Museums and galleries
What’s on at Walsall Council venues this February half term
Published on
Families are invited to enjoy a fun-filled programme of activities this half-term at The New Art Gallery Walsall and Walsall Leather Museum.
Activities will kick off with a free community day across both venues on Saturday 10 February between 11am-3pm, with an array of drop-in activities for everyone to get involved in. At the Gallery, Walsall Society of Artists’ Jude Hanly will provide a mixed media workshop making use of words, paint and sound to create an installation on the theme of water and climate change. The day will also include den making with artists Hipkiss and Graney, printing workshops with Haseebah Ali, Khadijah Carberry and Mengxia Liu, a seasonal wreath workshop with Fred Hubble and more creative workshops from artists Nilupa Yasmin, Leah Hickey and Roo Dhissou.
As part of the community day, Walsall Leather Museum will host free leather related activities including purse and heart charm making, as well as a leather collage activity.
At The New Art Gallery Walsall, the half term week will also include the opportunity to create a colouring book (Wednesday 14 February, 11am-3pm. Age 4+. Free, drop-in) and explore painting with palette knives (Thursday 15 February, 11am-12.30pm for age 4+ and 1.30-3pm for age 7+. £4.50 per child). For younger children there will be a ‘Mini Makers’ sensory play session featuring neon paints, designed to help explore new art materials and build fine motor skills (Tuesday 13 February, 11am-1pm. Ages 2-4. Drop-in, £3). From 13-18 February there will also be a chance to decorate a giant tuk tuk, inspired by the colourful tuk tuk currently on display on the Gallery’s third floor as part of the current exhibition The World that Belongs to Us.
Also taking place at the Gallery during half term is a Collaborative Collage Session (Saturday 10 February, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm, free) and a workshop exploring the links between Walsall and West Africa in the Gallery’s Collections (Saturday 17 February, 11am for 12-18-year-olds and 2pm for over 18s, both free). The Gallery’s popular weekly Sunday Art Club continues with the opportunity to make dragon pots to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Sunday 11 February, 12-3pm, drop-in) and make charcoal and eraser drawings (Sunday 18 February, 12-3pm, drop-in).
“ There are plenty of activities for the people of Walsall to get involved with over the February half-term.
“The majority of events across the two venues are completely free or are low cost and offer the opportunity for families to keep children entertained and learn more about Walsall’s heritage. Come along and join the fun.
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Over at Walsall Leather Museum there will be a free quiz trail and self-led activities around the venue. They will also host drop-in window sun-catcher sessions (Tuesday 13 February, 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3:30pm. £1:50) followed by Dragon Puppet Workshops to welcome in the Chinese New Year (Wednesday 14 February, 10:30am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-3:30pm. £4.50. Advanced booking needed).
Further information on what’s on at The New Art Gallery Walsall can be found at: https://thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/whats-on/
More information and bookings can be found for the window sun-catcher drop-in sessions at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/events/window-sun-catchers-drop-morning and the dragon puppet workshop at https://go.walsall.gov.uk/events/dragon-puppet-workshop-morning.
ENDS.
Notes to Editors
About The New Art Gallery Walsall
The New Art Gallery Walsall presents, collects and interprets historic, modern and contemporary art in innovative and challenging ways, welcoming visitors from all over the globe as well as our immediate locality. They aim to increase the understanding and enjoyment of arts and culture through a dynamic exhibition, education and events programme.
The New Art Gallery Walsall is funded by revenue support from Walsall Council and Arts Council England. The New Art Gallery Walsall is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation.
Open: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm; Sundays 12-4pm. Closed Mondays and Bank Holidays.
Free admission - www.thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk
About Walsall Leather Museum
Walsall Leather Museum tells the story of the leather trade and how Walsall became the global centre of saddle making. The Museum also showcases collections of industrial, costume and social history.
Open: 1 April – 31 October: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-5pm
1 November – 31 March: Tuesday – Saturday 10am-4pm
Free admission - https://www.walsall.gov.uk/leathermuseum
