Thursday, October 29, 2015

Make a date at the Museum

Wakefield Museums have a fun, hands on approach to learning about the area’s heritage and everyone’s invited.

You’ll find all manner of exciting exhibitions and experiences on offer, whether its family fun in the school holidays, messy crafts and activities for the little ones, or artist and historian led workshops just for the grown-ups, Wakefield Museums have it all. Meet at the museums and fill your social calendar with some dates with a difference.
Play Date

Wakefield’s Museums are the perfect place to arrange a play date. With lots of fun hands-on activities and opportunities to get creative and a little bit messy, the kids will find plenty to keep them entertained. At Castleford Museum children can dress up as a Roman soldier, follow the museum trail, have a pretend tea party or try miner’s clogs on for size. At Wakefield Museum try on a 1950s dress or a Victorian Wedding dress and cook up a feast in the child sized 1950s kitchen. Pontefract Museum offers a sweet treat with a colourful display telling the story behind the town’s historic link with liquorice. Learn about the famous Pontefract cake and see some of the brightly colourful packaging from across the years, see if you can spot your favourite.



Lunch Date
If you are meeting a friend for a catch up, why not have a wander around Wakefield Museum before popping into Create café for a delicious lunch, or a cup of coffee and a cake. At the museum you can visit the extraordinary world of Charles Waterton, a Victorian explorer who created one of the world’s first nature reserves. If you’re feeling brave enough, step onto the glass floor above the giant Caiman, one of Waterton’s most fearsome finds from South America. Uncover stories about Wakefield’s history from the early days of the Vikings, through the hardship of war and the various industries that have helped the city to prosper through the ages.



 A date with history
Pontefract Museum has many stories waiting to be discovered. Explore the heritage of Pontefract and the people who have lived, worked and played there. From the turbulent history of one of the North’s most important castles and the part it played in the British Civil Wars to the industries of glass making, coal mining and, liquorice. At Castleford Museum learn all about the rich and diverse history of the town which was once thought to have been an important Roman settlement. Try your hand at an interesting craft activity or find inspiration among some of the captivating displays. See the Ferry Fryston Iron Age Chariot, the only complete chariot burial on display in England and imagine what life was like in Bronze Age Castleford and how the town changed when the Romans came to power.



Fall in love
For all you romantics, meet your true love for a date with a difference at one of the museums. Love is definitely in the air at Wakefield Museum, displays include wedding dresses through the ages and the Sandal Castle posy ring. Don’t miss the rare opportunity to see the precious ring collection on loan from the Victoria & Albert Museum until 25 June. Fall in love with the cosy atmosphere at Pontefract Museum, the beautiful art nouveau building built in 1904 retains many of its original features, from intricate door handles to a stunning tiled entrance and staircase. Discover a treasure trove of hidden gems and historic finds amid the warm welcoming atmosphere of the museum.



Find out more about some of the unique events, exhibitions and experiences on offer at Wakefield Museums visit www.expereriencewakefield.co.uk/museums or keep an eye out on this blog.


Sunday, October 25, 2015

Dare we mention Christmas yet?

Catch the Light this Christmas!

As much as it feels wrong mentioning Christmas in October, we have a really exciting workshop being held in Wakefield Museum on 14th November, which is bound to get you into the spirit!

The perfect handmade gift for friends and family. Personalised tuition to create up to 5 beautiful light catchers with a range of colours to suit every taste, inspired by the stained glass in the museum collection.

Fused glass light catchers - design and make your own!

Learn how to cut the glass and work with it to create depth and intrigue. You’ll have bespoke gifts suitable for indoors or outdoors which catch the light and the admiration of everyone you know!

Saturday 14th November 10-1pm  
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone, Wakefield One, Burton Street, Wakefield. 
Ages 18+
£50 per head includes all materials to make up to 5 pieces.

Booking is essential as numbers are limited to 8 participants. Click here to follow a link to online payments


We have just two places left now on the wonderful paper bird making workshop with Andy Singleton on Wednesday 11th November - a free workshop as part of the Nightingale Festival - so book quickly to reserve your place on 01924 302700 or or email!


Friday, October 16, 2015

Day of the Dead at Castleford Museum

In the past, people have buried their loved ones with an amazing array of meaningful objects. 

Castleford Museum displays some of these locally buried treasures, from Bronze Age axe heads to the incredible Iron Age Chariot (yes, a whole chariot was buried!) showing evidence of how past people have celebrated their dead.

We have taken this celebration as inspiration for a Day of the Dead themed event at the museum on Saturday 31st October.

The Mexican Day of the Dead is a festival which focuses on the tradition that on one day a year, the spirits of dead people are allowed to come back and party with their friends and family!  It isn't supposed to be scary, but is a happy festival!

The festival involves dressing up and face-painting, lots of colour, marigold flowers and skulls!  

So pop into Castleford Museum - and be prepared for lots of skulls!



Monday, October 5, 2015

New Adult Programme Launched!

We are pleased to announce our new adult offer - including talks from TV and Radio personalities, creative artist-led workshops and curator-talks


The Extraordinary Life of Charles Waterton – with John Welding
Wednesday 28 October
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
From 6pm
Adult session – ages 18+

See the exhibition - meet the artist!
Meet local artist, John Welding for a special insight into how the Young Waterton comic strip was made. See close-up examples of the materials and working processes used (Scripting, Layouts, Inking, Colouring and Lettering), and get tips from an expert!
FREE, but booking essential on 01924 302700 or email as places are limited.


Nightingales – Paper bird workshop – with Andy Singleton
Wednesday 11 November
Photo by Nick Singleton



Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
From 6pm
Adult session – ages 18+

Have you seen the beautiful paper birds on display in the atrium in Wakefield One? Meet artist Andy Singleton and get hands-on instruction to make your own paper bird!
FREE, but booking essential on 01924 302700 or or email as places are limited.

Fused Glass Coasters for Christmas - with Claire Lake
Saturday 14 November
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
10am to 4pm
Adult session – ages 18+
£100 per head – including light refreshments (Lunch not provided, but there is a café on site)

Make your own beautiful kiln fused glass 4 coaster set to enhance your decor or the perfect personalised gift in time for Christmas.

A maximum of 8 places are available to ensure personalised tuition throughout the session.
Bookings with full payment must be made in advance.  Click here to follow a link to online payments

Potwallopers and Plumpers - Britain's first secret ballot in Pontefract
Tuesday 17 November
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
12noon to 1pm
Adult session 

Pontefract was centre stage in August 1872 when the first secret ballot in Britain was used to elect a Member of Parliament, allowing people to vote in secret by placing an ‘X’ on a ballot paper next to the name of their choice.

The box is still marked with the seals used to ensure the votes were not tampered with. The seal was made with a liquorice stamp, used to make Pontefract cakes from a local liquorice factory.
David Evans and John Whitaker, Curators at Pontefract & Castleford Museums and Wakefield Museum, have recently taken the box to Westminster and talked about it there. This is is the talk they gave recently in Parliament highlighting its significance in the history of British democracy.
FREE, but booking essential on 01924 302700 or email as places are limited.

The Rationing Diet - with Dr Annie Gray
Wednesday 18 November
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
From 6pm
Adult session – ages 18+

Meet TV and Radio Food Historian, Dr Annie Gray for this fascinating talk about wartime rationing foods – and with tasting samples!
FREE, but booking essential on 01924 302700 or email as places are limited.


Create a Hand Bound Sketchbook - with Timid Elk
Saturday 12 December
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
10am to 4pm
Adult session – ages 18+
£15 per head – including light refreshments (Lunch not provided, but there is a café on site)

Learn the technique of hand binding to create an individual sketchbook. Decorate your sketchbook by taking inspiration and utilising a selection of Ordinance Survey maps.
Bookings with full payment must be made in advance.  Click here to follow a link to online payments


Ring making workshop
Wednesday 27 January
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
From 6pm
Adult session – ages 18+
£32 per head – including light refreshments

Inspired by ‘Precious’ our exhibition of rings from the V&A, design and make your own statement rings using glass beads, Swarovski crystals and pearls. You’ll create stylish and fun jewellery that can accessorise any outfit.
Bookings with full payment must be made in advance.  Click here to follow a link to online payments

Textured Wall-hanging – with Ruth Singer
Wednesday 24 February 2016
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
6pm to 8.30pm
Adult session – ages 18+
£10 per head – including light refreshments

Make a mini textile hanging inspired but the colours, textures, plants and wildlife of the rainforest with textile artist, Ruth Singer.
Bookings with full payment must be made in advance.  Click here to follow a link to online payments



Sugar and Spice – Tudor to Georgian Sugarcraft – with Ivan Day
Saturday 27 February 2016
Wakefield Museum Learning Zone
From 10am to 4pm
Adult session – ages 18+
£50 per head – including lunch

A hands-on workshop of early cold sugar work, led by food historian Ivan Day, using real period moulds. Try your hand at Tudor to Georgian sugarpaste work to make moulded sweetmeats.
Bookings with full payment must be made in advance.  Click here to follow a link to online payments


Meet the Curator

Bring in your objects for advice on their care and research
Wakefield Museum - First Thursday of every month 2-4pm                    
Pontefract Museum - Second Wednesday of every month 10am  to 12 noon

Castleford Museum - Third Thursday of every month 10am to 12 noon


Castleford Adult Mornings
First Monday of the month (term time only)
Castleford Museum
11am – 12noon
FREE
Adults, you can join in too!  Pop into the museum for the chance to try a new craft and make new friends!
No need to book





Download our new Events and Exhibitions leaflet here: