Get Creative this October with Coventry Museums!
15 October 2013
There’s over a week of fantastic family fun happening at four of Coventry’s top museums and heritage sites this Half Term. From Saturday 29 October to Sunday 3 November there’ll be wartime crafts and trails at Coventry Transport Museum, the Big Draw at the Herbert, spooky Halloween crafts at the Priory and battle scenes at the Lunt - there's sure to be something to inspire the whole family!
At the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, kids can get creative and take part in The Big Draw: Pockets of Plenty, based on Quentin Blake's imaginative book, Angelica Sprocket's Pockets. The museum’s studio walls will be filled with pockets for children to open and will reveal an object from the collection, which will inspire their artwork. Each day families will use different materials and drawing techniques, and then add their drawings to a huge cabinet of curiosities time capsule that will show an eclectic mix of objects, just like Angelica's pockets.
The fun won't be rationed at Coventry Transport Museum either, as children will be able to enjoy wartime activity trails and make do and mend crafts throughout the holiday. Activities include decorating an ARP toolbox, making a 1940's doll out of a wooden spoon, and creating ration recipe books! There will be a different craft activity each day, as well as 1940's hair workshops and fashion recycling workshops for all ages. The week at the Transport Museum culminates with a fabulous Wartime Family Day on Sunday 3 November, which will see a display of military vehicles on Millennium Place, a choir singing 40's hits, and plenty of activities throughout the museum.
Visitors to the Priory Visitor Centre from Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November are in for a treat with 'Horror Hangers' - making scary creatures to hang from the doorway and terrify passers by in time for Halloween! On Saturday 2 November, the Priory will also be hosting their popular Origami Workshop in conjunction with the East Winds Film Festival.
From Tuesday 29 October to Friday 1 November, kids can recreate battle scenes, sieges and mayhem inspired by the colourful frieze from Trajan's Column at the Lunt Roman Fort and make and decorate clay pots with a Roman face.
Melanie Corner, Family Learning Officer at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said, "This October's half-term events are certain to entertain every type of family.The Herbert's Big Draw: Pockets of Plenty activity encourages children to use their imagination and get creative, and links to our Quentin Blake: As Large as Life exhibition. The Transport Museum and the Lunt are offering craft workshops with a historic and educational twist, and you can make your own spooky creature or origami animal at the Priory. These Autumn activities are fun for all the family and are a great way to keep children engaged and creative over the school holiday. What’s more – many activities are free of charge!"
With displays of historic cars and cycles, world class works of art, medieval treasures and Roman artefacts, Coventry Museums are the perfect place to spend a family day out. There's so much to do and see you'll discover more every time you visit!