supplies. The girl on the left is drawing on purple paper while the boy on the right works with a marker. The scene takes place in a well-lit room with pastel walls and wooden shelves in the background.

Family Open Day

Join us for a free day of family-friendly activities. Inspired by the museum’s Pippa Hale: Pet Project exhibition, enjoy a variety of activities as we celebrate all things pets at the museum. Try your hand at pet-themed pottery painting, learn about conservation, take part in a lively pet-inspired dance workshop and hear from talented young curators about their work. There’s something for all the family to

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Close-up of a display featuring two small ceramic animal figurines—a white cat with blue and green painted details in the foreground and a brown dog positioned slightly behind. Surrounding the figurines are colorful origami pieces in red, green, purple, and yellow, set against a bright red background.

Pet Pottery Painting

Feeling inspired by Pippa Hale: Pet Project? Join Mud & More Pottery to paint your own bisque pottery cat or dog, cast from 18th and 19th century objects in The Bowes Museum’s collection. Please note: Each piece will be fired off-site in Mud and More’s kiln, and you’ll have three weeks to return and collect

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Swans made from white card.

Artist Makers: Valentine Cards

It’s Valentine’s Day, a day to send love to all the special people in your life. Join artist Bex Harvey to create colourful monoprinted valentines’ cards. You’ll trace heart shapes, flowers and other romantic imagery onto an inked surface, then press your paper on top to create a unique print. Experiment with coloured inks and simple mark-making to create one-of-a-kind cards.  Drop-in activity in the

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A group of children and an adult gather around a male adult instructor in a bright, art-filled classroom, watching attentively as he demonstrates a craft project.

Family Story Tour: Collecting Art

Come along and join a member of the learning team for a playful, story-filled adventure through the galleries. You’ll spot surprising details, spark your imagination and dream up what your very own art collection might be.  Meet in the Reception, recommended for ages 5-12, children under 14 must be accompanied.   Please contact Alia Cruz, Learning Manager at  learn@thebowesmusuem.org.uk if you have access requirements, so the session

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Two young children examine a small museum display case in the Curiosity Gallery using magnifying glasses. The display contains botanical elements. Around them are various museum objects, including textiles and vintage instruments, all arranged in bright, modern exhibition shelves.

Gallery Takeover

Take a closer look at the art around you, then make something inspired by what you find. It might be a figure from a portrait, a tree from a landscape or something entirely your own. Guided by a member of our Learning Team, you’ll experiment with clay as you sculpt a unique piece influenced by what you saw in the

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A boy wearing a striped t-shirt, putting items in a cardboard box.

Arty STEAM

Explore the exciting world of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) through the museum’s fascinating collections, featuring wonders like the Silver Swan, intricate clocks and the weaving loom. You’ll learn how artistry fuels invention through hands-on activities like building your own creations, mini challenges for you to solve and more.  Taking place in the Create Space recommended for ages 10-15, children under 14 must be accompanied.    Please contact Alia

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Two young children sit together indoors on colorful cushions. One child with brown hair, wearing striped sleeves and dark overalls, smiles while holding an open book. The other child with curly red hair gently touches the first child’s cheek, smiling playfully. Behind them is a shelving display with various decorative objects and vases.

Play the Part

The Bowes Museum Co-founder Joséphine Bowes graced the stage as an actress at the Théâtre des Variétés in Paris. Celebrate her passion for performance in this interactive workshop where you’ll step into the shoes of actors, dancers and storytellers.    Join our expert dancer Abbie in a fun supportive environment where you’ll explore movement and drama inspired by Joséphine’s theatrical life and the museum’s collection. Through games and roleplay,

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A young child with light hair, wearing a mustard-yellow shirt, khaki shorts, and colorful socks, smiles while crawling on a large white cushioned surface in a brightly colored play area with red and pink abstract shapes on the wall behind.

Bowes Babies

Bowes Babies are special sessions designed for our youngest visitors aged 0–5 and their families. Join a member of our Learning Team in the Conversation Gallery for an opportunity for little ones to play, explore and connect.  Guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, these sessions encourage children to discover the museum

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A young girl with a long braid and a colourful crocheted headband is sitting at a bright yellow table, drawing on a sheet of white paper with a black marker. Various craft supplies—markers, scissors, glue, and cut-out shapes—are scattered around her. A piece of cardboard with a child’s drawing of a butterfly and stands upright nearby. The girl appears focused on her artwork in the Create Space.

Artist Makers: Making Tracks

Patterns are inside and outside the museum from repeated symbols in textile pieces to paw prints of animals roaming the ground. Join artist Zoe Allen in this printmaking workshop where you’ll make your own unique tracks on paper. This event is part of our family open day, a day of free family-friendly activities.  Drop-in activity in the Create

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