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Free Entry to Family Open Day at The Bowes Museum
Saturday 21 February 2026 from 10:30am to 4pm, The Bowes Museum invites visitors to enjoy a variety of activities on its Family Open Day with free entry for everyone.
Recommended for all the family, the event is an opportunity to try pet-themed pottery painting, learn about conservation, take part in a lively pet-inspired dance workshop and hear from talented young curators about their work.
Activities for Children:
Bowes Babies - Guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework, these sessions encourage children to discover the museum through their senses, nurturing their natural curiosity and building confidence.
Recommended for children aged 0-5 years and their grownups, taking place in the Conversation Gallery at 11am – 12pm, 1–2pm and 2:30–3:30pm.
Artist Makers: Making Tracks
Patterns are inside and outside the museum from repeated symbols in textile pieces to paw prints of animals roaming the ground. Joining artist Zoe Allen in this printmaking workshop to make unique tracks on paper.
Recommended for children aged 5+ and their grownups, taking place in the Create Space at 10:30am – 1pm and 1:45–3:30pm
Move & Perform: Pet Prancers - Inspired by Pippa Hale: Pet Project, explore the gestures and sounds of pets through creative movement transforming their everyday behaviours into expressive dance.
Recommended for ages 7–13 years and their grownups, taking place in the Jubilee Room at 11am – 12pm, 12:45–1:45 pm and 2–3pm
Gallery Takeover - Take a closer look at the art around you, then make something inspired by what you find. It might be a figure from a portrait, a tree from a landscape or something entirely your own.
Recommended for ages children aged 5+ and their grownups, taking place in the Blue Picture Gallery at 11–12pm, 12:45–1:45pm and 2–3 pm
Activities for Young People:
Conservation in Action – Step behind the scenes for a hands-on session with a member of the learning team and discover conservation in action. You’ll learn about how we look after museum objects, spot pest damage and preserve the collection for the future.
Recommended for ages 11–15, taking place in the Objects on the Move Gallery at 11:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30–2:30pm
Activities for The Whole Family:
Pet Pottery Painting - Feel inspired by Pippa Hale: Pet Project and join Mud & More Pottery to paint your own bisque pottery cat or dog, cast from 18th and 19th century animal ceramics in The Bowes Museum’s collection and on display in the exhibition.
Taking place in the Pippa Hale: Pet Project exhibition gallery at 1–3pm, £6 per bisque.
Booking information
General admission to the museum is free on the Family Open Day. Activities can be booked on the day, but pre-booking is essential for Pet Pottery Painting as spaces are limited. When reserving your place on the workshop, please select the number of bisque pottery sculptures you wish to decorate under ‘Bisque Pottery charge’. Bisque sculptures are charged at £6.00 each.