These terms and conditions cover commercial and non-commercial use of The Bowes Museum websites and all sub-domains, as well as terms of use for The Bowes Museum logo, Wi-Fi, and event and exhibition ticket transactions.

Alternatively, you can download a pdf version of the terms.

  1. Using content from the website

Content on the website is published for your enjoyment. You may freely access and store the majority of this Content for personal or private use. Please respect the following Terms of Use which set out the use you can make of the Websites.

Please note that the intellectual property rights in all ‘Content’ (including images, editorial or descriptive text, footage or any other media) featured within the ‘Website’ (https://www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk/, and all sub-domains) and selected social media platforms, is owned by The Bowes Museum ‘The Bowes Museum Owned Content’ in which The Bowes Museum owns copyright (or related rights) may be used free of charge for non-commercial purposes.

The Bowes Museum considers non-commercial use to be any use that is not intended for or directed towards commercial advantage of monetary compensation.

The following are examples of non-commercial use of Content featured on the Websites which is permitted, except where other terms expressly apply:

  • Using Owned Content and works where copyright has expired for non- commercial research, private study, criticism and review, or for the purpose of teaching and instruction within an educational establishment.
  • Using limited amounts of copyright material (The Bowes Museum and other creators) without permission for the purpose of parody, caricature and pastiche.
  • Downloading The Bowes Museum copyright audiovisual Content for non-commercial offline listening or viewing.
  • Downloading and printing of The Bowes Museum copyright learning Content for non-commercial educational use.
  • Embedding links to The Bowes Museum audiovisual Content for non-commercial use, providing no Third Party Content rights are infringed (please see section 6).
  • Any use covered by The Bowes Museum free online Search the Collections resource (please see section 3).

For all uses, a sufficient acknowledgment must be made to the copyright holder of work.

Nothing in these terms restricts your right to use Content where the use is covered by a copyright exception under the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. It is your responsibility to make sure you comply with the copyright exceptions before using in- copyright Content.

For further information please refer to the UK Intellectual Property website.

  1. Using content from The Bowes Museum Search the Collections for non- commercial purposes

We support users to navigate The Bowes Museum’s Search the Collections resource. The Bowes Museum considers the following as permitted non-commercial use of Content which can be downloaded from the Search the Collections site free of charge subject to the conditions described below:

  • Personal use of Content for non-commercial research and private study.
  • Educational use of Content for the purpose of teaching and instruction or by a student in course related work within an educational establishment.
  • Print based academic publications: one-time use of Content in publications with print-runs up to and including 4,000 copies, for one edition only.
  • Academic e-publications, online journals, non-commercial websites and blogs: use of content is permitted up to 5 years from first day of publication.
  • Charities and non-profit organisations: one-time use of Content in print or electronic formats up to 4,000 print copies or 5 years online use. The following conditions apply:
  • Images can be published in print at up to A5 size and digitally at a maximum 768 pixels along the longest side.
  • Inside publication use only: book jackets and home page uses are subject to our commercial conditions (see section 4).
  • The amount of content used must not exceed 25% of the total content used in your publication or project.
  • Images for use in exhibitions, displays and catalogues are subject to our commercial conditions (see section 4).
  • All images must be credited as follows: © The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.

To download a low-resolution image, right click the image and select ‘Save Picture as/ copy image’ from the pop-up menu. You will then be able to save the image onto your PC or mobile device.

Further information about how to use Search the Collections.

  1. Using content from The Bowes Museum Website for commercial use

If you wish to use Content for any other purpose (i.e. for a use that is commercial or for a use not covered by the Search the Collections terms and conditions), please contact our Image Licensing Team: marketing@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Please note we are a commercial Image Library and we charge for our services. Fees will apply for any commercial use of Content, which includes but is not limited to the following:

  • Content for use in publications with a print run of over 4,000 copies
  • Content for broadcast, commercial website and digital use
  • Content for use on book jackets, book covers and website home pages
  • Content for use in exhibition displays or catalogues
  • Content for use on any commercial products or packaging
  • Content for use in advertising, marketing and promotion
  • New photography of objects, digitisation or re-scans of existing photography

To make sure your order is managed efficiently, please provide the following information when contacting The Bowes Museum Images for print, electronic or audio-visual use:

  • Title
  • Author
  • Publisher/Producer/Broadcast
  • Date of publication/release
  • Print run/number of units
  • Image size e.g. 1⁄4 page, full screen
  • Language
  • Territorial distribution
  • Where will the image feature? (e.g. front cover, inside)
  • Digital rights. Please supply format details and the licensing period required.
  1. Crediting and use of The Bowes Museum logo

For any Bowes Museum Owned Content, the following copyright credit line must be used, unless otherwise stated: © The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle.

Any use of The Bowes Museum logo must be approved in advance by our Licensing Team: marketing@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

The Bowes Museum brand (including the name and logo) may not be used to suggest any endorsement or approval by The Bowes Museum of your use of Content.

  1. Third party content

The Bowes Museum has made reasonable efforts to identify any Content in which a third party owns copyright (“Third Party Content”), and to secure permission for its use only by The Bowes Museum (and its affiliates, including The Bowes Museum Enterprises Limited). Therefore, it is your responsibility to secure any permission or consent required for your own use of such Third Party Content.

If you are not sure who owns the copyright in any Content you wish to use, please contact: marketing@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

If you believe that the use of any Content infringes yours or someone else’s rights, please refer to the Copyright Statement (please see section 8).

  1. Sharing and uploading content to The Bowes Museum Website

By sharing and uploading Content to The Bowes Museum Website, you grant The Bowes Museum, free of charge, permission to use that Content in any way it wants (including modifying it and adapting it for operational and editorial reasons). This may include the use of your Content by The Bowes Museum Enterprises and similar organisations that repurpose our Content through an API.

You grant the The Bowes Museum and its subsidiaries an irrevocable, non-exclusive, royalty free, perpetual and worldwide licence to use, reproduce and make available to anyone we choose your Content in any medium and to publish such reproductions in publications including but not limited to catalogues, visitor leaflets, exhibition-related materials, exhibition advertising, in-gallery displays (including electronic and screen-based displays), internal management systems, on the Website and on other websites to which The Bowes Museum contributes material where the items are made available on a non-commercial basis and/or to incorporate your contribution in other works in any media now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in your contribution, and in accordance with privacy restrictions set out in our Privacy Policy.

When you upload Content, you are also waiving your right to be identified as the author of the Content and waiving your right to object to derogatory treatment of the Content by The Bowes Museum and its subsidiaries and licensees.

When you upload Content, you are confirming that your material is your own original work and that you are fully entitled to grant to The Bowes Museum non-exclusive rights to use it. You should not violate, plagiarise, or infringe the rights of any third parties including copyright, trade mark, trade secrets, privacy, and publicity, personal or proprietary rights.

Please do not upload Content that features people that have not expressly agreed in writing to have their image made available to The Bowes Museum on these terms and where Content features children under 16 years of age please also secure the written consent of their parent or guardian.

You agree that any Content that you upload is in no way defamatory, illegal or offensive. The Bowes Museum reserves the right to remove any Content that it deems unsuitable. This will include Content that is unlawful, harassing, defamatory, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, politically motivated, racially offensive, sexist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic or otherwise objectionable to or inconsistent with The Bowes Museum or its values.

You should not upload any Content that is intended to advertise or promote a business. The Bowes Museum reserves the right to remove any Content deemed to be advertising material.

The Bowes Museum reserves the right to use none, part or all of the Content that you upload and may delete any contribution published onto its website at any time.

If you do not want to grant to The Bowes Museum the above rights or cannot provide the warranties set out above, please do not upload your Content.

  1. Copyright statement

The Bowes Museum is the North’s Museum of Art, Fashion and Design. One of its aims is to provide access to its collections and services for diverse audiences, now and in the future.

The Bowes Museum makes reasonable efforts to protect its own intellectual property rights and the rights of others. If you believe that the use of Content (including images, editorial or descriptive text, footage or any other media) found on the Website infringes yours or someone else’s rights, please contact us, providing the information requested below:

  • Your contact details
  • Nature of the complaint
  • The Bowes Museum number (where applicable)
  • The full web address of where you found the material
  • Proof that you are the rights holder

This Copyright Statement does not obligate The Bowes Museum to respond to all complaints or other correspondence received about alleged unauthorised use of third party rights. However, The Bowes Museum will respond to and take any action it considers necessary in respect of all genuine and evidenced complaints or other correspondence received about all such alleged unauthorised use of third party rights.

  1. Free Wi-Fi terms and conditions

These terms apply to visitors using The Bowes Museum free Wi-Fi service in the Museum.

By using the Wi-Fi, you agree to be bound by these terms. The use of this Wi-Fi is subject to this acceptable use policy. Please be aware, we use a variety of technical means to enable user authentication which may include cookies. We will also use information from your usage of the Wi-Fi for service monitoring and improvement purposes.

You agree that you will when using the Wi-Fi comply with the following terms:

  • Act lawfully – do not act in any way that could be unlawful or encourage others to act unlawfully. In particular, do not infringe intellectual property rights, do not reveal confidential or sensitive information and do not engage in any criminal offence or encourage others to do so.
  • Act responsibly – you must not undertake actions or visit websites that are unlawful, harassing, defamatory, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, politically motivated, racially offensive, sexist, homophobic, biphobic, transphobic or otherwise objectionable to or inconsistent with the Museum or its values.
  • Act honestly – do not pretend to be anyone other than yourself. Do not collect email addresses or other personal details or use the Wi-Fi to send spam.
  • Act reasonably – do not use Wi-Fi access in any way that may affect the running of the Wi-Fi or network or other technology connected to it (for example, other Wi-Fi users’ devices). In particular, do not upload or download very large files and make sure your devise is protected by up-to-date anti-virus software.

You accept that, on occasion, the Wi-Fi may not be available due to technical, legal or operational reasons. We may control the types of material that can be sent or received over the Wi-Fi and may, at our discretion, suspend your access at any time without responsibility to you.

The Wi-Fi is provided “as is” without any warranty as to its functionality, suitability or availability. You are responsible for ensuring that your devices have suitable virus-blocking software and you agree that The Bowes Museum will not be responsible or liable for any virus introduced through your use of the Wi-Fi. Use of the Wi-Fi is at your own risk and we are not liable to you for any damages, losses, costs or expenses you may suffer because the Wi-Fi is unavailable, does not operate as expected or causes loss or damage to any data. You are responsible for all damage, losses, costs or expenses suffered by us arising out of any breach by you of these terms. If we are subject to any claim or request for information about your use of the Wi-Fi, we may disclose information about you.

When you use The Bowes Museum’s services to access another network or service, you undertake to follow their acceptable use policies. Any violation of their acceptable use policies will be regarded as unacceptable use of our services too.

  1. Enquiries

To contact The Bowes Museum about the Websites or any Content, please email: hello@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

  1. Liability

To the extent permitted by law, The Bowes Museum excludes all conditions, warranties, representations or other terms which may apply to the Websites or any Content, whether express or implied. We will not be liable to any user for any loss or damage, whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise, even if foreseeable, arising under or in connection with your use of, or inability to use, our Websites, APIs, Wi-Fi or your use of or reliance on any Content, PROVIDED THAT nothing in these Terms of Use shall restrict or exclude any liability that The Bowes Museum has to any party which cannot be excluded by law. The Bowes Museum assumes no responsibility for the content of websites linked to or from the Websites. Such links should not be interpreted as endorsement by The Bowes Museum of those linked websites and The Bowes Museum shall not be liable for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them.

11.1 Breach of these Terms of Use

The Bowes Museum keeps electronic records of all High Resolution Images downloaded from the Websites. In the event of any identified breach of these Terms of Use (involving the misuse of High Resolution Images or otherwise), the Museum may take appropriate action to constrain further use and/or to seek financial recompense.

  1. No waiver

No failure by The Bowes Museum to exercise or enforce any of its rights under these Terms of Use will be deemed to be a waiver of such rights or a bar to their exercise or enforcement in the future. 

  1. Data protection

The Bowes Museum will keep a record of any information you provide about yourself and your downloaded content for rights management and enforcement purposes but, except for such purposes, will not provide that information to any third party and will otherwise comply with all applicable laws (including the Data Protection Act 1998).

  1. Law and jurisdiction

These Terms of Use are governed by the laws of England and Wales and the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any dispute arising from them.

  1. Terms and conditions for buying admission, event and exhibition tickets and memberships

Event and exhibition tickets

  • Please ensure you select your correct date prior to checkout. TICKETS AND MEMBERSHIPS CANNOT BE EXCHANGED OR REFUNDED.
  • The Bowes Museum reserves the right to amend or make alterations to the published details of the event as shall become necessary.
  • The Bowes Museum reserves the right to refuse admission and may on occasion conduct security searches to ensure the safety of visitors.
  • The Membership or day ticket is valid for either one year from the date of purchase or one day depending on type purchased.
  • The Bowes Museum shall not be responsible for loss or damage to personal property brought into the Museum.
  • Any ticket re-sold or transferred for profit or commercial gain without written permission from The Bowes Museum becomes void and the holder may be refused entry or ejected from the venue.
  • You can find the full terms and conditions of your membership offer here.
  • If you require further assistance with your booking, please forward queries to: hello@thebowesmuseum.org.uk

Exhibition tickets

  • Children under 18 are admitted for free and do require a ticket, children under 16 need to be accompanied by an adult.  Please select the free under-18s tickets from the bottom of the pricing list when completing your ticket purchases.
  • Students Carers and Children under 18 are admitted for free.

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