Media Centre
LGBTQIA+ History Month: Celebrating Queer Stories within The Bowes Museum’s Collection
Media Release
19.02.2025
Jan Mytens, La Duchesse de la Valliere (Mistress of Louis XIV) crowning with flowers the King, who is disguised in female attire, date unknown, ©The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
LGBTQIA+ History Month: Celebrating Queer Stories within The Bowes Museum’s Collection
The Bowes Museum is proud to celebrate LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) communities throughout the year and LGBTQIA+ History Month this February, by highlighting a queer love story in the new Conversation Wall display. This Conversation Wall was co-created with community members of Be You@TheBowes* and is on display from 15 February.
The Conversation Wall exhibit features a large oil painting titled, La Duchesse de la Valliere (Mistress of Louis XIV) crowning with flowers the King, who is disguised in female attire, by Jan Mytens.
The story follows Amaryllis, a female nymph, and Mirtillo, a male shepherd, both secretly in love with each other. Mirtillo disguises himself as a female nymph, embracing his femininity, to enter a kissing contest judged by Amaryllis. However, Amaryllis sees through Mirtillo’s disguise and crowns him with flowers. And so, this painting subverts and challenges traditional gender norms, all whilst showcasing a historical romance.
The painting references the sixteenth-century pastoral play Il Pastor Fido, by Giovanni Battista Guarini (1538-1612). Louis XIV (1643–1715) and the duchesse Louise de la Vallière (1644–1710) are cast as Mirtillo and Amaryllis respectively.
The Bowes Museum has also launched a variety of initiatives to engage LGBTQIA+ communities, including:
*Be You @TheBowes is an LGBTQIA+ co-production community working group. It is the first of its kind at the museum, teaming up with regional partners and working as a community to learn from one another and grow together. The group investigates queer themes within the collection such as same-sex desire, chosen family, activism and more. The group contributes to the museum’s curation including the Conversation Wall display and is developing an object trail from the museum’s collection of fine art, ceramics, and textiles. Future dates for meetings include 4 & 18 March, 1, 15 & 29 April, 13 & 27 May 2025.
The free LGBTQIA+ tours highlight objects and artworks with LGBTQIA+ stories spanning from Ancient Greece to the 20th century, including iconic pieces and hidden gems alike. Visitors will discover about how objects and artworks can be read with a queer lens through hidden references and symbolism. These tours welcome everyone and take place on 28 February, 28 March, 25 April & 30 May 2025.
The Bowes Museum is thrilled to partner with Curious Arts, a North East based arts and youth charity championing and developing LGBTQIA+ artists and communities. As part of their growing digital archive, Curious Arts invites visitors to bring personal objects to be photographed and digitally stored and will be at the museum on 22 February 2025, free for visitors who wish to take part.
Eleanor Thirlway, Co Production Curator at The Bowes Museum, expressed:
“We are extremely proud of this LGBTQIA+ programming, it has been a joy to work on. Queer art history is an important part of The Bowes’ story, and we are committed to uncovering and sharing LGBTQIA+ narratives with all our visitors. We look forward to bringing even more LGBTQIA+ programming in the future.”
Anita Hope, a member of Be You @TheBowes, said:
“The Bowes Museum is a formidable building from the outside, and I was apprehensive going along to my first Be You group there. How wrong I was, lovely warm welcome from the staff to the two leaders of the Be You group. It’s a lovely inclusive space, where you can explore the collections, ask daft questions – and more importantly be yourself! I hope this will be the start of something bigger, beginning with the Conversation Wall currently highlighting LGBTQIA+ history Month, to the BeYou Trail! Keep up the momentum and fantastic work!”
The Bowes Museum recognises that there are many more LGBTQIA+ narratives and practices that need to be examined, showcased and discussed. This programming, along with past LGBTQIA+ initiatives, marks an essential step in addressing historical exclusions and creating a more welcoming and inclusive cultural space.
To find out more about LGBTQIA+ history month 2025: https://lgbtplushistorymonth.co.uk/
-ENDS-
Note to editors:
Download an image of La Duchesse de la Valliere (Mistress of Louis XIV) crowning with flowers the King, who is disguised in female attire here
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
A Winter of Wonder: February Half Term at The Bowes Museum
Media release
18.02.2025
A Winter of Wonder: February Half Term at The Bowes Museum
With the first half term of the year just around the corner, The Bowes Museum has a vibrant programme planned between Saturday, 22 February – Sunday, 2 March 2025, consisting of exciting new activities, and some familiar favourites. With nature, sustainability and innovation at the heart of this year’s programme, the museum celebrates 200 years of its inspiring co-founder Joséphine Bowes.
There’s bound to be something to keep all the family entertained this winter, with creative workshops, insightful tours and outstanding exhibitions, all free with admission to the County Durham museum.
Daily activities:
Museum Makes, a self-led creative activity in the Create Space offers visitors an opportunity to explore their creativity, play with a variety of materials and immerse themselves in making at their own pace.
The insightful 11am Spotlight Tours continue daily, giving an informative introduction to an exhibition, collection item or the building for up to 30 minutes.
Due to demand, the majestic 252-year-old Silver Swan will perform twice daily at 11:45am and 2pm throughout the half term. Experience the magic and learn about its history in a brief talk by one of the museum’s knowledgeable staff.
Families can pick up an interactive Deadly Beauty from the Medicine Box Trail Booklet and pencil at Reception and embark on a journey through the galleries to identify some interesting objects from the collection. Learn about blood-curdling botanicals and tragic tales of the past.
Head outside to burn off some energy in the fresh air with an Explorer Bag that can be collected from Reception. The pack includes a guide and magnifying glasses to help identify the birds, plants and insects that call the 22 acres of parkland their home.
Activities for younger children:
Play, and discover natural wonders and wonderful wildlife in Nature Spotters, a brand-new immersive activity for children aged under 10. Gather in an outdoor-inspired campsite in the Conversation Gallery from 1pm on Tuesday 25th and Friday 28th February.
Family Story Tour returns on Thursday, 27 February at 10:30am. All ages can learn fascinating facts behind art and objects from the Deadly Beauty display in this interactive tour that promises an eye-opening experience!
Stay and Play continues weekly on Thursdays from 10am until 4pm. This is the perfect way for the museum’s younger audiences to soak up the atmosphere as they get creative in these self-led, free-play sessions in the Conversation Gallery.
Activities for older children:
Seed Bombs is a brand-new workshop, perfect for nature and wildlife lovers aged 12+. On Tuesday, 25 February, 2:30 – 3:30pm, visitors can create their own pollinator friendly wildflower bomb to take home with them and discover the vital role wildflowers play in supporting pollinators and boosting local biodiversity. All materials are provided for the activity.
Artist Jane Young will be on hand in the Create Space on Saturday, 22 February and Wednesday, 26 February between 1 – 3pm for an afternoon of making. Jane will lead two new Artist Maker Workshops, Tiny Treasures and Garland of Tales. Use mixed media to create a beautiful garland, inspired by a winter scene, The Fable of the Fox and the Crow (1873) and craft your own unique mouse, inspired by a dainty automaton lovingly gifted to John Bowes by Joséphine.
Betty Brown will be drawing inspiration from beloved animal objects in the collection, in Hologram Illusions on Saturday, 1 March between 1 – 3pm. Craft a mesmerising hologram picture, sure to amaze your friends.
Artist Maker Workshops are drop-in and recommended for ages 8+.
Special activities for adults:
Zoe Allen will be leading an inspiring Still Life Workshop on Monday, 24 February from 1pm, the first in a series of creative sessions for adults. In this 2-hour class held in the picture galleries, participants will learn new techniques, refine their skills and draw inspiration from the remarkable artwork surrounding them.
Create a unique brooch with Take a Stitch 2 Durham on Saturday, 1 March from 1pm in a 2-hour Brooch Making Workshop. Inspired by Framing Fashion, draw inspiration from Vivienne Westwood’s iconic use of tartan and feathers.
Both workshops are recommended for ages 15+, booking essential. Book online.
Outstanding exhibitions:
It’s the final call for Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood before it closes Sunday, 2 March. Get up close to outfits, accessories and ephemera dating back to the mid-80s to 90s, from Peter Smithson’s private collection. A unique selection of ensembles is displayed alongside paintings and historic fashion from the museum’s collection, examining Westwood’s inspiration during this period.
From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers honours the legacy of artist, collector, patron of the arts, and museum co-founder Joséphine Bowes. Showcasing a contemporary continuation of the collection, this eclectic exhibition gives a flavour of where Joséphine’s considerable knowledge of artistic trends might have taken The Bowes Museum next. Paintings are exhibited alongside sculptures, photography, furniture, textiles and ceramics from world-renowned artists including Pablo Picasso, Sir Grayson Perry CBE, Gillian Wearing CBE and contemporaries including Joy Labinjo, Lucy Waters, and a special commission piece by Phoebe Cummings.
The Bowes Museum, Café Bowes and the shop is open daily 10am – 5pm. Don’t forget, under 18s and full-time students always go free. Enjoy a fun-filled day out and quality time with friends and family at The Bowes Museum this half term.
-ENDS-
Note to editors and picture desks:
Download high-resolution images of what visitors can expect to see when visiting The Bowes Museum this February Half Term.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Unheard Voices project transforms literacy education at HMP Deerbolt through art.
#006
Media release
14.02.2025
Unheard Voices project transforms literacy education at HMP Deerbolt through art.
An innovative project titled ‘Unheard Voices’, was introduced to literacy lessons at HMP Deerbolt in County Durham, inspired by The Bowes Museum’s highly acclaimed Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition.
Deerbolt is a prison and young offender institution, for men aged 18 and over. The initiative aimed to integrate art into literacy lessons to inspire the learners and enhance their functional skills, using creativity as a tool to overcome barriers and challenges they have faced within traditional educational settings.
The project was delivered through workshops to over 15 male learners, aged 18 – 25. Working with The Bowes Museum and a creative facilitator, Jonah York, learners and tutors explored the exhibition’s thematic, community, place, kith and kin.
As the learners developed their confidence, they discussed the artwork from the exhibition they resonated with, sketched, and reflected through letters to themselves, their families and support networks. The learner’s responses brought to life the relevance of Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry’s artwork today, enabling the museum to gather unique perspectives and insights into navigating key themes explored in the exhibition, namely community, brotherhood and chosen family.
The output of the project culminated in co-produced soundscape and zine with new and varied interpretations of the works, representing the voices of the region’s community through the learner’s own sense of place, hope and aspiration. The front cover of the zine was produced using AI technology to reflect the style of Cornish and Lowry, and the design of its content incorporates descriptions, reflections, quotes and sketches from the learners and images of the artwork that appealed to them, capturing what they described as their “unheard voices”, “the voices that people chose not to hear”.
Unheard Voices is the first project in a co-production programme, set to continue until 2027, made possible by the generous support of The John Horseman Trust. Using The Bowes Museum’s collection and upcoming exhibitions as a way of embedding literacy into artistic exploration, learners have been empowered to express themselves while gaining crucial educational and life skills.
The programme is supported by Novus, a not-for-profit social enterprise that delivers education, training and employment to adults and young people in UK prisons, and HMP Deerbolt. Together, staff members at HMP Deerbolt and Sarah Hartley, Novus National Lead for Creative Strategies have extensive years of experience in education and the prison system, and their expertise ensured the programme is tailored to meet the complex needs of learners.
Sarah Hartley, NOVUS National Lead for Creative Enrichment commented,
“At Novus we are committed to providing creative enrichment opportunities that go beyond traditional educational provision, aligning with Ofsted’s aim to promote inclusivity and meet the needs of all learners. Projects like the one with The Bowes Museum provide an opportunity for foster social cohesion, encourage reflection on societal diversity, and act as a bridge between communities. By exposing learners to different cultures, these projects enhance understanding, tolerance and engagement in a safe, supportive environment, offering a positive outlet for expression and learning.”
Mark Shovlin, Contract Lot with responsibility for HMP Deerbolt added,
“Creative enrichment projects like this one with The Bowes Museum offer our learners a real development opportunity. Working with Jonah allowed them to do something different, spend time creating and take pride in the work and themselves. Many of them will have never done anything like this before and it makes them realise how much they can achieve, which is a massive step in their rehabilitative journey.”
The Unheard Voices soundscape and zine can be accessed via The Bowes Museum’s website thebowesmuseum.org.uk/learn/unheard-voices and visitors can pick up a physical copy to take home with them during their next visit.
-ENDS-
Note to editors and picture desks:
Download a high-resolution image of a visitor reading the Unheard Voices’ Kith & Kinship zine. If using the image, please credit: © The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.
About Novus
Novus delivers education, training, employment, and support services for adults and young people in custody in England and Wales. For over 30 years, we have been helping men, women, and children of all ages and abilities, in custodial and community settings, take new directions by providing them with the learning, skills, and opportunities needed to build positive futures for themselves, their families, and our communities. We work together with our public, community, and employer partners towards shared aims, helping individuals turn their lives around.
We are part of LTE Group, a UK social enterprise dedicated to improving lives and economic success through learning and skills. The Group comprises five specialist organisations – The Manchester College, UCEN Manchester, Novus, MOL and Total People – all with a shared mission and values. Find out more at: novus.ac.uk
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
17 Arts & Culture Leaders Selected for Leadership Development Opportunity in County Durham
Media release
11.02.2025
The Bowes Museum is excited to announce the 17 dynamic individuals selected to Durham Creative Community Fellows, a free and innovative learning experience for people driving positive change in County Durham through arts and culture projects. The programme is delivered in partnership with Derby Museums and the USA-based NAS. It is a component of the Into the Light Place Partnership Initiative in County Durham.
Durham Creative Community Fellows empowers artists, community organisers, administrators and creative entrepreneurs who are driving social and physical transformations in County Durham to develop their leadership skills and take their arts and culture projects to the next level. The fellowship’s nine-month journey includes a unique curriculum emphasising learning and growth, featuring monthly online meetups, online group sessions facilitated by leadership coaches, an in-person convening and more. Participants will also form a community of practice throughout the programme, drawing on their experiences to exchange knowledge, collaborate and hold each other accountable.
“We welcome this incredible group of arts and culture leaders into Durham Creative Community Fellows. The skills they will develop and the connections they will forge in this collaborative learning environment will be instrumental in their growth as changemakers,” said Hannah Fox, Executive Director of The Bowes Museum.
“We look forward to the ways their work will enrich our community creatively and innovatively while helping shape the future of cultural engagement in County Durham.”
Durham Creative Community Fellows is a partnership between The Bowes Museum, NAS, a US-based organisation that builds and supports diverse communities of cultural leaders and Derby Museums. It is a strand of the Into the Light Place Partnership Initiative in County Durham, which aims to develop enduring growth in the county by nurturing talent, broadening access to creative education, enhancing skills, and facilitating engagement and connectivity over 2024-2027.
The Durham Creative Community Fellows curriculum was co-created by alumni of the successful UK Creative Community Fellows programme to ensure participants gain relevant and proven tools for advancing their projects. The programme’s teaching and facilitating team comprises artists, academics and creative leaders from across the globe.
The following fellows were selected for their exceptional creativity, commitment to community development, and potential to enact change in County Durham. Together they will build a community of practice that is strengthened by their broad range of backgrounds, experiences, and expertise.
Niamh Barclay
Danijel Borna Fiket
Ruth Flowers
Sarah Gent
Lizzie Lovejoy
Naomi Marklew
Gillian O’Mara
Hazel Oakes
Rupert Philbrick
Christine Powell
Ellen Ranson Howarth
Matthew Smith
Jackie Stonehouse
Rebecca Sullivan
Eleanor Thirlway
Sarah Wilson
Zara Worth
Learn more about the Durham Creative Community Fellows at https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/fellows.
-ENDS-
Note to editors and picture desks:
Download a graphic showing images of the 2025 DCCF cohort here.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1-listed accredited Museum and Grade 2-listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built museum brings together an extraordinary collection of fine European decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers, and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support for more information.
About NAS
Established in 1983, NAS has been at the forefront of leadership development in the arts and culture sector for four decades. Its mission is to build and support a diverse community of arts and culture leaders who drive inspiring change for the future. In addition to leadership development, NAS offers coaching and a powerful network to arts and culture leaders at every stage of their careers. NAS has trained and supported more arts and culture leaders than any other organisation in the field. Learn more at artstrategies.org.
About Derby Museums
Derby Museums is an independent charitable trust operating three museums: the Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Making, and Pickford’s House. It cares for the cultural heritage collections on behalf of Derby City Council for the people of Derby. Derby Museums has the finest collection of work by Joseph Wright of Derby, the 18th-century artist of the Enlightenment and is ‘Designated’ by Arts Council England as a collection of national significance. Visit derbymuseums.org to find out more.
About Into the Light
The Into the Light programme aims to drive long lasting growth in County Durham’s cultural sector, through a transformative programme of creative collaborations. It will cultivate talent, widen access to creative education, enhance the skills of the cultural workforce, and break down barriers to working in the creative industries.
The three-year programme will support over 100 creative commissions, create nationally significant performances and theatre-making in the heart of our communities, inspire children and young people, invite visitors to explore our unique mix of culture, science, and heritage, and deepen our understanding of our place in the world.
Into the Light is delivered by Durham County Council in partnership with Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Durham University, Ensemble ‘84, The Forge, No More Nowt, Northern Heartlands, Redhills CIO and TIN Arts. Culture Durham is a key stakeholder, representing the broader cultural sector.
It is funded by Durham County Council, the National Lottery through Arts Council England, the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and Durham University.
To find out more, visit culturedurham.org.uk/into-the-light.
The Bowes Museum invites families to a enjoy a free open day, showcasing highlights of its exciting 2025 programme
Media release
03.02.2025
On Saturday, 15 February, The Bowes Museum is opening its doors for free between 10:00 and 5:00. Activities handpicked from the inspiring programme planned for 2025 will take place throughout the day. With insightful tours, object handling and storytelling, it promises a memorable day out for families.
Visitors to the County Durham museum that sign up for a membership on the day will receive a ‘bring a friend for free’ voucher, enabling them to enjoy a free day out with a friend or family member until 31st March 2026.
Activities for families with younger children:
Artist Jane Young will be leading Artist Makers: Spring into Nature between 10:00 – 4:00, a workshop suited for ages 8+. Inspired by the natural world, participants will learn about symbolism from Floriography, the language of flowers and will create their own Tussie Mussie, a small floral bouquet. Artist Maker Workshops are held weekly on Saturdays, 1:00 until 3:00 and Wednesdays during the school holidays.
For those with pre-school children, Stay and Play offers a moment for self-led sensory play in the Conversation Gallery between 10:00 – 4:30.
Contemporary Dance Workshops for families with children aged 8+ will take place in the Jubilee Room on the second floor at 11:00, 1:00 and 3:00. Participants will be guided through the session with a professional dancer from regional dance school, Eliot Smith Dance. This energetic and fun experience is centred around Pitmen Painters through the lens of contemporary dance, storytelling and art. Please contact ESD at info@eliotsmithdance.com in advance of the workshop if you have any access requirements.
The ever-popular Family Story Tour will take place at 10:30, 12:30 and 2:30, centred around the Deadly Beauty from the Medicine Box display and museum-wide trail. Learning Producer, Connor Lagus will take families on a journey through the galleries to highlight the unexpected and fascinating facts behind art and objects.
Embark on an art adventure with Learning Manager, Alia Cruz in Recycled Garden, an interactive workshop based in the Blue Picture Gallery at 11:00 and 1:00. Designed to spark creativity and curiosity using eco-friendly materials, participants will be encouraged to use their senses to explore the collection. This workshop can be adapted for all ages and SEN.
Activities for young people and adults:
The Young Curators programme returns in 2025, enabling young people aged 16 – 21 to be involved in behind-the-scenes action at The Bowes Museum. In this drop-in taster day 10:00 – 4:30, staff and last year’s cohort of Young Curators will be on hand to share more about their experiences, whilst leading object handling and curatorial planning activities to participate in. Applications forms for the 2025 cohort are available on the day for those passionate about art, history and curation.
Co-Production Curator, Eleanor Thirlway will discuss the making of the co-produced ‘Bringing the outside in’ display at 10:45 and 1:45 in a HIVE Tour. Learn how the museum worked with young people and a ceramicist to select objects and prepare them for display.
Volunteers will be allowing visitors to get hands-on access to a range of interesting items from the collections at a Handling Table, based in the Decoration & Ornament Gallery from 10:00 – 4:00.
30- minute Spotlight Tours will run at 11:00 and 2:30, led by members of the Welcome Team covering their unique areas of interest and expertise.
For anyone interested in learning more about symbolism and hidden references behind objects in the collection, the captivating LGBTQIA+ Tour at 12:45 and 2:45 highlights a selection of items spanning from Ancient Greece to the 20th century.
Fashion enthusiasts can enjoy an insightful Framing Fashion Curator Talk, in a 30-minute tour led by Curator, Rachael Whitworth at 11:00, 12:00, 13:30 and 14:30.
Curator of Fine Art and Design, Howard Coutts will be introducing the history of Chinese porcelain in a specialist Ceramics Tour at 11:00 and 1:00. Discover the influence of blue and white on European ceramics through examples in the collection.
Exclusive exhibitions, only to be seen at The Bowes Museum:
Visitors can explore the new exhibition, From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers which celebrates the 200th year of artist, collector, patron of the arts, and museum co-founder Joséphine Bowes. The exhibition showcases a contemporary continuation of the collection, giving a flavour of where Joséphine’s considerable knowledge of artistic trends might have taken The Bowes Museum next. See an expansive collection of historical, modern and contemporary artwork, consisting of items from the Bowes’ collection and loans from across the UK, Europe and United States. Paintings are exhibited alongside sculptures, photography, furniture, textiles and ceramics from world-renowned artists including Pablo Picasso, Sir Grayson Perry CBE, Gillian Wearing CBE and contemporaries including Joy Labinjo, Lucy Waters, and a special commission piece by Phoebe Cummings.
There’s only two weeks left to see Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration From a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery before it closes 2 March. Presenting a new selection of ensembles by the late designer from the private collection of Peter Smithson, the special display examines the inspiration she took from paintings, sitters in portraits and the materials and techniques used by artists. Outfits, accessories and ephemera from the period are shown alongside paintings and historic fashion from the museum’s collection.
Experience the magical performance of the Silver Swan at 11:45 and 2:00.
For those feeling peckish after a busy day exploring the museum, Café Bowes, the award-winning table service restaurant will be serving up delicious cakes and scones, tempting lunch dishes and drinks throughout the day. Walk-ins welcome.
To plan your day and book activities, visit the Family Open Day event webpage.
The Bowes Museum is open daily 10:00 – 5:00, offering a family-friendly seasonal programme of free activities included with entry, and 22 acres of parkland with a play area to explore. Don’t forget, under 18s and full-time students always go free!
-ENDS-
Note to editors:
Download high-resolution images showing what visitors can expect from Family Open Day.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support for more information.
The Bowes Museum attracts internationally acclaimed music artists as part of a series of intimate performances, starting with Nerina Pallot
Media release
23.01.2025
The Bowes Museum attracts internationally acclaimed music artists as part of a series of intimate performances in the historic building starting with Nerina Pallot.
BRIT award, Ivor Novello and Mercury Music Prize nominated artists very familiar with playing to large national and international audiences, are being attracted to perform in the intimate setting of The Bowes Museum this year. The concert series kicks off with a solo concert by Nerina Pallot on 21 and 22 March 2025. Tickets go on sale on 23 January 2025.
Nerina, a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter known for her heartfelt lyrics and soul-stirring melodies, comes to Bowes Museum after a sell-out show at the London Palladium and UK Tour. Those fortunate to secure a concert ticket can expect to be one, in an intimate audience of just 80 people. The historic setting of the Jubilee room where the concert will be held, promises to be a very special evening.
About performing at the museum, Nerina said:
“As an artist, there’s something really special about performing in a setting that enhances the experience for both me and my audiences. And I just know The Bowes Museum is going to provide one of those really memorable occasions. A concert in the historic heart of this place, surrounded by such creativity and intimacy, is a treat for me and not something I get to do regularly.”
The income generated from the concert, will directly contribute to the museum’s ongoing need for funds to maintain, care for and develop the museum building, collection and parkland. Tickets from £35.00, booking via : https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/nerina-pallot-live-at-the-bowes-museum/ Further concert announcement in coming weeks.
Artist bio:
Nerina was discovered while working as a publishing assistant at Mute Records, signed to Polydor Records and released her first album in 2001. The release of her critically acclaimed second album Fires in 2006 drew comparisons with Joni Mitchell, Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, and spawned hit singles Everybody’s Gone To War and Sophia, plus Brit Award and Ivor Novello nominations.
Now two decades into her career, Pallot’s rich and varied back catalogue suggests an artist determined on carving her own path, and as a live performer she has built a reputation as a peerless musician who is as compelling solo as she is with a full band.
For more information about the artist visit https://www.nerinapallot.com
– ENDS –
Notes to editors:
An image of Nerina Pallot is available to download here.
The artist is also available for interviews. To arrange, please contact The Bowes Museum on 01833 690606 or email Acting Director of Communications, Jane Whitehead jane.whitehead@thebowesmuseum.org.uk, or Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Sarah Webster sarah.webster@thebowesmuseum.org.uk.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers (8 February – 29 June 2025)
Media release
February 2025
Joséphine Bowes (1825-1874), Fruit, flowers and vegetables
©The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle
From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers
8 February – 29 June 2025
The Bowes Museum is pleased to announce its major new exhibition From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers, celebrating 200 years of its visionary – and spirited – co-founder, Joséphine Bowes (1825-1874). Opening in February 2025, and with works spanning 300 years, the exhibition features more than 60 artists, designers, and makers shaping trends in western culture today: from Sophie Anderson (1823 – 1903) and Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973), to Grayson Perry (b.1960), Magdalena Odundo (b.1950), Phoebe Cummings (b.1981), and Lucy Waters (b.1999). Like Joséphine’s story, From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers is full of surprises.
Joséphine was a nineteenth-century warrior woman: humble in roots and bold in spirit. She lived at a time when Modern art and Impressionism were gaining momentum. Still, women did not have the right to vote, and the civil rights movement was yet to begin. The daughter of a clockmaker, her life as a Parisian actress and dancer transformed in 1852 when she married and followed her heart to the North of England. With access to a considerable fortune through her husband’s inheritance, as an illegitimate heir, a racehorse win, and the sale of a wedding gift, within ten years, Joséphine had defied many societal norms to become a pioneering artist, collector and patron of the arts. Fiercely independent, like the communities of her adopted home in Teesdale, Joséphine was unusually successful in navigating the dominant rules of gender, geography, class and taste, when she laid the first stone of The Bowes Museum in 1862.
The Bowes Museum now explores the contemporary continuation of Joséphine’s collection and imagines where its female founder’s knowledge of artistic trends might take The Bowes Museum next. From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers, is organised into four thematic sections. Presenting works in wide-ranging media, from painting, drawing, film and photography to sculpture, ceramics, furniture and textiles, every aspect of The Bowes Museum is shown in a new light. Highlights from Joséphine’s eclectic and expansive eighteenth and nineteenth-century collections are paired with significant loans from twentieth-century European history and new works by leading artists today in the North of England.
In the first section, which is dedicated to our relationship with nature, visitors are greeted by one of Joséphine Bowes’s most accomplished large-scale still-life oil paintings, Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables, c.1860-1874. This is paired with two new, previously unseen works, including a digital piece, Physalis, 2024, by David Lisser (b.1987), and a major commission for the exhibition by Phoebe Cummings (b.1981). From The Bowes Museum’s collection, Fruit and Flowers, 1866, by Henri Fantin Latour (1836 – 1904), also joins the display.
The intimate second section focuses on the female versus male gaze, past and present. It features a provocative selection of works, including the empowering portrait of a woman, Scheherazade, date unknown, by Sophie Anderson, adjacent to the painted plate, Woman’s Face, 1953, by Pablo Picasso and Madoura Pottery, and an earthenware Urn, c.1990, by Grayson Perry. The bold figurative wall-textile, Bodyscape No.4, 2023, by Daisy Collingridge (b.1991) and two moving portrayals of women embracing in, As I Stood, Listened and Watched, I Said this Woman is Not for Burning, 1985, by Sutapa Biswas (b.1962) also feature.
Joy Labinjo’s (b.1994) Chosen Family, 2024, lies at the heart of section three, which has a focus on collecting and belonging. Here, recent sculptures by Leilah Barbirye (b.1985), including Kalibbala from the Kuchu Nsenene (Grasshopper) Clan, 2023-24, for example, stand proudly alongside Traccia (Table with Bird’s Feet) Cassina Edition, 1973, by Meret Oppenheim (1913 – 1985), and a photograph series by Gillian Wearing (b.1963).
The exhibition concludes with open skies and seas, full of possibilities. Among the selected works, the wild waters of Maree Montante, pres Boulogne-sur-mer, 1870, by Joséphine Bowes, is seen side by side with Paul Merrick’s (b.1973) large and enigmatic abstract painting, Lagoon, 2020.
Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programmes and Collections at The Bowes Museum, said:
“Joséphine Bowes was a nineteenth-century innovator and tastemaker, a collector of young and emerging talent, who amassed a founding collection of 15,000 objects encompassing fine art to ceramics, glassware to textiles, furniture to mechanical objects. At the time, more early Impressionist works were purchased by The Bowes Museum than by the National Gallery, London. The driving force behind this new exhibition, From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers, is The Bowes Museum reflecting on its founders’ vision and what it means to be a collecting institution at the forefront of artistic trends for the North of England and beyond. How, 200 years on, should Joséphine’s pioneering vision to create a public museum for everyone, especially the people of Teesdale, live on today and for future generations?”
Joy Labinjo (b.1994), Chosen Family, 2024
Courtesy of the artist and Tiwani Contemporary
© Joy Labinjo, Deniz Guzel Photography
-ENDS-
For further press information:
Jenny Lea: jenny@culturecommscollective.com / 07787773344
Adela Cragg: adela@culturecommscollective.com / 07532 685 614
Morag Wood: morag@culturecommscollective.com / 07976 081 044
From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers
8 February – 29 June 2025
From The Bowes Museum’s collection, From Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers includes: Eugene Boudin (1825-1908), Joséphine Bowes (1825-1874), Roselba Carriera (1675- 1757), Paul-Alfred Colin (1838-1916), Eugene-Francois-Marie-Joseph Deveria (1805-1865), Emilie Galle (1700-1860), Herminie or Henriette Herminie Louise Gudin (1825-1892), Henri Fantin Latour (1836-1904), Mary Linwood (1755-1845), Adolphe Monticelli (1824 – 1886), and Marie Talbot (1814-1874)
Contemporaries with connections to the North East include: Ruth Adams (1893-1949), Sutapa Biswas (b.1962), Joy Labinjo (b.1994), David Lisser (b.1987), Paul Merrick (b.1973), Katie Moran (b.1975), Lucy Waters (b.1999) and Zac Weinberg (b.1990).
Major loans include works by: Sophie Anderson (1823 – 1903), Leilah Barbirye (b.1985), Daisy Collingridge (b.1991), Evelyn Mary Dunbar (1905 – 1960), Charlotte Hodes (b.1959), Mary Kelly (b.1941), Meret Oppenheim (1913-1985), Sir Grayson Perry (b.1960), Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973), Dame Magdalena Odundo (b.1950), Woody de Othello (b.1991), Guiseppe Signorini (1857-1932), Alina Szapocznikow (1926-1973), Matt Smith (b.1971), Bouke de Vries (b.1960), and Gillian Wearing (b.1963).
Major new commission by: Phoebe Cummings (b.1981)
Visitor information
Located in the heart of County Durham, The Bowes Museum is a proud neighbour to Yorkshire, Newcastle and Cumbria.
Our collection includes works from artists including El Greco, Canaletto, Goya, and J.M.W Turner, and the Museum also houses a collection of ceramics, glassware, and silverware, including pieces by renowned manufacturers such as Sèvres and Fabergé. Our fashion and textiles collection includes over 13,000 items, from eighteenth-century court dress to contemporary designer clothing. The collection features pieces worn by European royalty and aristocracy, and clothing and accessories made by notable designers such as Chanel and Dior.
In addition to displaying and interpreting this permanent collection, TBM produces exhibitions, commissions artwork, performances and interventions. The organisation delivers a learning and engagement programme, prioritising working with local constituents, families, and disenfranchised communities of geography, interests, or circumstances.
Our organisation is continuing to change. Alongside opening new co-produced gallery spaces and touring collection vaults in April 2024, our exhibition programme (changing every six months) showcases high-quality, new and existing work by regional, national and international artists and makers. With our communities, our programmes support and develop cultural confidence, promote art for all and aim to steward the future. As a charity, our refreshed vision is to unlock people’s potential to shape a more interesting, equitable and sustainable world.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Further 2025 Programme Highlights
There is something for everyone at The Bowes Museum in 2025, with opportunities for creative discovery, play and reflection in response to the local and global worlds of fashion, literature, ceramics and travel.
Joséphine: A Woman of Taste and Fashion
22 March 2025 – March 2026
To coincide with Joséphine Bowes: Trendsetters and Trailblazers, a dedicated new display from The Bowes Museum’s collection opens to showcase the variety and breadth of Joséphine’s textile acquisitions, including woven and embroidered chair covers, ecclesiastical textiles, embroideries, lace, and items purchased at the Exposition Universelle of 1867 in Paris. Surviving items of dress belonging to Joséphine are presented alongside archival material, complemented by examples of French dresses from the 1850s and 1860s. More recent examples of French haute couture from the collection including pieces by iconic designers Jeanne Paquin (1869 – 1936), Madeleine Vionnet (1876 – 1975), Elsa Schiaparelli (1890 – 1973), Jacques Fath (1912 – 1954), and Yves Saint Laurent (1936 – 2008), also feature, giving a glimpse of what Joséphine might have worn had she lived into the twentieth century.
Nathan Coley: You Create What You Will (2014)
From June 2025
For the first time, The Bowes Museum hosts one of Nathan Coley’s (b.1972) globally acclaimed outdoor series of artworks, ‘You Create What You Will’, on its grounds. This illuminated text on a scaffolding support some 7 metres high originates from Bernard Shaw’s (1856-1950) play In the Beginning: B.C. 4004, an allegorical tale of Adam and Eve as avatars for aboriginal humanity set at the dawn of creation. Emanating from a re-envisioning of an Old Testament text, ‘You Create What You Will’ is typical of Coley’s practice, which is based on an interest in public space and how systems of personal, social, religious and political belief structure our towns and cities, and therefore ourselves.
Pippa Hale: Pet Project
26 July 2025 – 1 March 2026
For a major new commission by The Bowes Museum for summer 2025, acclaimed local artist Pippa Hale transforms the museum’s renowned ceramic collection into a vibrant and interactive experience for all ages. Turning fragile into shatterproof, this playful exhibition, titled Pet Project, invites visitors to engage with ceramics boldly and hands-on, reimagining the collection’s precious figurines as 2.5m high, soft, sculptural forms. These giant ‘squishes’ welcome you to hug, climb and create imaginary play scenes, encouraging personal connections with these larger-than-life shapes as if they were cherished pets or beloved toys. Through interactive activities, Pet Project also explores the rich history of ceramics, from decorating and manufacturing techniques to cultural contexts and invites reflection on the timeless bond between people and pets. Visitors can contribute their treasured animal figurines to the show, offering fresh perspectives on value and public collecting, and decorate their bisque-fired object too.
Dressed for Departure: Fashion in the Age of Rail
September 2025 – January 2026
The Stockton and Darlington Railway (SDR) opened on 27 September 1825, connecting places, people, communities and ideas and ultimately transforming the world. To celebrate the railway’s bicentenary, The Bowes Museum presents a new exhibition in the Fashion & Textile Gallery, where visitors can discover historic fashion with railway connections alongside toys and artworks that record the railway’s route through Teesdale. Highlights include fashions, both flamboyant and functional, from crucial moments in local railway history, including a guard’s coat worn on the first train from Barnard Castle to Redcar in 1856 and the world’s first toy train set given by ‘Father of the Railway’ Edward Pease to his son John.
Two weeks’ left to experience the highly acclaimed Kith & Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition.
Media release
02.01.2025
Two weeks’ left to experience the highly acclaimed Kith & Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition at The Bowes Museum.
There’s just over two weeks’ left for people to experience the highly acclaimed Kith & Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S Lowry exhibition at The Bowes Museum in County Durham.
Thousands of people have already flocked to Barnard Castle to visit this extraordinary exhibition, featuring more than 50 paintings, drawings and sketches, including 35 of which are rarely shown or never-before seen, by two of the greatest northern artists of the 20th century. A newly found Norman Cornish self-portrait on the back of a Bar Scene, discovered during preparation work for the show is rotated once a day at 2:30pm in the gallery, allowing visitors the chance to see both sides of the painting.
The exhibition has been accompanied by a sold-out events programme and visitors have been leaving moving sketches and memories on the community wall within the gallery.
Vicky Sturrs, the Museum’s Director of Programmes and Collections, said:
“It’s been wonderful to hear people’s memories and recollections as they respond to the Cornish and Lowry works on show in the exhibition. It’s a privilege for the Museum to be able to host a show which people have been able to relate to so closely.”
The exhibition is open until Sunday, 19 January 2025.
-ENDS-
Download a selection of high-resolution images of visitors’ sketches and memories on the Kith & Kinship community wall.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Get into the festive spirit at The Bowes Museum this winter.
Media release
29.11.2024
The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle welcomes the arrival of winter this year with a fantastic programme of activities, special events and displays, inspired by the season.
Festive Highlights:
Come along to the free Late Night Shopping Event on 6th December, 5:30pm – 8:30pm to see the museum decked out for Christmas after dark. Explore the 1st floor galleries to see the highly acclaimed exhibitions, browse the Museum’s shop for Christmas decorations and gifts or enjoy the festive menu in Café Bowes. Book your free ticket here https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/festive-late-night-shopping.
The ever-popular Winter Market is returning Friday, 13th – Sunday 15th December open from 10am to 4pm, a firm favourite in the regional calendar. There’ll be over 100 stalls selling handpicked goods from artisan makers across the region.
Enjoy the delightful atmosphere with live performances from 2 Local Blokes, No Added Sugar and Happy in Harmony to name a few, as well as children’s fun fair attractions. Admission includes free access to the beautifully decorated museum, exhibitions, Artist Maker Workshops and Christmas activities.
Whether you’re looking for a thoughtful gift for that special someone, stocking fillers, treats for a Christmas spread or a festive tipple, there’s something on offer for everyone.
Tickets are available at a reduced price until 6th December. Begin planning your day and purchase your ticket online https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/winter-market/.
Daily activities:
December’s Conversation Wall display opens 7th December and will be centred around ‘Cold Moon Day’, honouring the last full moon before the December solstice on 15th December. The paintings selected from the collection show atmospheric landscape scenes from as early as 17th century, where the artists have captured a full moon.
Book to enjoy a bite to eat in Café Bowes, the award-winning ‘Café of the Year’. Whether you’d like to treat a loved one to afternoon tea (served 2pm – 4pm £20.00pp) or would prefer a seasonal, locally sourced festive lunch menu featuring tempting turkey, scrumptious salmon, and wild mushroom and chestnut arancini, there’s plenty of options to tempt your tastebuds. Festive Menus served between 1st – 24th December, view them on the website: https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/visit/cafe-bowes/.
Creative Workshops:
Artist Maker Workshops held every Saturday, 1pm until 3pm are suited for families with children aged 5+. These winter inspired drop-in sessions offer the perfect opportunity to have a go at something new.
Create Christmas decorations for your tree with Jane Young on Saturday, 7th and 21st December, and clay-based objects on 28th December with Charlie Brookes, inspired by the collection and surrounding landscape.
Additional sessions will be held during Winter Market weekend, 10am – 4pm on Friday, 13th and Saturday, 15th December that are included in the ticket cost. From print making inspired by the Silver Swan to making winter garlands and a winter wonderland, these workshops with a seasonal twist are bound to get you in the festive spirit.
The adult Lino Cut Card Making Workshop on 21st December inspired by winter scenes within the Picture Galleries, has already sold out due to popular demand.
Exclusive Exhibitions:
There are two exclusive exhibitions for art, history and fashion lovers that you won’t see elsewhere, included with entry.
Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry is open until 19th January 2025 in the exhibition gallery. The show presents over 50 paintings, drawings and sketchbooks by the two artists who recorded life in their respective communities and recognisable scenes from across the region. More than half of the artwork on display are from collections in public galleries and private collections throughout the UK, with 35 rarely or previously unseen publicly before.
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration From a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood is open until 2nd March 2025 in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery, presenting a new selection of ensembles by the late designer from the private collection of Peter Smithson. The display examines the inspiration she took from paintings, sitters in portraits and the materials and techniques used by artists. Outfits, accessories and ephemera from the period will be shown alongside paintings and historic fashion from the museum’s collection.
The Barnard Castle museum is a stones throw from the border with North Yorkshire, set just off the the A66/A1, making it the perfect destination for a fun day out with friends and family to get into the Christmas spirit and make magical memories. The Bowes Museum is open daily 10am – 5pm except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. Please note the earlier closing time of 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Please note the earlier closing time of 3pm on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.
-ENDS-
Note to editors and picture desks:
Download a selection of high-resolution images of Winter at The Bowes Museum.
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
NEW GALLERY DEDICATED TO COLLECTIONS CARE NOW OPEN AT THE BOWES MUSEUM.
Media release
05.11.2024
NEW GALLERY DEDICATED TO COLLECTIONS CARE NOW OPEN AT THE BOWES MUSEUM.
A newly refurbished gallery dedicated to collections care has just opened at The Bowes Museum in response to visitor feedback expressing a desire for more “behind-the-scenes” access and insights into “object conservation.”
Staff have worked diligently to bring this new gallery space to life, revealing the efforts and wider challenges of preserving the growing collection. Visitors to the County Durham museum can expect to see a selection of larger, rarely-seen items from the collection, ranging from unique furniture pieces to rare architectural fragments previously kept in storage.
This unique space will provide a new lens into museum processes, allowing visitors to see how objects are stored and learn about how they are cared for. Occasionally, curators and volunteers will be cleaning and conserving items in this space, preparing them for future displays and upcoming exhibitions. Visitors can observe the tools and techniques used and interact with staff to ask questions.
This project builds on the Museum’s mission to improve access to its Designated collection, following the success of the Curiosity Project, funded by DCMS Wolfson, The Foyle Foundation and Friends of The Bowes Museum. Four new gallery spaces and collections stores were introduced with input from over 100 community members in April 2024 and with the addition of this new space, over 10% of the Museum’s collection of over 58,000 objects are accessible for public viewing.
“As a charity, our visitors’ support through admission, membership, and donations is vital to preserving the Designated collection, with around 19% of our income dedicated to the care of these objects,” explained Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programming and Collections.
“The new gallery will greatly enhance access to the collection, making it more accessible for visitors to discover, learn and connect with items on display.”
Talks and live demonstrations on conservation and best practice for collections care and handling will be held in this space as part of the Museum’s events programming, providing new, inspiring experiences for visitors. You can keep updated with upcoming activity on the website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/objects-on-the-move/
The new second-floor gallery space is now open at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, where visitors can learn how objects being stored, moved and cared for.
-ENDS-
Note to editors and picture desks:
Download a selection of high-resolution images of the new Collections Care gallery, including photographs of Joe Kinsey, Collections Coordinator and Alia Cruz, Learning Manager showing Connor Lagus, Learning Producer the process of cleaning a Doll’s Bed dating back to 1885 made from Walnut in Ryhope, Sunderland. Please credit ©The Bowes Museum, County Durham. Claire Collinson Photography.
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Kith and Kinship exhibition inspires artists and reignites fond memories.
Media release
29.10.2024
Kith and Kinship exhibition inspires artists and reignites fond memories.
Sketches of people, places, pets and written warm recollections are all different ways that people are responding to The Bowes Museum’s Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition’s community wall.
Thousands of people have already flocked to the highly acclaimed show in Barnard Castle, which features more than 50 works, 35 of which are rarely shown or never-before seen. The exhibition of two of the greatest northern artists of the 20th century includes a self-portrait of Norman Cornish that was discovered on the back of another work during preparation for the show.
Vicky Sturrs, the Museum’s Director of Programmes and Collections, said: “We’ve been overwhelmed by the ways in which people are responding to the exhibition and the outpouring of creativity, love and affection shows that their work is just as relevant today as it was during their lifetimes.”
With an inspiring and insightful series of talks running alongside the show, visitors can find out more about the men themselves, their inspiration and the times they lived in.
There are still a few tickets left for The Future We Build with Ross Forbes talk, on Saturday, 16 November. Ross is the Programme Director at Redhills, Durham and he’ll delve in to the history of mining and the mining community in response to the works. For more information and bookings, visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/the-future-we-build-with-ross-forbes/.
-ENDS-
Note to editors and picture desks:
View a selection of visitor drawings and comments from the community wall: Kith and Kinship community wall.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood is open.
Media release
24.10.2024
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood is open at The Bowes Museum.
Experience a golden decade of design with only-to-be-seen-here clothing from the late designer set among never-before-shown Museum objects.
19 October 2024 – 2 March 2025
This unique show features some of Westwood’s most recognisable creations from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, loaned to the Barnard Castle Museum by the private collector Peter Smithson.
The display, in the fashion and textile gallery, explores the inspiration Westwood took from paintings, sitters in portraits and the materials and techniques used by artists, and examines how she reflected this in her pieces.
The details in her work are highlighted by items from the Museum’s collection, showcasing the inspiration the Grand Dame of Fashion took from the art and interiors of the Wallace Collection in London, which marked the mid-point of a particularly creative period for the designer.
The Museum has also partnered with Northumbria University to bring Westwood’s pattern cutting techniques to life in video showing how she created her iconic garments that still inspire creatives today.
An events programme suitable for all ages accompanies the display with spotlight tours led by Rachel Whitworth, Curator (Fashion & Textiles) and Fashion and Textile artist Betty Brown will be leading workshops to design fashion sketchbooks and free-standing card mannequins for over 15s. There will also be activities linked to the display for younger audiences in the Create gallery. Full details are on the website https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk.
Vicky Sturrs, the Museum’s Director of Programmes and Collections, said: “We are delighted to be working with Peter once again to show the relevance of Westwood’s designs in the cultural space and hope that this show along with the accompanying programme will really inspire our visitors.”
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood is open from 19 October 2024 until 2 March 2025.
-ENDS-
There is a selection of images of items that will be included in the exhibition here: Framing Fashion September release.
For press filming, photography and media enquiries, please contact our Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Sarah Webster sarah.webster@thebowesmuseum.org.uk. High-resolution images of the display will be available early November.
This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between The Bowes Museum and private collector Peter Smithson. It is not an institutional partnership with the Vivienne Westwood brand.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
The Bowes Museum’s Conversation Wall Highlights the Vital Role of Rivers
MEDIA RELEASE
7 October, 2024
The Bowes Museum Conversation Wall Highlights the Vital Role of Rivers
The Bowes Museum is proud to announce its latest Conversation Wall exhibit, dedicated to the importance of rivers and the urgent need for their protection.
The Museum is showcasing a collection of four captivating paintings that depict various riverside scenes from the 16th to the 20th centuries.
There include: View at the Mouth of a River 18th century Salomon van Ruysdael (Style of) (1602 – 1670); Landscape with a River, Bridge and Buildings, 18th century, Jan Friffier ii (Style of); River Scene with a Farmhouse, c.1751, Richard Wilson (c.1713 – 1782) and Reekie Lynn, 2018 by T.W. Cowing (20th century).
These artworks serve as a visual reminder of the beauty and significance of rivers as both natural resources and cultural landmarks.
The Conversation Wall aims to raise awareness of the threats facing rivers today, including pollution, increasing urbanisation, industrial development and the excessive extraction of water.
Visitors are encouraged to learn about the impact of human activities on these vital ecosystems and to take steps to protect them. The exhibit also provides practical tips, such as encouraging people to use eco-friendly products and disposing of waste responsibly.
“Rivers are essential to life on Earth, providing clean water, food, and transportation,” said Dr Howard Coutts, Curator (Fine Art and Design) at The Bowes Museum. “We hope that this exhibit will inspire visitors to appreciate the value of rivers and to take action to preserve them for future generations.”
The Conversation Wall rivers exhibit is displayed until 31 October 2024.
-ENDS-
Images of some of the artworks on show in the Conversation Wall can be found here: Rivers October
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
The Bowes Museum announces leadership development opportunity for County Durham Arts & Culture Community
Media release
01.10.2024
The Bowes Museum announces leadership development opportunity for County Durham Arts & Culture Community
The Bowes Museum announces the launch of Durham Creative Community Fellows, a free learning experience for individuals driving positive change in County Durham through arts and culture projects. The innovative programme, run in partnership with NAS based in the USA, Derby Museums and supported by Arts Council England, is now accepting applications until 11 November 2024 at https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/fellows.
Durham Creative Community Fellows empowers artists, community organisers, administrators and creative entrepreneurs who are driving social and physical transformations in County Durham to develop their leadership skills and take their arts and culture projects to the next level. The fellowship’s nine-month journey begins in February 2025. It includes a unique curriculum emphasising learning and growth, featuring monthly online meetups, online group sessions facilitated by leadership coaches, in-person convenings and more. Participants will also form a community of practice throughout the programme, drawing on their experiences to exchange knowledge, collaborate and hold each other accountable.
Durham Creative Community Fellows is a partnership between The Bowes Museum, NAS, a US-based organisation that builds and supports diverse communities of cultural leaders and Derby Museums. The three organisations are also partners on a country-wide version of the programme called UK Creative Community Fellows, which is now in its third year.
Durham Creative Community Fellows is a strand of the Into the Light Place Partnership Initiative in County Durham. Into the Light aims to develop enduring growth by fostering creative collaborations over 2024-2027. The initiative seeks to nurture talent, broaden access to creative education, enhance skills, and facilitate engagement and connectivity across the creative sectors.
Durham Creative Community Fellows’ curriculum was co-created by UK Creative Community Fellows alumni to ensure participants gain relevant and proven tools for advancing their projects. The programme’s teaching and facilitating team comprises artists, academics and creative leaders from across the globe.
Hannah Fox, Executive Director of The Bowes Museum, commented, “This is an exciting opportunity for County Durham’s talented arts and culture scene to elevate their work and further enrich our vibrant community.”
“Our hope with Durham Creative Community Fellows is to focus the success and impact of UK Creative Community Fellows on a county level, creating an intimate and profound experience for leaders who want to make this community a more future-thinking, inclusive and creative place to live.”
Prospective participants can learn more about the Durham Creative Community Fellows journey by signing up for an information session on 22 October or beginning their application at https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/fellows.
Note to editors and picture desks:
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1-listed accredited Museum and Grade 2-listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built museum brings together an extraordinary collection of fine European decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers, and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
About NAS
Established in 1983, NAS has been at the forefront of leadership development in the arts and culture sector for four decades. Its mission is to build and support a diverse community of arts and culture leaders who drive inspiring change for the future. In addition to leadership development, NAS offers coaching and a powerful network to arts and culture leaders at every stage of their careers. NAS has trained and supported more arts and culture leaders than any other organisation in the field. Learn more at www.artstrategies.org.
About Derby Museums
Derby Museums is an independent charitable trust operating three museums: the Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Making, and Pickford’s House. It cares for the cultural heritage collections on behalf of Derby City Council for the people of Derby. Derby Museums has the finest collection of work by Joseph Wright of Derby, the 18th-century artist of the Enlightenment and is ‘Designated’ by Arts Council England as a collection of national significance. Visit www.derbymuseums.org to find out more.
About Into the Light
Into the Light is a transformative programme that will drive long-lasting growth in County Durham through creative collaboration. Over the next three years, it will cultivate talent, widen access to creative education, enhance skills, and break down barriers in the creative industries. Fuelled by community empowerment and connection, Into the Light will support over 100 creative commissions, ignite performance-making at the heart of our communities, inspire children and young people, and deepen understanding of our unique heritage and global relevance. Into the Light is delivered by Durham County Council in partnership with Beamish Museum, The Bowes Museum, Durham University, Ensemble ’84, The Forge, No More Nowt, Northern Heartlands, Redhills CIO and TIN Arts. Culture Durham is a key stakeholder, representing the broader cultural sector. https://www.visitcountydurham.org/into-the-light/.
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood – see a snapshot of only to be seen here clothing from the late designer and never before shown Museum objects that show her cultural influences
MEDIA RELEASE
30 September, 2024
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood
The Bowes Museum’s newest exhibition highlights a golden decade of design with never- before-shown objects and only-to-be-seen-here clothing from the late designer.
19 October 2024 – 2 March 2025
The Bowes Museum is proud to be the only place to see a unique and striking mix of Vivienne Westwood clothing set alongside historical objects that showcase the cultural influences she used when its newest exhibition Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood opens on Saturday, 19 October, 2024.
Fashion and art collide in a golden decade of design in this exclusive show which features some of the late designer’s most recognisable creations from the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s, loaned to the Museum in Barnard Castle from the private collection of Peter Smithson.
The exhibition, in the fashion and textile gallery, will explore the inspiration Westwood took from paintings, sitters in portraits and the materials and techniques used by artists, as well as examine how she reflected this in her pieces.
The details in her work will be illustrated and referenced by items from The Bowes Museum’s collection, highlighting the inspiration the Grand Dame of Fashion took from the art and interiors of the Wallace Collection in London, which marked the mid-point of particularly creative period for the designer.
Visitors to the exhibition will be able to see historical men’s fashion from the Bowes’ collection, which is rarely on display. This includes the opportunity to walk around an example of a man’s coat from 1765, the shape and decoration embellished Westwood’s Dangerous Liaisons jacket from her first menswear show, Cut and Slash (SS 1991).
They’ll also be able to see fashion that’s recognisable from period dramas on tv, like a silk and cotton Woman’s spencer jacket from 1820 , which hasn’t been displayed before, and which complements Westwood’s tweed spencer jacket with matching culottes from Portrait (AW 1990/91).
Two 17th century After Jan van Bijlert paintings of a Shepherd with a flute and Woman dressed as a shepherdess, which haven’t been shown before will come out of the Museum’s stores as they are similar to the artist Boucher’s pastoral paintings of the 1700s that inspired Westwood’s Portrait collection.
Visitors will also be able to see items from the Bowes’ collection that have been moved from their usual position to sit within the display because they highlight the exchange of ideas that Westwood used within her designs. Chelsea Porcelain pot-pourri vases decorated with figures from the Commedia dell’Arte and Derby Porcelain candlesticks depicting Mars and Venus with Cupid complement Westwood designs featuring the instantly-recognisable checks worn by Commedia character Harlequin, and references to antique architecture and sculpture.
Museum founder Joséphine Bowes’ palette will be rehoused in this display. As well as socialising with artists and being a trendsetting collector, Joséphine was an artist herself, with around 60 of her works in the Museum’s collection. The figure of the artist was important to Westwood, who, as well as replicating and distilling their work on fabric, also applied their names to the garments they inspired, such as the Gainsborough blouse and Hals shirt.
The Museum has also teamed up with tutors and technicians from the Fashion Department at Northumbria University in Newcastle who have created digital deconstructions of Westwood’s painter’s smock (Salon, SS 1992) and Putti Stature of Liberty corset which will be shown near the garments, illustrating how they were cut from the fabric and stitched together to form the distinctive shapes. In addition, samples showing Westwood’s corset manufacturing process and panels illustrating the way her Harris Tweed crown was cut out and stitched together will be displayed next to the items, as well as images of Westwood’s corsets and crowns in Vogue and i-D magazines.
This exhibition follows the success of A Collector’s Story: A Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood, which closed in May to critical acclaim.
Collector Peter Smithson said:
“I am delighted that The Bowes Museum is able to show this latest collection of pieces which highlight the homage Vivienne made to the work of Old Masters through her Portrait collection. The pieces displayed will explore the abstract ways Vivienne so wittily represented every aspect of what she observed, including inspiration and ideas she drew from alternative forms of creative expression. I hope the exhibition provides as much enjoyment for visitors as A Collector’s Story, and continues to pay an affectionate tribute to the irreplaceable Vivienne Westwood.”
Emma Jane Goldsmith, Assistant Professor of Fashion at Northumbria University added: “We were thrilled to be able to work on this exciting exhibition to help bring the pieces to life. The video highlights Vivienne’s approach to creative pattern cutting, and her ability to blend both historical and contemporary techniques and processes, to produce the iconic Westwood garments that continue to inspire creative practitioners today.”
Rachel Whitworth, The Bowes Museum’s Curator (Fashion and Textiles) continued:
“We are delighted to be working with Peter once again to showcase his fantastic collection alongside historic items from The Bowes Museum which illuminate Westwood’s artistic processes. The addition of the work by Northumbria University will give visitors an insight into the design and making of some well-known Westwood pieces, and a sense of how they would feel to wear. We really hope that this show will not only inspire our visitors but also the fashion designers of tomorrow.”
Rachel will be giving a Curator’s introductory talk during the Spotlight Tours once a month for visitors to discover more about the exhibition at 11am on 7th November, 12th December 2024, 16th January and 20th February 2025.
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood is open from 19 October 2024 until 2 March 2025.
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
There is a selection of images of items that will be included in the exhibition here: Framing Fashion September release
The press preview for this exhibition will take place on Friday, 18th October at 10.30am. There will be the opportunity to photograph many of the items of clothing being prepared and conserved ready for the show on Tuesday, 8 October at 11am.
This exhibition is the result of a collaboration between The Bowes Museum and private collector Peter Smithson. It is not an institutional partnership with the Vivienne Westwood brand.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Behind the scenes Explore Collections Care in The Bowes Museums New Gallery
Media release
27.09.2024
Behind the Scenes: Explore Collections Care in The Bowes Museum’s New Gallery.
The Bowes Museum is thrilled to introduce a newly refurbished gallery where visitors can get a behind the scenes look at how it stores and cares for its collection from Saturday 26 October 2024. From unusual furniture to rare architectural fragments, many items in the display were previously in storage. Visitors will also be able to see objects being prepared for future displays and exhibitions, providing a new lens into museum processes.
The Bowes Museum is thrilled to introduce a newly refurbished gallery where visitors can get a behind the scenes look at how it stores and cares for its collection from Saturday 26 October 2024. From unusual furniture to rare architectural fragments, many items in the display were previously in storage. Visitors will also be able to see objects being prepared for future displays and exhibitions, providing a new lens into museum processes.
In this unique space, visitors can occasionally watch curators and volunteers working on items and learn about the tools and techniques used, as well as the wider challenges of preserving objects. Objects on the Move provides a fresh, interactive look into how the Museum takes care of its growing collection for future generations to appreciate and learn from.
“There’s a real desire to offer new, inspiring experiences for communities that encourage learning, curiosity and conversation.” Says Jane Whittaker, Collections Manager at The Bowes Museum,
“We’re incredibly lucky to work with such an outstanding collection and this new project means we can offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse for visitors into work that usually happens away from the public eye.”
The project also marks the return of beloved larger objects, such as the much-adored Dolls Houses, which will be on public display for the first time in several years.
Talks and live demonstrations on conservation and best practice for collections care and handling will be held in this space as part of the Museum’s events programming, providing a unique experience for visitors.
Objects on the Move follows in the footsteps of the Curiosity Project that was funded by DCMS Wolfson and The Friends of The Bowes Museum. It saw four new gallery spaces and collection stores open in April 2024 and was co-produced with over 100 local community members. As part of the Museum’s mission to improve access to its Designated collection, there are around 58,000 objects housed at the Museum, of which approximately 10% are now on public display since the opening of these new spaces.
As a charity, The Bowes Museum relies heavily on support from admission, membership and donations to contribute financially towards the preservation of objects in its care, some of which date back to the 14th century, so they can continue to be displayed for years to come. It’s hoped that this project will allow visitors to see first hand how vital their support is, and where a proportion of this money goes.
Visitors to The Bowes Museum can see objects being moved, conserved and cared for in the second-floor gallery space from Saturday 26 October 2024.
Notes to editors and picture desks:
Download images of one of The Bowes Museum’s Young Volunteers cleaning an object for the display here. Please credit ©The Bowes Museum, County Durham. Claire Collinson Photography.
To arrange a visit to the new gallery or for photographs of the space, please contact Sarah Webster, Marketing & Communications Coordinator: sarah.webster@thebowesmuseum.org.uk.
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Autumn at The Bowes Museum: Family Fun and Exclusive Exhibitions
Media release
19.09.2024
Autumn at The Bowes Museum: Family Fun and Exclusive Exhibitions
This Autumn, The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle invites visitors of all ages to experience a vibrant mix of free activities and creative hands-on workshops inspired by the Museum’s collection, alongside exclusive exhibitions, all included with admission.
Daily activities for all ages:
Visitors can unleash their creativity and make their own artwork, objects and treasures in a self-guided activity every day in the Create Space. This activity is perfect for families wanting to make memories together.
If they’d prefer to head outside, Explorer Bags can be collected from Reception and include a guide and magnifying glasses to help identify the birds, plants and insects that call the parkland their home and see how the landscape changes in autumn.
Inside the Museum, the daily 11:00 Spotlight Tours offer a friendly and interesting 30-minute introduction to an exhibition, collection, object, or the building itself.
Autumn Half Term (26 October – 3 November)
Families can get involved in something different every day during Autumn Half Term (26th October – 3rd November).
The popular Artist Maker sessions happen every Saturday, and Wednesday during school holidays, from 1:00 to 3:00. These fun drop-in workshops are great for families with children aged 5 and up. Together, you can create something beautiful, inspired by nature, the Museum collections and the changing seasons.
We’re Going on a Plant Hunt is a new activity for young children under 5. On Monday, 28 October, from 1:00 to 2:00 they can connect with nature by listening to stories, singing songs, and exploring as they search the galleries to find objects inspired by plants, flowers, and animals.
Hedgehog Houses provide a safe place for the Museum’s friendly parkland friends to call home as they hibernate for the Autumn. All ages can get hands on outdoors in two drop-in sessions as they help to build habitats and play their part in protecting nature on Tuesday 29 October and Thursday 31 October, 1.00 – 3.00. Sessions will also take place later in the year on Saturday 9 November and Saturday 7 December, 1.00 – 3.00.
Family Story Tour returns this Autumn on Friday 1 November at 11.00 and 1.00 where visitors can join a fun and interactive hour-long tour that has been created with families in mind. The tour will take them on a journey through the galleries to highlight the interesting stories and fascinating facts behind some of the objects in the collection.
Creative Workshops:
Visitors (8+) can join a Needlework Bags taster session on Saturday 19 October from 1.00 – 3.00. Participants of all abilities can learn different stitching styles from the experts at Take a Stitch 2 Durham, inspired by the Stories in Stitch exhibition. Book via the Museum’s website https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/needlework-bags.
Visitors inspired by the Kith & Kinship exhibition can join a Charcoal Workshop with artist Zoe Allen on 30 October, 1.00 – 3.00. The group will discuss the artists’ work and choice of materials, learning mark making techniques to create their own piece using charcoal. Recommended for those aged 15+, book online https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/charcoal-workshop/.
Talks:
For those looking for something to do on chilly Autumn weekends, a series of exclusive talks on artists Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry will take place on Saturday 5 and 26 October and 16 and 30 November 2.30 – 3.30. This series is perfect for anyone interested in the artist’s work, stories and heritage. To find out more details about the talks and to book a spot, visit the Museum’s website https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/.
Heather Birkett from National Trust property Acorn Bank will talk about poisonous plants, their history and uses in From Murder to Medicine and Midsummer Mayhem on 31 October, 1:00 – 2:30. Bookings can be made online at https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/.
Exhibitions:
The Kith & Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition runs until 19th January 2025. It features over 50 paintings, drawings and sketchbooks by these artists, depicting scenes from their communities and the north of England. More than half of the artworks are from public galleries and private collections, with 35 pieces being shown to the public for the first time.
It’s the last chance for visitors to see Stories in Stitch in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery before it closes on 29 September. This special display shows an eclectic collection of rarely seen samplers and embroidered pictures dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. Exploring the development and popularity of domestic embroidery in Britain, this is a must-see display for lovers of textiles and history.
In October, The Bowes Museum presents an exciting new exhibition Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood (19 October 2024 – 2 March 2025). Fashion and art collide with a new selection of pieces from Peter Smithson’s private collection, showcasing some of Vivienne Westwood’s most iconic creations from the mid-80s to the mid-90s. Items from the Museum’s collection will be displayed alongside Westwood’s pieces, highlighting how the iconic designer was inspired by art and historic fashion.
The world-famous Silver Swan automaton will play twice daily at 11.45 and 2.00 throughout the school holidays. Visitors can enjoy a brief overview of the history of this one-of-a-kind automaton and watch its magical performance. Please note that the Silver Swan will not be running 1 – 4 October due to a service that must be carried out three times every year. Visitors are invited to watch the Cumbria Clock Company carrying out this fascinating conservation work in the 19th Century (Blue) Picture Gallery.
Autumn Treats Featuring Local Suppliers
Visitors can also treat themselves to a bite to eat at the Museum’s award-winning ‘Café of the Year’. The new seasonal menu has just launched, filled with fresh autumnal produce from local suppliers. Menus and information about how to book a table can be found on the website https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/visit/cafe-bowes/.
There are always new experiences to enjoy with family or friends at The Bowes Museum.
Note to editors:
Please note that unfortunately, ‘The Art of Joséphine Bowes’ talk featured on the flyer will no longer take place on 1 November 2024.
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
A Rich Tapestry: Last Call for Stories in Stitch
Media release
13.09.2024
Download high-resolution photographs of the display and selection of objects here: Stories in Stitch at The Bowes Museum ©The Bowes Museum, photography by Claire Collinson Photography.
A Rich Tapestry: Last Call for Stories in Stitch
There’s just over two weeks for visitors to explore Stories in Stitch the captivating textile exhibition at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle, which closes on Sunday 29 September. This special display presents a collection of rarely seen samplers and embroidered pictures, highlighting different stitching styles side-by-side for the first time.
Stories in Stitch explores the development and popularity of domestic embroidery in Britain, highlighting the female makers who shaped its evolution. It also illustrates the impact of art and social history and the development of embroidery materials, techniques and teachings from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
Rachel Whitworth, Curator (Fashion and Textiles) said: “Some of the items have local connections to Barnard Castle and nearby towns, and to the Bowes family whose ancestral home was Streatlam Castle near Staindrop. The works give valuable insights into the social and historical importance of needlework to girls and women as part of their education, a hobby or pastime, or, for some, in their profession as an artist maker.
“The exhibition has been hugely popular with visitors to the Museum and we are inviting people to come and enjoy this unique collection before it ends.”
The exhibition also showcases Joséphine and John Bowes’ textile purchases which formed the founding collection of the Museum, alongside donations from the 20th century that have enriched it further by bringing unknown local and personal perspectives to the fore.
Visitors have acclaimed the show as ‘Stunning!’; ‘Inspiring’; ‘a feast for the eyes’ and as a ‘beautifully displayed, totally absorbing window into the past’.
Highlights of the display include the work of Mary Linwood (1755-1845), a pioneering artist with an international reputation. From the late 1770s, Linwood produced ‘needle paintings’, embroidered pictures copied from Old Masters and contemporary British artists such as Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and John Russell. Drawing inspiration from work she owned or saw on show at public exhibitions or in private collections, Linwood used crewel wool and silk highlights to produce images in long and short and satin stitches, imitating brush strokes.
Presented alongside examples of Linwood’s ‘needle paintings’ is the work of her contemporary, Anne Eliza Morritt (1724-1795) of Rokeby Park. Morritt created nearly 50 embroidered works, all of which are still in the family collection. Many are based on paintings belonging to her family, but others are copied from engravings of works now in public collections. Morritt was referred to in Arthur Young’s A Six Months Tour through the North of England in 1770 as “a lady of most surprising genius”. Every brushstroke was reproduced intricately in wool or silk, a truly ambitious body of work.
Creative Workshop:
Visitors inspired by the show can book a taster session to learn different stitch styles from the skilled and knowledgeable members of Take a Stitch 2 Durham on Saturday 19 October, 1.00 – 3.00. This workshop is recommended for ages 8+ and is suitable for all abilities. Spaces are limited and bookings can be made via the Museum’s website https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/needlework-bags.
A select number of items from Stories in Stitch will remain on display in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery after the exhibition closes, providing further opportunities for visitors to see some of the spectacular embroidered works in the Museum’s permanent collection.
Lovers of textiles and history must not miss this chance to see exquisite examples of historical needlework up close in Stories in Stitch, open daily, 10.00 – 5.00, at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. The exhibition is free for Members and is included in normal admission charges.
Note to editors:
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Celebrate the Festive Season at The Bowes Museum
MEDIA RELEASE
11 November 2024
CELEBRATE THE FESTIVE SEASON AT THE BOWES MUSEUM
There’s excitement in the air as The Bowes Museum announces its winter programme of activities, including the return of the popular Winter Market.
The galleries and grounds of the French styled Museum in Barnard Castle are once again set to come alive with the sights, sounds and smells of the season as the highly anticipated annual Winter Market returns from Friday, 13 December until Sunday, 15 December 2024.
Not only does the market offer a unique shopping experience with a wide variety of local and handmade gifts, it also includes free access to the Museum’s stunning galleries and exhibitions, ensuring that visitors can immerse themselves in what the attraction has to offer.
This highlight in the North East’s regional calendar features dozens of local and regional artisan traders and small businesses who sell a wide variety of unique products ranging from delicious food and scrumptious drinks to intricate, beautifully crafted homewares and fine jewellery.
There will be lots to see and do for people of all ages, including joining artist led workshops, themed tours, Christmas activities and live entertainment, including carollers and musicians.
The stalls are set both outside on the Museum’s formal parterre garden and also through the magnificent 2nd floor Picture Galleries and inside the Jubilee Room.
Specialist outdoor matting, free pre-bookable accessible parking and a lift inside the Museum make the market accessible to everyone.
This year there is a discounted entry price of £6.50 per adult for tickets bought before 6 December, with the price rising to £7.50 thereafter. Admission for under 18s, carers and full-time students is free. Free parking is also available on a first come, first served basis, with alternative car parking in town just a short walk away.
David Nicholls, The Bowes Museum’s Enterprise Manager, said:
“We’re looking forward to hosting the Winter Market again this year. It’s a special event full of Christmas spirit and has a truly wonderful atmosphere. It’s also a great way to see the Museum decorated for the season and to pick up some unique locally handmade gifts and delicious food and drinks.
“We also have a few remaining spaces available for traders who’d like to come and sell their goods at this ever-popular event.”
As well as the Winter Market, the Museum is delighted to present a wide range of events that have been inspired by the season.
These include:
- Themed bookable artist makers sessions from 22nd November onwards, where people can create their own lino printed Christmas cards, festive decorations, winter swans and snowflakes
- A Museum Festive Late, with free admission on Friday, 6 December where visitors can enjoy wandering around the 1st floor galleries, see the highly acclaimed Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L.S. Lowry and Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood Visitors can treat themselves or someone they know to some goodies from the Museum shop and make a night of it, enjoying a bite to eat and a warm mulled cider from the award-winning menu in Cafe Bowes.
- Café Bowes will be offering Festive Afternoon Teas throughout December and mulled seasonal drinks.
- There will also be a delicious locally sourced traditional seasonal menu including turkey, salmon and mince pies. Groups of 10 or more are advised to pre-order. Booking can be made by contact Café Bowes on 01833 690606.
As the Winter Market is a special event, members will need to buy a ticket for admission.
If traders are interested in taking a stall at this year’s event, they can contact the Museum’s events team at winter@thebowesmuseum.org.uk
There’s more information about the Museum’s winter activities on the website: thebowesmuseum.org.uk/winter-at-the-bowes-museum/
Notes to editors and picture desks:
…
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
GET HANDS ON WITH THE COLLECTION, DISCOVER BEHIND THE SCENE’S SECRETS AND ENJOY INFORMAL TALKS WITH THE EXPERTS AS THE BOWES MUSEUM OFFERS FREE ENTRY TO ENCOURAGE THE COMMUNITY TO ENJOY NATIONAL HERITAGE OPEN DAY SATURDAY, 7 SEPTEMBER 2024
Throughout the day a host of new and refreshed indoor and outdoor activities is on offer for visitors who want to get hands on with the collection or discover behind the scenes secrets and enjoy informal talks with experts all for free, as The Bowes Museum, one of the North East’s foremost attractions, joins the Heritage Open Day scheme on Saturday, 7 September 2024.
With brand new tours, previously unseen artworks, object handling and storytelling; there really is something for everyone to enjoy in a day packed full of activities at the Barnard Castle Museum with its award-winning café and 22 acres of parkland to explore.
Visitors can join the very first LGBTQIA+ tour exploring symbolism and hidden references in the collection from past times to present day, uncovering gender identity, sexuality and drag history; or chat to Vicky Sturrs, the Director of Programmes and Collections as she leads insightful, informal walks round the breath-taking Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition.
Previously unshown sketches and prints by Museum founder Joséphine Bowes will be highlighted in a series of talks by PhD student Harriette Moore and PhD student Amanda Raine will be exploring a collection of more than 50 hats and the memories and stories these evoke, where visitors will also have the chance to try some of them on.
A rare opportunity to handle Roman pottery and Stone Age items, as part of a specialist volunteer led object handling sessions is on offer, or a chance to get up close and personal with pests and conservation cleaning techniques with Collections Coordinator Joe Kinsey as he demonstrates conservation in action.
Visiting teenagers interested in finding out more about life behind the scenes can join in Young Curator taster sessions.
There will also be the opportunity to see the stunning and intricate 15th century Altar Piece being opened at midday and find out more about this fascinating object and the predella panel painted by Sassetta.
The iconic Silver Swan will be wowing audiences with its performance at 11.45am and again at 2pm.
For those visitors curious about museum management, there’s an opportunity to find out just how much it costs to keep the Museum running as a registered charity.
Hannah Fox, The Bowes Museum’s Executive Director, said:
“Heritage Open Day is a real highlight for us as it’s such a brilliant way to showcase the nation’s brilliant cultural gems and introduce people to The Bowes Museum who have perhaps not visited before. Our staff and volunteers love sharing their passion for the collection, building and grounds with our community, and we’re excited to share our latest exhibition, Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry. We want to inspire people to enjoy and value the heritage on their doorstep, and whilst the day is free, we’re also offering a great discount for people to join as members on the day and visit again and again throughout the year.”
More information about Heritage Open Day and a full breakdown of what’s happening throughout the day can be found on the Museum’s website: www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
The Bowes Museum’s latest Conversation Wall display ‘Paris Then and Now’ celebrates the Museum’s historical connection to Paris
The Bowes Museum’s latest Conversation Wall display ‘Paris Then and Now’ celebrates the Museum’s historical connection to Paris as the city sits at the centre of the sporting world this summer.
The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle unveiled its latest topical display titled ‘Paris: Then and Now’ on Saturday 10th August 2024. Visitors to the Museum can admire beautiful undeveloped scenes of 19th century Paris, a nod to its history as it hosts this year’s summer Olympics and Paralympic Games.
The display is located on the ‘Conversation Wall’ in the Museum’s entrance hall and tells the story of unrecognisable Parisian suburbs, that have since developed into the lively city that sits at the centre of the sporting world this summer. Many of the city of light’s iconic sites have been transformed into the backdrops for sporting events, playing host to athletes and thousands of spectators from around the globe.
The Museum also has a historical connection to Paris. Museum founder Joséphine Bowes, neé Coffin-Chevallier, was an actress at the Théâtre des Variétés in the city (that still stands today). This is where she met John Bowes for the first time in 1847 who later bought and managed the theatre. The couple married in 1852 and Joséphine then retired from the stage to concentrate on her work as an artist and collecting for their Museum in Barnard Castle, County Durham.
The three landscape works on show were collected by Joséphine Bowes, perhaps because of her personal connection to the city where she grew up and worked. Amongst the Bowes’ collection is a large proportion of works by modern French artists, who portrayed Paris’ city centre and suburbs. As building in Paris developed, most of the landscapes these artists painted became unrecognisable. The map taken from Galignani’s New Paris Guide dates to 1867, shows a Paris that Joséphine would have recognised during the period that the couple were creating their Museum.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage in conversation at The Bowes Museum’s new display ‘Paris Then and Now’ from Saturday 10th August until Wednesday 4th September. The Bowes Museum is open 10.00-5.00 daily.
Notes to editors and picture desks:
You can download images of the objects in the display here: Conversation Wall Paris Then and Now
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
One of the Museum’s massive Canalettos goes on show in cultural link up between County Durham and Japan
MEDIA RELEASE
8 August 2024
One of The Bowes Museum’s massive Canalettos has gone on show in a prestigious international touring exhibition that connects County Durham and Japan.
Regatta on the Grand Canal, Venice will return to the Museum in summer 2025.
One of The Bowes Museum’s most loved and best-known paintings has gone on view in a prestigious international touring exhibition in Japan alongside others from galleries and museums around the UK.
Regatta on the Grand Canal was painted in 1730 by the Italian, Giovanni Antonia Canal, who was better known by his nickname, Canaletto (little Canal) – used to distinguish him from his father who was also an artist.
The painting, which underwent extensive conservation work earlier this year to strengthen its 2.5 metre by more than 2 metre high frame for the journey, is appearing in a major exhibition called Canaletto and the Splendour of Venice that’s been organised by The Mainichi Newspapers Group in Japan. It will return to the Museum in summer 2025.
This show brings together 50 works, oil paintings, dessini, prints and others, mainly on loan from British collections, to a new audience showcasing the Italian master with his predecessors, contemporaries and followers.
Vicky Sturrs, The Bowes Museum’s Director of Programmes and Collections, said:
“The Bowes Museum’s collection is recognised as Designated and internationally significant, so it’s brilliant to be able to share it with people across the globe and we’re absolutely delighted that this painting will introduce the Museum to new audiences in Japan.
“It’s also great that the Museum has been able to delve into its diverse collection to bring another equally sizeable and beautiful painting out of storage to showcase to our visitors while the Canaletto’s on tour. It’s been temporarily replaced by Goris de Coxie’s artwork of a landscape with figures and a chateau dating from 1693.”
The exhibition will be at: Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art; 27 July-29 September 2024: Sompo Museum of Art; 12 October-28 December 2024: Museum of Kyoto; 15 February-13 April 2025 and Yamaguchi Prefectural Art Museum; 24 April-22 June 2025.
ENDS-
Notes to editors
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a standard day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
KITH AND KINSHIP: NORMAN CORNISH AND L. S. LOWRY OPENS WITH AN EXTENSIVE, WIDE RANGING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING EVENTS PROGRAMME AND TO ACCLAIM AT THE BOWES MUSEUM IN BARNARD CASTLE.
Hundreds of people have already flocked to see the highly anticipated landmark exhibition, Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry at The Bowes Museum.
This powerful show, which opened on the 20th of July, 2024 at the Barnard Castle venue is accompanied by a wide-ranging, thought-provoking and engaging events programme.
And the exhibition is receiving critical acclaim around the globe, with coverage in America, Europe and across the UK.
Reviews are hailing it as: ‘Terrific!!’; ‘Wonderfully curated and presented’; ‘Fascinating’, ‘Brilliant’, ‘Amazing’; ‘Unforgettable and extraordinary’ and as a ‘very moving wonderful exhibition’.
John Cornish, Norman Cornish’s son said:
“This is an extraordinary exhibition, never-before has my father’s work been shown in such a scale alongside his contemporary and regular acquaintance L. S. Lowry in such a super setting. The stories behind each artwork have been woven across the exhibition wonderfully, offering visitors another perspective on both the artists and their subjects. I really encourage you to come and see it.”
Hannah Fox, the Executive Director of The Bowes Museum added:
“We have been blown away by the fantastic response that this exhibition has received so far. It’s been a walk down memory road for many people who warmly remember seeing their work shown together during their lifetimes at The Stone Gallery in Newcastle and for others it’s a fascinating look at the documented changing social history of the North seen through two very different yet related lenses. We are delighted to be staging this to give people another rare, long-awaited opportunity to see their work together.”
Featuring more than 35 previously unseen or rarely shown artworks among the 50 on display, this is a chance to view works by two of the greatest Northern artists of the 20th century; including a newly discovered self portrait of Norman Cornish that was uncovered during preparations for the show, which is turned twice a day at 11am and 2.30pm.
It also includes some of their most recognisable works on loan to the Museum from private collectors and galleries across the UK. Visitors can see Cornish’s The Gossips, Miners on a Pit Road and The Busy bar 1976 as well as L. S. Lowry’s The Procession 1927, Lancashire Fair and A Cricket Match to name just a few.
The exhibition is accompanied by a wide ranging and engaging events programme, that’s bookable and free with admission, which includes the chance to hear from Norman Cornish’s family as well as experts from The Lowry Collection in Salford and academics.
The first of these will take place on Saturday, 31 August when Mike Thornton, Norman Cornish’s son in law will present an illustrated talk called Mr Cornish and Mr Lowry: A Tale of Two Artists that will reveal some interesting and unusual aspects of their work.
Vicki Pugh from the Institute of Social Justice at York St John University will explore how the changing industrial landscape was represented through art in Painting and pollution: a surprising new industrial aesthetic on Saturday, 5 October.
Visitors can discover an overview of the broad range of Lowry’s work with About L S Lowry with Claire Stewart on Saturday, 26 October. Claire is the Curator of The Lowry Collection in Salford which has kindly lent eight works to the exhibition including: Self Portrait; The Bedroom, Pendlebury; Teenagers and Waiting for the Tide.
And John Cornish, Norman Cornish’s son, will share intimate stories of his father’s life and work in an informal deep dive into the life and art of one of the North’s most famous painters on Saturday, 30th November.
The artist Zoe Allen will be leading charcoal drawing workshops on Monday 5th and 12th of August, where participants will be lead through the exhibition before exploring the qualities of material through mark-making and different drawing techniques to create their own landscape to take away.
There’s also space within the exhibition gallery for visitors to sketch or pop down their own thoughts, memories or inspiration sparked by the show.
People can also take home a memento of the exhibition as the Museum shop is stocked with a wide variety of books, cards and jigsaws featuring the artists and their works as well as a selection of Cornish reproduction prints and the equipment needed to create their own artworks.
Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry is open at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle until Sunday, 19th January 2025.
Notes to editors
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £16.00 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £18.00 for members (residents elsewhere), £19.00 for a day ticket, £20.90 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Donations are vital to its work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Re-imagined historic narratives through the lens of a contemporary maker: Michael McCormack exhibits at The Bowes Museum
Media Release
29.07.2024
Re-imagined historic narratives through the lens of a contemporary maker: Michael McCormack exhibits at The Bowes Museum.
Saturday 27 July 2024 –Sunday 9 February 2025
North East artist, Micheal James McCormack (b.1996) has been commissioned to create three pieces of work in response to The Bowes Museum’s collection that will appear on flagpoles on the terrace at the front of the Museum in Barnard Castle.
The works are titled Black Forest Waterfall, The Swan and Château du Barry, Louveciennes (2024) and have been inspired by objects from the Museum’s collection and historical stories that McCormack has studied during a period of research with the Museum.
Whilst working on the commission, McCormack studied two landscape paintings created by Museum founder Joséphine Bowes that depict a waterfall in Germany’s Black Forest and a rural scene in Louveciennes, the Île de France region. The paintings have been playfully reimagined as a nod to how environments result from a historical dialogue between humans and the natural world.
The central flag design is a tribute to the Museum’s iconic Silver Swan, one of the finest examples of 18th century automata in the world. It highlights the importance of traditional knowledge and skills exchange, in this case, horology (the art of clock-making) in preserving objects of cultural significance that are meaningful to a community.
Taking inspiration from Museum artefacts and historical records, Michael has explored themes of lineage, storytelling, historical value and the interaction between humans and nature within the context of the Museum.
Artist, Michael McCormack, commented:
“I was really so thrilled when The Bowes Museum approached me for this commission and was heartened and excited to be afforded the opportunity for so much creative freedom. As I painted the designs the swan dominated my newsfeed thanks to the generous public donations allowing its refurbishment. So, I wanted to celebrate this good news by creating a striking flag design of a swan in portrait, flanked by two landscapes by Joséphine Bowes, the collector who brought said piece to the Museum.”
Vicky Sturrs, The Bowes Museum’s Director of Programmes and Collections, said:
“We’re delighted to follow the legacy of the Museum’s founders Joséphine and John Bowes, in our mission to support regional Artists, Designers and Makers like Michael in our programming. We love to offer visitors exceptional artistic experiences and this commission showcases how artists continue to use The Bowes Museum and its collection as a relevant resource and allows viewers to explore and engage with the Museum in a new, unique way, considering the relationship between history, nature and human creativity.”
Michael McCormack’s designs will be displayed on the terrace at the front of the Museum until Sunday 9 February 2025.
Notes to editors and picture desks:
You can download images of Michael’s flag designs here: Michael McCormack flagpole designs
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited Museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) The Bowes Museum needs to generate more than half of its income each year to care for the historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to that work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood
Media Release
22 July 2024
FRAMING FASHION: ART AND INSPIRATION FROM A PRIVATE COLLECTION OF VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
19 OCTOBER 2024 – 2 MARCH 2025
Fashion and art collide in a golden decade of design at The Bowes Museum later this year, in an exciting new exhibition featuring some of Vivienne Westwood’s most recognisable creations from the mid 80s to the mid 90s. Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood opens at the Museum in Barnard Castle on Saturday, 19 October and runs until Sunday, 2 March 2025.
This show will feature a new selection of the late iconic designer’s ensembles from the private collection of Peter Smithson, who has spent nearly 30 years adding to his compilation of her work. It will explore the inspiration Westwood took from paintings, sitters in portraits and the materials and techniques used by artists.
One of her richest and most recognisable collections, Portrait (autumn/winter 1990/1991) was inspired by the art and interiors of The Wallace Collection in London and marked the mid-point of a particularly creative period for the designer. Items from this collection will be displayed alongside others exploring Westwood’s inspiration from classical and medieval art, 18th century portraits and pastoral scenes as well as other art forms.
The details in her work will be illustrated and referenced by paintings, objects and historic fashion from The Bowes Museum’s collection, including: 18 century portraits with sitters dressed as shepherds and shepherdesses, embroidery, tailoring and lace, paintings and sculpture featuring cherubs and putti, which were shown so much in Westwood’s work, as well as ceramic figures from the Commedia dell’Arte, which particularly influenced Voyage to Cythera (autumn/winter 1989/1990).
The recent exhibition partnership with Peter Smithson, A Collector’s Story: A Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood, which closed on 6 May 2024 received high praise from visitors, with many calling it ‘fantastic’, ‘brilliant’, ‘inspirational’, ‘fascinating’ and ‘a fabulous selection’.
Peter Smithson said:
“The reception of A Collector’s Story and the appetite for more has been overwhelming and reflects the love and admiration for the late Vivienne Westwood and her endless creativity.
“This next exhibition has been inspired by the homage Vivienne made to the work of the Old Masters through her Portrait collection, with the perfect setting nestled amongst the historic collection of The Bowes Museum.
“The pieces displayed will explore Vivienne’s re-interpretation of fashion within paintings and illuminate the abstract ways in which she so wittily represented every aspect of what she observed; brush strokes to hue, frame to furniture, even the artists’ names found their way into her work.
“Other ensembles will showcase ideas and inspiration from alternative forms of creative expression including sculpture, theatre, film, photography and social movements, collectively dressing 3000 years of history in undisputable Westwood style!
“I hope Framing Fashion will excite visitors and continue to pay an affectionate tribute to the irreplaceable Vivienne Westwood.”
Rachel Whitworth, The Bowes Museum’s Curator (Fashion and Textiles) added:
“We are thrilled at the opportunity to present a further selection of ensembles from Peter’s collection and are looking forward to exploring different themes and bringing to light new objects from the Museum’s collection to illuminate Vivienne Westwood’s artistic process.”
Framing Fashion: Art and Inspiration from a Private Collection of Vivienne Westwood opens on Saturday, 19 October 2024 and runs until Sunday, 2 March 2025 in the Fashion and Textiles Gallery.
The Bowes Museum is open from 10am to 5pm daily.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) we need to generate more than half of our income each year to care for our historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to our work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
-
Photograph of a Putti Corset from the Salon spring/summer show 1992.
The Bowes Museum unveils latest acquisition to its historic quilt collection: Leila Anderson’s Seasons (2003 – 2023)
The Bowes Museum unveils latest acquisition to its historic quilt collection: Leila Anderson’s Seasons (2003-2023)
June 2024 to early March 2025.
The Bowes Museum is thrilled to announce the installation of four contemporary quilts by local maker Leila Anderson in the Fashion & Textile Gallery. These quilts will be on public display until early March 2025, marking the completion of a series of quilts named Seasons: Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer.
The quilts are displayed in wall cases among historic fashion and textiles, creating unexpected juxtapositions of colour and pattern. Quilting enthusiasts will be able to admire the intricate stitching and colours up close.
Anderson’s quilting draws inspiration from the artistry and historic lineage of the North Country quilt. After retiring, Anderson trained with local maker Elsie Walton, a former student of the celebrated Weardale quilter, Amy Emms M.B.E. The Museum’s collection includes one of Anderson’s earliest quilts, Lindisfarne Line (1996), inspired by the Lindisfarne Gospels displayed in Durham. This quilt features hand-quilted designs based on the decorative motifs of the Anglo-Saxon Gospels on a traditional wholecloth (single fabric) quilt.
The Seasons quilts were influenced by local landscapes and paintings by Mark Rothko. Anderson used the convention of the North Country strippy quilt (strips of fabric, usually arranged vertically), arranging the strips horizontally in shaded colour blocks, reminiscent of Rothko’s work. She hand-painted each silk top, added wadding and a cotton back. Using a quilt frame and silk thread dyed to match, Anderson stitched quilting patterns evoking the cyclic changes of the year.
The first quilt in the series, Autumn (2003), has a richly hued ground with quilted patterns depicting grasses and wheatfields, adapting traditional North Country designs such as feather and wave motifs. Spring’s (2004) bright colours and stitches symbolise the reawakening and blossoming of plant life. By contrast, Winter’s (2007) sombre colours are punctuated with stitches representing fallow fields and bare branches.
The last quilt in the series is the most recent acquisition to The Bowes Museum’s celebrated quilt collection. Summer (2020-2023) was begun during the first Covid lockdown and Anderson has worked on this design over subsequent years. It is Anderson’s last ever quilt and depicts the sea and sky in wave and reverse wave stitches, with a wildflower meadow in the centre and a wheatfield border.
Anderson’s quilts embody a living tradition, inspired by local history and landscapes, they make a fitting addition to the Museum’s historic collection, particularly because of its unique geographical position. The Bowes Museum is renowned for its quilt exhibitions that honour and celebrate local makers and their skills.
Rachel Whitworth, Curator of Fashion & Textiles, commented, “We are excited to present the complete series of Seasons quilts by Leila Anderson, especially as she has been working on the final quilt, Summer, over several years. Visitors to the Museum’s most recent quilt exhibition, North Country Quilts: In Celebration of New Acquisitions (2021 – 2022) will remember Lindisfarne Line and three of the Seasons quilts. The completion of Summer was Leila’s ambition and it’s wonderful to celebrate this achievement and her generous donation of the series to the Museum.”
Visitors to The Bowes Museum can view Leila Anderson’s quilts up-close in the Fashion & Textile Gallery between June 2024 and early March 2025.
-
Winter by Leila Anderson
The Bowes Museums Kith and Kinship Norman Cornish and L S Lowry
PRESS RELEASE
The Bowes Museum’s Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and LS Lowry exhibition
Newly discovered Cornish self-portrait will also now feature in this major exhibition by two extraordinary storytellers of everyday life, who showcase the north through different lenses
Over 50 paintings, drawings and sketches by artists Norman Cornish and LS Lowry will be showcased at The Bowes Museum from 20th July 2024 – 19th January 2025. This major new exhibition includes 35 rarely or previously unseen artworks by the artists who shared a strong love of the north which was the focus of so much of their work, and who have a history of exhibiting together.
The exhibition will also now feature a newly discovered self-portrait by Norman Cornish. This new painting was uncovered during conservation work to Cornish’s painting Bar Scene. The Bowes Museum’s Conservator Jon Old, described its discovery as ‘magical’. Although it shows Cornish in his younger days it is not yet known where this never-before-seen painting fits in the wider chronology of the artist’s works, but it has now become the 29th known self-portrait by Cornish and will be proudly displayed facing the other self-portraits in the exhibition.
The newly discovered and never-before-seen Cornish self-portrait, found during conservation work at The Bowes Museum, will now form part of the museum’s major Kith and Kinship: Normal Cornish and LS Lowry exhibition.
Credit Claire Collinson Photography. [High-res images, and others, are available]
In addition to this exciting new discovery, a powerful range of other artworks will showcase the traditional and familiar industrial scenes often associated with the area. However, the exhibition also gives a unique insight into a wider, and different, story of the north: the everyday warmth, connection and community – often borne out of the adversity and challenges of harsh industrialisation – that was present in everyday life. It foregrounds the sparks of joy and light where people found a deeper connection with others, from large gatherings to more intimate moments gossiping on street corners. It is this interplay between work and community, and finding beautiful stolen moments in daily life, which gives the exhibition its title ‘Kith and Kinship’.
Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programmes and Collections at The Bowes Museum said: ‘Both Cornish and Lowry were extraordinary storytellers of their time – recording and depicting the lives of the people in their communities as well as the north east’s familiar landscapes in scenes that we can all relate to. Many of the works in this exhibition have an incredibly visceral feel – you can almost feel the warmth of the home, smell the chip van and hear the laughter.
‘Visitors will be greeted by self-portraits from each artist – including the newly discovered Cornish self-portrait – alongside a pencil drawing of the majestic Stone Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne, where the two artists exhibited together for over 15 years. This really sets the scene for ‘Kith and Kinship’, showing the long relationship they shared. Cornish and Lowry had a beautiful way of capturing everyday scenes associated with the north, but our exhibition will also showcase a different side of the region that is perhaps unexpected, which we hope visitors will really enjoy.’
The exhibition takes visitors on a journey from ‘meeting’ both artists to seeing their perceptions of the different environments they encountered. These, and the experiences shared by their friends, family and the wider community within those places, are beautifully documented throughout. The artworks span different themes, from community and working life to the role of women.
The community coming together in everyday scenes, whether outside of work or the home, is perhaps best seen in Cornish’s The Gossips and Four Shoppers (where women are seen huddled in small groups chatting and exchanging stories), and in Lowry’s Teenagers and Family Group where his familiar stick figures are gathered. The exhibition also shows gatherings on a larger scale, from Cornish’s Big Meeting 1947 depicting one of the biggest days in the north east calendar when all the mining villages met, to Lowry’s The Procession 1927 whereby a crowd gathers at Swinton Market, Pendlebury, with Manchester’s industrious mills belching smoke in the background.
Women – often described as ‘heroines of the coalfield’ – are celebrated throughout the exhibition. The roles they played within the community, at home and in the wider landscape are portrayed, often showing their comradery, sense of community and strength. A highlight is Cornish’s intimate painting of his wife Sarah Peeling a Potato, which really embodies the love, gratitude, and admiration he had for her. She is drawn in a prayer-like posture, bringing an almost spiritual aspect to the painting.
Visitors can also see a different style from Lowry with more figurative sketches and paintings of his loved ones. These include portraits of his mother and father, and Study of a Girl in Peasant Dress 1917, which are quite unlike his more familiar matchstick style figures.
Kith and Kinship also explores the more familiar working lives of Cornish and Lowry’s subjects. Paintings such as Cornish’s Miners on a Pit Road and Lowry’s The Mill Gates perfectly portray the north’s industrial roots and the harsh working conditions endured by so many. In contrast, there are also a range of artworks showcasing the light relief that was also experienced. Lowry’s Lancashire Fair and A Cricket Match evoke feelings of joy and happy memories from weekends and holidays, and Cornish’s The Busy Bar 1976 contrasts the appalling conditions of working underground by highlighting the convivial nature of a warm pub, where workmates are seen sharing a pint after work.
Hannah Fox, Executive Director of The Bowes Museum said: ‘Cornish and Lowry capture life and its nuances in a way that everyone can understand and connect with. Making art accessible is hugely important, and we hope that by displaying over 50 works showing all walks of life, different landscapes and celebrating the ordinary and the extraordinary, will not only capture the imagination of our visitors but also show how everyone can get involved with art and creativity. We will also have a dedicated space within the exhibition for visitors to share what kith and kinship means to them, which will give a fascinating insight into the wider community.
‘Local artists and makers have also brought their own perspectives to the exhibition by creating an engaging accompanying booklet which will be available in autumn and will sit alongside some of the works on display. Alongside the exhibition interpretation, this booklet will show how the universal themes that Cornish and Lowry capture will not just resonate with those from the north, but with a much wider audience too. This connection with the local community is fundamental as The Bowes Museum continues to grow and become a hub for all artists and makers in the region and beyond,’
Norman Cornish (1919 – 2014) was born, raised and worked as a miner in Spennymoor, County Durham, before becoming a professional artist. L. S. Lowry (1887 – 1976) was born in the north west, but frequently took breaks from his work as a rent collector to visit Berwick-upon-Tweed and Sunderland to paint, noting that the north east was what he had “…always been looking for”.
Cllr Amanda Hopgood, Leader of Durham County Council, said: ‘We are delighted that whilst undergoing conservation work the painting ‘Bar Scene’, which we have loaned to The Bowes Museum, has revealed this remarkable new self-portrait. It makes a fantastic addition to the wonderful body of work that Norman Cornish is known for. We’re very much looking forward to it being enjoyed by the public, and to continuing our work with the Museum and other partners as we cement our place as ‘The Culture County’. In doing so, we seek to build on two momentous years in which visitor spend has climbed to record levels in excess of £1billion.’
Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and LS Lowry is part of an ongoing programme of exciting exhibitions running in parallel to the world-class collection that is on permanent display at the County Durham Museum.
From August to November the Museum will also host an engaging series of talks supporting the exhibition. The five talks include intimate reflections and personal stories from members of the Cornish family, and insights into LS Lowry’s life and works by Curator of The Lowry Collection in Salford Claire Stewart. Attendees can also hear Redhill’s CEO Nick Malyan explore the area’s mining history and what this community looks like today, and Dr Vicki Pugh from York St John University who will discuss the relationship between industry and the environment. More details will be released in due course.
Easily accessible and only three hours from London via public transport, Kith and Kinship is an evocative and relatable exhibition not to be missed. To find out more about The Bowes Museum, visit www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
For high-res images, interview requests and more information, please contact the Culture Communications Collective:
- Adela Cragg: adela@culturecommscollective.com / 07532 685 614
- Morag Wood: morag@culturecommscollective.com / 07976 081 044
Media materials
Interviews and filming with experts, either in person on site, via video call or phone call, can be arranged. High-res images [of the selection below] are also available in a shared Dropbox.
LS Lowry, L-R: Self Portrait 1925 (© The Lowry Collection, Salford); Study of a Girl in Peasant Dress ((© The Lowry Collection, Salford); A Cricket Match (© Sotheby’s); Lancashire Fair (© The Estate of L.S. Lowry. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2024) and The Procession 1927 (© The Estate of L.S. Lowry. All Rights Reserved, DACS 2024)
Norman Cornish, L-R: Self Portrait with Spectacles; Sarah Peeling a Potato; Big Meeting 1947; Miners on a Pit Road; and The Gossips (all © Norman Cornish Ltd)
Media previews
We will be holding a media preview on Thursday 18th July. To arrange/register your interest in this, or to arrange a bespoke visit, please contact the Culture Communications Collective.
About the newly discovered Cornish self-portrait
Jon Old, Conservator at The Bowes Museum described his discovery as follows: “The painting had a back board set into its stretcher that appeared to be resting on the back of the painting, which I thought was unusual. So, I decided to remove the board to see if it was affecting the painting, and to my surprise it revealed this wonderful other painting on the reverse, which was quite magical. I felt very privileged to have been the first person since Norman Cornish to see this self-portrait and look forward to the reaction of our visitors when they see it too.”
Jon added: “I also saw that the painting was stretched over an old picture frame (the first time I have seen this) and the back board was set into the rebate of the frame. The reason the painting felt it was against the board was because it was so stiff from being painted on both sides. I think the backboard was put in place at The Stone Gallery who represented Cornish in the sixties”.
‘Bar Scene’ and the newly discovered self-portrait are part of the Durham Learning Resources collection, which sits within Durham County Council’s heritage and art collection. Durham Learning Resources provides a library service to schools, loaning artworks and other fascinating items for pupils to explore and enjoy, providing rich opportunities to inspire and enhance their learning.
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) we need to generate more than half of our income each year to care for our historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to our work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
-
Media release for Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry exhibition
Summer Holiday Fun at The Bowes Museum
Summer Holiday Fun at The Bowes Museum
Friday 19 July – Tuesday 3 September 2024
School’s out! This Summer, there will be a buzz in the air at The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle. From Friday 19 July until Tuesday 3 September, visitors can immerse themselves in a fantastic programme of free activities included with entry, inspired by the Museum, parkland and its wonderful collection.
Daily activities for all ages:
Visitors of all ages can make their own artworks, objects and treasures in a self-guided activity every day in the newly refurbished Create Space. If they’d prefer to head outside, the Explorer Bags can be collected from Reception and include a guide and magnifying glasses to help identify the birds, plants and insects that call the parkland their home.
The insightful 11.00 Spotlight Tours continue daily, giving an informal and informative introduction to an exhibition, collection, object or the building for up to 30 minutes.
Special activities:
Teens (aged 13+) can experience what it’s like to work at the Museum between 1.00 and 3.00 in this brand-new session called Young Curators every Tuesday from 23 July, where they can take a crash course in curating. They will choose objects from the collection, learn to clean and care for them, and work with curators and artists to create an exhibition for The HIVE. Booking for this activity is necessary and can be made via the Museum’s website www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/.
Stay and Play – Picnic in the Park will take place every Thursday between 10.00 and 12.00 in the wildflower meadow behind the Museum, there’ll be picnic blankets and play equipment to encourage the Museum’s youngest visitors to get outside and play. Visitors can bring their own picnic or grab a snack from the award-winning Café Bowes. Families with young children can also explore the beautiful 22 acres of parkland and sing, draw and make on a Bug Hunt between 11.00 and 12.00, where the Museum’s friendly team will lead an active walk around the parkland (or the Museum if the weather’s too soggy!)
Eco-friendly Bug Hotels provide a safe place for insects to call home. All ages can get hands on and feel connected to the outdoors in the new wildflower meadow behind the Museum every Friday, 10.30 – 12.30 as they learn how to build a bug hotel and understand the importance of protecting nature for generations to come.
Creative Workshops:
Saturday sees the return of the ever-popular Young Creatives sessions, that will be held every other week 10.30 – 12.30 in the Create Space from 27th July until 24th August. Young budding artists aged 12+ can try out a variety of new techniques and experiment with materials with guidance from the Museum’s team of regional artists, makers and designers.
The Artist Maker Drop-in Workshops held every Wednesday and Saturday, 1.00 until 3.00 are perfect for families with children aged 5+. The Museum’s textile, ceramic and portrait collections, the building’s interior and exterior and the parkland have inspired these summer sessions and offer the perfect opportunity to have a go at something new.
Alia Cruz, The Bowes Museum’s Learning Manager, commented:
“We can’t wait for visitors of all ages to enjoy the vibrant activities and workshops we have planned this summer. A fantastic host of talented artists and creators have put the collection and parkland at the core of this year’s programme, introducing exciting new experiences for families to enjoy.”
Exhibitions:
There are also two special exhibitions, Stories in Stitch (18th May – 29th September 2024) in the Fashion & Textiles Gallery that presents an eclectic collection of rarely seen samplers and embroidered pictures dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries. This one-of-a-kind display shows different representative styles of stitching side by side for the first time and explores the development and popularity of domestic embroidery in Britain, a must-see display for lovers of textiles and history.
In the exhibition gallery, Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L. S. Lowry (20th July 2024 – 19th January 2025), presents over 50 paintings, drawings and sketchbooks by the two artists who recorded life in their respective communities and recognisable scenes from across the region. More than half of the artwork on display are from collections in public galleries and private collections throughout the UK, with 35 rarely or previously unseen publicly before.
Silver Swan:
Due to popular demand, the infamous Silver Swan automaton will perform twice daily at 11.30 and 2.30 throughout the school holidays.
Enjoy a fun-packed day out this Summer at The Bowes Museum, with a variety of daily activities, outstanding exhibitions and daily Spotlight Tours. Plus, visit the Museum’s award-winning ‘Café of the Year’. There are always new experiences to enjoy with family or friends.
Note to editors:
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers. The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk.
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. www.thisisdurham.com/discover-durham
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free. As a registered charity (number 1079639) we need to generate more than half of our income each year to care for our historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to our work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
There’s still time to help reshape galleries by taking part in ground breaking eye-tracking project by Durham University at The Bowes Museum
|
-
Man wearing specialist eye tracking glasses in the picture galleries.
Work to be carried out on massive Canaletto painting in picture gallery
|
|||
|
Now you see it, now you don’t! The Bowes Museum and Durham University explore cutting-edge eye-tracking technologies in a Museum setting
|
|||
|
Not long to go until live music fills the air at The Bowes Museum’s vibrant Summer Market
|
|||
|
Migration, Adaptation, and Innovation: Two exclusive talks at The Bowes Museum
Media release
31st May 2024
The Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle is thrilled to host two exclusive talks on 6th and 27th June by members of Northumbria University, each offering a unique perspective on the creative, cultural, economic, technical impacts of migration, and the subsequent exchange of artistic skills.
The talks are a culmination of a 4-year long research project titled ‘Migration, Adaptation, Innovation 1500-1800’, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The project was led by Northumbria University’s Associate Professor of History, Dr Felicia Gottmann and saw an extensive investigation into the role of immigration in knowledge exchange and the development of new technologies across the globe around the eve of the Industrial Revolution.
Dr Gottmann and her dedicated team collaborated with five institutions including The Bowes Museum, Durham University Oriental Museum, Shipley Art Gallery, the Jewish Museum, Berlin and German Museum of Technology, Berlin, using physical objects from their collections as another strand to their research. Community organisations and migrants of today were also engaged in conversation within this body of work around the value of immigrant skills; this has helped Dr Gottmann and her team to help develop resources for teachers, museum visitors and families.
Jane Whittaker, Collections Manager at The Bowes Museum commented, “The Bowes Museum’s extensive collections of historic textiles, costume and oriental ceramics form the basis for the two talks this June and examples will be shown alongside.
“Felicia and Floris’ research will add fascinating context and a deeper understanding to objects collected by Joséphine Bowes for her museum.”
Crimes of Fashion: A story of French printed and painted textiles will be held at 2:30 on Thursday 6th June, delivered by Dr Felicia Gottmann.
The Bowes Museum holds some of the most beautiful eighteenth-century French textiles still in existence as well as numerous portraits of subjects in period clothing. This talk delves into the story behind them and how for nearly eighty years, from the late 17th to the mid-18th century, all printed and painted textiles were banned in France and how this led to a revolution in fashion and industry when import and production was legalised. Delve into a story of skulduggery: smuggling, industrial espionage, and migration and learn how this led to the beautiful fabrics we still copy and admire today.
The second talk, The International Origins of Japanese Ceramics: Korean Potters in Japan after the East Asian War of 1592-1598 will be held at 2:30 on Thursday 27th June, delivered by Northumbria University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr Floris van Swet.
The beautiful examples of Japanese ceramics in The Bowes Museum are a starting point for this talk which will outline the importance of Korean potters to the development of ceramics in Japan, as none would have existed without migrant knowledge and artistic skill. Discover the hidden narratives of conflict and collaboration following the East Asian War of 1592-1598 that had a profound consequence on trade, economies and national identity and shaped the world of Japanese ceramics.
These talks will appeal to enthusiasts of history and art and will unearth the untold stories behind artifacts and highlight their significance in shaping world cultures. Through a curated selection of items from The Bowes Museum’s collection that will be on display, attendees can get up close to the objects that have unearthed these captivating stories.
Book your free place* via The Bowes Museum’s website https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/ or call Reception on 01833 690606 to book.
*Included in membership or day admission.
Note to editors:
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers. The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk.
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. www.thisisdurham.com/discover-durham
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free. As a registered charity (number 1079639) we need to generate more than half of our income each year to care for our historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to our work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Café Bowes Scoops Top Spot at Prestigious National Awards
|
-
Picture credit Hayley Bray
Create 3D butterflies during half term fun at The Bowes Museum
Media release
13 May 2024
|
Vibrant Summer Market Returns to The Bowes Museum
|
|
|||
|
|||
|
Stories in Stitch: Embroidered treasures of The Bowes Museum
Media release
15th May 2024
Stories in Stitch: Embroidered treasures of The Bowes Museum
18th May – 29th September 2024
Stories in Stitch (18th May – 29th September 2024) presents an eclectic collection of rarely seen samplers and embroidered pictures dating from the 17th to the 20th centuries in The Bowes Museum’s latest textile exhibition. This one-of-a-kind display shows different representative styles of stitching side by side for the first time and explores the development and popularity of domestic embroidery in Britain, a must-see display for lovers of textiles and history.
Items from The Bowes Museum’s collection have been brought out of storage after decades and some have never been on show before, making this an exclusive opportunity for sewing enthusiasts to see more of the Museum’s textile collection up close. Loans from private collections complement the display and offer a moment for visitors to compare, discuss and appreciate the skills and techniques of amateur makers as young as 11, to the work of professionals, in this unique presentation.
A highlight of the display includes the work of Mary Linwood, an artist with an international reputation. From the late 1770s, Linwood produced ‘needle paintings’, embroidered pictures copied from Old Masters and contemporary British artists such as Joshua Reynolds, Thomas Gainsborough and John Russell. Drawing inspiration from work she owned or saw on show at public exhibitions or in private collections, Linwood used crewel wool and silk highlights to produce images in long and short and satin stitches, imitating brush strokes.
Presented alongside Linwood’s ‘needle paintings’ is the work of local makers. Dorothy Ann French (1858 -1900) of Middleton-in-Teesdale won an array of prizes at local agricultural shows in the 1890s for crazy work (patchwork), crochet, knitting and wool work pictures. French’s family also had a close connection to the Bowes family, as they lived on the Streatlam estate near Staindrop, the ancestral home of John Bowes, where her father was the Estate Joiner. Five of Dorothy Ann’s embroidered pictures were bequeathed to The Bowes Museum, perhaps because of this association.
The founders of The Bowes Museum, Joséphine and John Bowes, acquired embroideries from both professional and domestic settings. While these purchases formed the foundation of the Museum’s textiles collection, hundreds of donations throughout the 20th century have enriched the Museum’s holdings, bearing names, dates, stories or meanings, of people, places, and events. These local and personal perspectives present a valuable insight into the social and historical importance of needlework to girls and women as part of their education, a hobby or pastime, or, for some, in their profession as an artist maker.
Today, The Bowes Museum’s collection shows what a rich seam of material there is in the North East of England and how many stories are expressed in stitches.
Rachel Whitworth, The Bowes Museum’s Curator of Fashion and Textiles commented: “The exhibition is unusual in bringing together embroidered pictures and samplers across a period of nearly 300 hundred years. It includes items that would have been worked on at home for domestic display, and pictures that were exhibited to paying audiences or entered in competitions.
“It allows visitors to compare styles, techniques and influences from the wider world, and celebrates the taste and talent of the Museum’s founders, Joséphine and John Bowes, along with the other makers and collectors whose work features in the exhibition. Everything on view has been brought out of store, and some items have never been on show before. This is an exciting opportunity to see some of the unsung treasures of The Bowes Museum’s collection.”
Stories in Stitch opens on Saturday 18th May and runs until Sunday 29th September.
Note to editors:
For all press images, filming, photography and media enquiries, please contact our Marketing & Communications Coordinators Sarah Webster sarah.webster@thebowesmuseum.org.uk or Alison White alison.white@thebowesmuseum.org.uk.
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk.
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free. As a registered charity (number 1079639) we need to generate more than half of our income each year to care for our historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to our work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
Hanna Tuulikki Away with the Birds / Air Falbh leis na h-eòin screening and performance lecture
|
|||
|
|||
-
Away with the Birds, Hanna Tuulikki photograph by Alex Boyd.
Major new exhibition to showcase 35 rarely or previously unseen artworks by Norman Cornish and L S Lowry in summer 2024
MEDIA INFORMATION
ATTENTION FORWARD PLANNING/WHAT’S ON 2024
Major new exhibition to showcase 35 rarely or previously unseen artworks by Norman Cornish and L S Lowry in summer 2024
The Bowes Museum’s Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L S Lowry exhibition unites two titans of northern art
Over 50 paintings, drawings and sketchbooks by artists Norman Cornish and L S Lowry will be showcased at The Bowes Museum from 20th July 2024 – 19th January 2025.
This powerful new exhibition at the County Durham Museum is celebrating the work of these two artists who were inspired by the north, capturing its distinctive identity, culture and roots. Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L S Lowry will spotlight the two artists who recorded life in their respective communities, Cornish very much immersed in his community and Lowry’s persective more of an outsider ‘looking in’. Both present a range of recognisable scenes across the region, in works depicting the warmth and welcome of a northern home, shared laughter and the heartbeat of northern communities as well as the beauty in the north east’s familiar landscapes.
More than half of the artwork on display are from collections in public galleries and private collections throughout the UK, with 35 rarely or previously unseen publicly before. These include timeless, intimate sketches of family scenes by Norman Cornish and captivating paintings of community life by L S Lowry, both providing evocative images of everyday life that visitors to Barnard Castle will be able to relate to.
The exhibition will bring together Big Meeting 1947 by Norman Cornish –– and one of L S Lowry’s most well-recognised works, The Procession 1927. Both artists’ works will be presented in a wider context through writings and stories from both artists and the wider community.
Norman Cornish (1919 – 2014) and L S Lowry (1887 – 1976) both had other careers before becoming artists. Norman Cornish was born, raised and worked as a miner in Spennymoor, County Durham from 1933 until 1966. He was a professional artist for more years than he was a miner, a fact often overlooked.
Although he was born in Stretford, Trafford, Greater Manchester and later lived in Mottram in Longdendale, the north east was hugely significant to L S Lowry too. He frequently took breaks from his work as a rent collector to visit Berwick-upon-Tweed and Sunderland to paint, noting that the north east was what he had “…always been looking for”.
As part of building a community of artists and makers, the curatorial team will work with local people to create engaging descriptions of the works on display. Together they will show how the universal themes these two artists capture will not just resonate with those from the north, but a much wider audience too.
Kith and Kinship: Norman Cornish and L S Lowry is part of an ongoing programme of exciting exhibitions running in parallel to the world-class collection that is on permanent display. Easily accessible and only three hours from London via public transport, it is an evocative and relatable exhibition not to be missed.
To find out more about The Bowes Museum, visit www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
Media materials
A full press release containing more information about the exhibition, alongside high-res images and broadcast quality footage will be available in late spring/early summer 2024.
Interviews and filming with experts, either in person on site, via video call or phone call, can also be arranged.
Media previews
We will be holding a media preview prior to the exhibition opening. To arrange/register your interest in this, or to arrange a bespoke visit, please contact the Culture Communications Collective:
- Adela Cragg: adela@culturecommscollective.com / 07532 685 614
- Morag Wood: morag@culturecommscollective.com / 07976 081 044
About The Bowes Museum
The Bowes Museum is a charity managing a Grade 1 listed accredited museum and Grade 2 listed parkland in Barnard Castle. Founded by Joséphine & John Bowes 150+ years ago, this purpose-built Museum brings together an extraordinary, Designated collection of European fine and decorative art as a cultural resource for the people of Northern England, where today we celebrate artists, designers and makers.
The Bowes Museum receives funding from Durham County Council and, as a National Portfolio Organisation, receives support from Arts Council England. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. www.artscouncil.org.uk
The Bowes Museum is a member of the Discover Durham partnership of attractions, whose commitment is to promote Durham as an exciting and vibrant group travel destination and to provide the travel trade with a professional and knowledgeable service. discoverdurham.co.uk
Admission to The Bowes Museum is £13.50 for local members (residents of County Durham and Darlington), £15.50 for members (residents elsewhere), £18.00 for a day ticket, £19.80 for a day ticket including gift aid. Under 18s, full time students and carers are free.
As a registered charity (number 1079639) we need to generate more than half of our income each year to care for our historic collection, buildings and parkland. Your donations are vital to our work. Visit https://thebowesmuseum.org.uk/support/ for more information.
The Bowes Museum Cafe & Conservation Project shortlisted for prestigious national Museums + Heritage Award – Museum calls on public to vote by 12 April for the cafe to secure this outstanding achievement.
|
-
A family enjoying a meal in Cafe Bowes.
Springtime at The Bowes Museum
|
|||||
|
Seven new spaces created with the community to open on 2 April.
|
|||
|
|||
1500 hours of work to make silver swan swim again
|
For all press images, filming, photography and media enquiries, please contact our Marketing & Communications Coordinators, Sarah Webster sarah.webster@thebowesmuseum.org.uk and Amelia Stallworthy amelia.stallworthy@thebowesmuseum.org.uk.
SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
