Half-term family fun with Birmingham Museums

13 – 20 February 2016

Live shows, craft activities, storytelling and even a chance to meet modern day firefighters – Birmingham Museums have a packed programme of family-friendly events to keep their young visitors entertained this half term!

The devastating fire that ravaged the city of London in 1666 will be the focus of the week’s activities at Blakesley Hall, including the creation of a large collage to recreate the blaze on Tuesday 16 February. The following day, the story of the fire will be told by historic diarist, Samuel Pepys, in two performances of a short play about the disastrous fire (1.00pm and 3.00pm), and craft activities and trails continue until Friday, from 11.00am to 4.00pm.

Meanwhile, at Soho House, sirens will be wailing for a visit by the emergency services on Friday 19 February. Visitors have a chance to look at a fire-engine up close, with a full complement of firefighters, and officers from West Midlands Police. The Emergency Service event runs from 12 noon until 4.00pm, with free admission to the grounds. For those wishing to see inside the house itself, guided tours take place at 12 noon and 2.00pm from Tuesday to Friday, exploring stories of the Lunar Society’s meetings and the historic house’s original owner, Matthew Boulton.

Family-friendly guided tours will also be taking place at Aston Hall, Sarehole Mill and Museum of the Jewellery Quarter throughout the week, and on Friday 19 February, visit Weoley Castle Ruins from 12 noon to 3.00pm to take part in fun family craft activities.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery will host a wide range of events, talks, tours and activities throughout the week. “Animals are a key feature of both our natural history collections, so we are hosting special tours to uncover some of the hidden animals throughout our collections on Tuesday and Thursday,” comments Gurminder Kenth, Museum Manager. “In a special homage to Valentine’s Day, Cupid’s sidekick, Valerie Valentine, will be telling stories from Monday to Thursday in the Mini Museum, and we’ll have a visit from 18th century explorer, Baron Alexander von Humbolt in two special live performances on Tuesday 16 February at 11.30am and 2.00pm.”

There will also be hands-on craft activities with artist Ruth Radcliffe – making people from split pins on Wednesday 17 February, and matchbox cities on Friday 16 February.

All eyes will turn to the skies at Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, during the school holiday. The live show, exploring what life is like for British astronaut, Tim Peake, aboard the International Space Station, takes place Monday to Friday at 1.00pm, following which visitors can try their hand at building a space buggy to send to the moon each day at 2.00pm. With craft activities from 3.00pm, and ‘meet the expert’ sessions daily from 11.00am to 4.00pm, Thinktank visitors will be spoiled for choice!

For details of all of these events, and other tours and activities at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum and Birmingham Museums Trust’s five heritage sites*, visit www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/whats-on

*Please note not all the heritage sites are open every day over half term so best to check opening days online when planning a visit.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Birmingham Museums Trust is an independent charity that manages the city’s museum collection and venues on behalf of Birmingham City Council. It uses the collection of around 800,000 objects to provide a wide range of arts, cultural and historical experiences, events and activities that deliver accessible learning, creativity and enjoyment for citizens and visitors to the city. Most areas of the collection are designated as being of national importance, including the finest collection of Pre-Raphaelite art in the world. Attracting over 1 million visits a year, the Trust’s venues include Aston Hall, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Blakesley Hall, Museum Collections Centre, Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, Sarehole Mill, Soho House, Thinktank and Weoley Castle. www.birminghammuseums.org.uk

Arts Council England champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries – from theatre to digital art, reading to dance, music to literature, and crafts to collections. Great art and culture inspires us, brings us together and teaches us about ourselves and the world around us. In short, it makes life better. Between 2015 and 2018, Arts Council England plans to invest £1.1 billion of public money from government and an estimated £700 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country. www.artscouncil.org.uk

For further media information or photographs, please contact:

Jay Commins

Pyper York Limited

Tel:         01904 500698

Email:    jay@pyperyork.co.uk