I’m sure there’s lots of events at Tate, FACT, Bluecoat etc. too but here’s the definitive list from National Museums Liverpool for the upcoming school half-term.
Free Half Term Events – National Museums Liverpool
Head for the museums this half term and enjoy special free attractions for all the family – from pirates at the Merseyside Maritime Museum and Valentine’s fun at the Walker Art Gallery, to making paper Sankofa birds at the International Slavery Museum and following creepy-crawly tours at World Museum. Details of attractions below (suitable ages in brackets).
WALKER ART GALLERY
Big Art for Little Artists
Open daily 10am – 5pm
Craft activities 11am – 4pm
Big Art for Little Artists is our children’s gallery that brings art to life through paintings, sculpture, toys and costumes. Get creative with hands-on activities and interactive fun!
Big Art workshops
Valentine’s fun
12, 13 February 2011
1- 4pm
Be inspired by paintings such as Isabella and Lorenzo by John Everett Millais and make your own greetings card for someone special. (3+)
Lion masks
12, 13 March 2011
1- 4pm
Using the lions in our paintings as your inspiration, have a go at decorating your own lion mask using collage materials. (3+)
Prams and Pushchairs tours
Tours aimed at adults who would like to attend gallery talks but don’t want to worry about bringing their (possibly noisy!) children. Limited places call 0151 478 4697 to book.
Liverpool and the Pre-Raphaelites
14 February 2011
11-11.30am
Explore how the Pre-Raphaelites avant-garde style inspired Liverpool artists.
Workshops
Cool collages
17, 18 February 2011
1- 4pm
Find out how to use a view finder, and translate what you see into a colourful collage. (5+)
Visit the Walker Art Gallery website
LADY LEVER ART GALLERY
Storysacks
Want to explore the gallery in a different way? Each of our storysacks looks at a different theme in the gallery such as farm animals, St George and the dragon, bubbles and picnics. Choose a bag at the information desk and get exploring! (Suitable for under 5s)
Free exhibition
Old Master Drawings: Guercino, Rubens, Tintoretto
Until 2 May 2011
Explore why artists have drawn over the centuries – from copying other works to making life studies – and the role of sketching in the creation of artworks.
Drawings from the Old Master collections of the Lady Lever and Walker Art Galleries by some of the great Italian Renaissance and Northern European artists are included in this exhibition.
Events
Celebration of Old Master Drawings
12 February 2011
11am-4pm
A day of fun themed activities. Explore the Old Master Drawings exhibition and make your own works of art in a variety of creative workshops. (Over 5’s).
Visit the Lady Lever Art Gallery website
SUDLEY HOUSE
Free exhibition
Hitched: Wedding clothes and customs
Until Spring 2011
Display of wedding garments from Victorian to modern times. See the stunning dresses worn by brides on their special day.
Visit the Sudley House website
MERSEYSIDE MARITIME MUSEUM
Free exhibition
Last chance to see ….
The popular exhibition Endurance: Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure, which has attracted more than 227,000 visitors since it opened in July, ends on 27 February 2011.
This exciting free photographic exhibition chronicles the amazing story of Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton’s famous expedition and the journey to safety after his ship Endurance was crushed in the ice.
It uses more than 150 images by expedition photographer James Francis Hurley to tell this epic tale of survival. Ten are in colour using the pioneering Paget process.
Interactive activities
All hands on deck
13 February 2011
Intervals between 1 & 4pm
Join our demonstrator and find out more about maritime links to modern life through this interactive handling session.
Shiver me timbers
19 February 2011
At intervals between 1 & 4pm
Come and meet our very own pirate to find out about a life on the ocean wave and see if you have what it takes to be a fearsome treasure hunter in our interactive storytelling session.
Workshops
Dragons and lanterns
14, 15 February 2011
1- 4pm
Celebrate Chinese New Year with us and make your own dragons and lanterns to take away.
Visit the Merseyside Maritime Musem website
Seized – The Border and Customs uncovered
Inside Merseyside Maritime Museum
Interactive activities
Rummage
12, 13, 20 February 2011
1, 1.30, 2, 3 & 3.30pm
Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Customs Officer? Come and search our ship to see if you can spot any signs of smuggling. Pick up a free ticket at the information desk in the foyer.
Creative workshops
That felt good
16, 17 February 2011
1- 4pm
Have fun making your own felt creation from real sheep’s wool (all)
Model magic
19 February 2011
1-4pm
Discover how customs protect endangered species and make a model of your favourite animal to take home
Visit the Seized – The Border and Customs uncovered website
INTERNATIONAL SLAVERY MUSEUM
Free exhibitions
Home alone: end domestic slavery
Until Spring 2011
Home alone: end domestic slavery explores some of the issues faced by domestic workers around the globe and the continuing fight to promote workers’ rights. Home alone, invisible to society and lacking legal protection, domestic workers are among the most exploited and abused workers in the world.
This is the first exhibition in our new Campaign Zone – an exhibitions and community space that aims to shed light on the legacies of transatlantic slavery and to raise awareness of the modern forms of slavery existing in the world today.
Exhibition organised by the International Slavery Museum and Anti Slavery International.
Workshops
Sankofa birds
18 February 2011
6 March 2011
At intervals between 1& 4 pm
Find out about the meaning of the symbolic Sankofa bird. Make your own paper Sankofa to take away.
The art of Adinkra
16 February 2011
1– 4pm
Join us for an afternoon of arts and crafts inspired by Adinkra symbols.
Performance
Keep your eyes on the prize
15 February 2011
1, 2, 3pm
Hear the inspiring story of Diane Nash and her involvement with the Civil Rights Movement. (8+)
Visit the International Slavery Museum website
WORLD MUSEUM
Free exhibitions
Inside DNA
Until 8 May
Inside DNA is all about our health, identity and evolution. This interactive exhibition gives an insight into the fast-moving field of human genomics, the ethical questions surrounding it and how it could affect your future.
Inside DNA was developed by At-Bristol on behalf of The Association for Science and Discovery Centres with funding from the Welcome Trust and support from the Sanger Institute.
Isle of my India
8 February to March
Multi-media artists Ruth Dillon, Becs Andrews, Hambi Haralambous and Tony Knox spent three weeks with rural and tribal artists in India. Learn more about their trip through this display.
Special events
Creepy crawly tour
15, 17 February 2011
1-1.30pm
Come behind the scenes and get up close and personal with our creepy crawly collections. (All)
Meet the Mummy
14, 16 February 2011
11-11.30am
Are you brave enough to meet our ‘dummy’ Mummy and discover some of the ancient secrets of mummification used by the Egyptian embalmers? Hands-on demonstration. (All)
Family workshops
Weekends
2.30- 4pm
Family workshops in the Weston Discovery Centre cover topics such as Archaeology, Egyptology, and music from around the World. (All)
Walk for health
See website for times and dates
Join us for a walk and talk around the town centre that will stimulate body and mind. Take in some of the beautiful architecture of the city. Dress for comfort and keep an eye on the weather.
Most events require free tickets which can be picked up at the information desk on the day. See website for details of BSL interpreted and audio described events.
Free Planetarium
Travel to outer space without even leaving your chair in our incredible space and astronomy show for adults and children over five. Tickets available from 10am and up to five minutes before each performance from the welcome desk.
Monday to Friday
The winter night sky 12 noon & 3.15pm
Magnificent desolation   2.15m
Wonders of the solar system  4.05pm
Saturday & Sunday
The sunshine show  1.15pm
The Winter night sky 1.45pm & 3.15pm
Magnificent desolation  2.15pm
Wonders of the solar system  4.05pm
Additional shows at holiday times.
Treasure House Theatre
We’ve got a packed programme of free events in our 80-seat theatre. Pick up a ticket from the welcome desk. Our programme includes:
Death on the Nile
Two bungling robbers have sneaked in to the museum, but they get more than they bargained for, when one of them opens an ancient scroll. (Over 5s)
World on film
Catch one of our 20-minute films, including Eastern Encounters which tells the story of the 2004 V&A exhibition about Asian art and objects from 1500 to 1800. (Over 5s)
Molly the friendly blue whale
Join Captain Undersea in this tall tale of a brave whale that escapes a cruel captain (boo), and saves her friends in a storm (hooray). (Under 5s)
Samurai armour
Examine the armour of a Samurai warrior in this demonstration using replica 16th century armour. (Everyone)
For above dates and times call 0151 478 4393 or visit the World Museum Liverpool website
