What’s On

Family Fun Day
Our latest family fun day will be taking place on Saturday 25th June and will be themed around Bees, this will coincide with celebrating Insect Week (20th-26th June).

All activities will run from 10am-4pm and will be suitable for 3+; the cost to take part will only be £1 per person, under 3s free. If you wish to view the museum galleries on this day normal admission will apply.

Full details on the day’s events will be added below as soon as they are confirmed.
Here is a taster of what to look forward to already:

• Watch live demonstrations of real-life bees in their portable hive,
  at 11am and 2pm
• Discover our UV light and interactive smells exhibit
• Explore the microscopic world of bees
• Make a bee house and paint a bee magnet
• Get hands-on with the master composters
• Have a go at dissecting plants
• Take part in a Bumble Bee quiz and related games in the garden

There is no need to book for activities, please just come along anytime between 10am-4pm.
The coffee shop will also be open and serving light lunches.

Please see below for more detail about those organisations, individuals and charities who will kindly be providing many of the activities during our fun day:

The Cheltenham Science Group (10am-4pm) – Join the science group to experience the world as bees; using ultraviolet light, by dissecting a flower to see why pollinators are so important and by surveying the Nature in Art garden to find about the different pollinators at work. Plus, learn to communicate like a honey bee.

Bees Abroad (11am and 2pm) – The aim of Bees Abroad is to provide education and technical advice in Beekeeping. As part of the family day, see live hive demonstrations from the team as they educate you about bees and their importance! Find out more about them, here.

The Stroud-based Buzz Club for Young People (10am-4pm) – “Our aim is to ensure that all young people are aware of the importance of all bees and insects in the food chain and to care for the environment through bee centered education and play.”

The Bumblebee Conservation Trust (10am-4pm) – one aim of the Trust is to “support the conservation of all bumblebees, rare or abundant” and to educate people on the importance of bees in all shapes and forms. Have a go at completing their Bumblebee quiz and other games during the fun day. Find out more about them, here.

The Master Composters (10am-4pm) – Master Composters are volunteers who encourage people in their local community to start composting at home. During our fun day learn more about composing and the sorts of plants you can grow to help bees in your garden. Find out more about them, here.
Plus, meet insect artist Cath Hodsman who loves to explore the world of bees using a microscope. See some of her bee related artworks on show.

Summer Holidays Art Activity Days:

This Summer we are running a range of our popular art activity days for children aged 3 years and over. They include:

26th Jul – Oil Pastels Inspired by Picasso
27th Jul – Marvellous Marbling
28th Jul – Garden Noughts & Crosses
29th Jul – Pond Dipping
2nd Aug – Paper Making
3rd Aug – Finger Print Doodles
4th Aug – Origami
5th Aug – Sun Print Photography
9th Aug – Paper Sculpture Lizard
10th Aug – Model with Mod Roc
11th Aug – Make a Clay Vessel
12th Aug – Wire Sculpture
16th Aug – The Art of Print Making
17th Aug – Cave Paintings
18th Aug – Painting Party
19th Aug – Pen & Watercolour in the Garden
23rd Aug – Marvellous Mosaics
24th Aug – Landscapes in Textiles
25th Aug – Encaustic Art
26th Aug – Weaving
30th Aug – Build & Decorate a Hedgehog House
31st Aug – Simon Says “Draw & Colour!”

Each workshop interprets the day’s theme using age appropriate materials and techniques. The different times are:
10.30-12.00pm: for 3 – 7 years
1.00-2.30pm: for 3 – 18 years
3.00-4.30pm: for 8 – 18 years

Each activity costs £6 per child and includes free entry to the museum for one accompanying adult. All activity must be booked in advance via our online booking system.

To see full details and to book please visit our Activity Days home page, here.

October Half Term Art Activity Days:

This October we are running a range of our popular art activity days for children aged 3 years and over. They include:

20th Oct – Rocket Sewing Cushion
21st Oct – Stained Glass Effect Autumn Garland
25th Oct – Pompom Pumpkins
26th Oct – Incy Wincey Spider FLIES Up the Spout!
27th Oct – Firework Paintings Inspired by Jackson Pollock

Each workshop interprets the day’s theme using age appropriate materials and techniques. The different times are:
10.30-12.00pm: for 3 – 7 years
1.00-2.30pm: for 3 – 18 years
3.00-4.30pm: for 8 – 18 years

Each activity costs £6 per child and includes free entry to the museum for one accompanying adult. All activity must be booked in advance via our online booking system.

To see full details and to book please visit our Activity Days home page, here.

The 2016 Gift & Craft Fair at Nature in Art

£2 entry
Free for under 16’s (including access to upstairs museum galleries)
Car parking is free

One of our most popular events, the annual craft fair at Nature in Art has become well known as a source for unique, individually hand crafted gifts, offered to you directly by the craft people who made them, so often a gift can be personalised to make it even more special.

Many of the makers will be demonstrating so you will be able to see just how your unique gift was created.

The range of quality gifts you will find at the craft fair includes woodturning, jewellery, ceramics, textile items, as well as stained glassware, metal work, paper crafts and children gifts. With such a wide selection you are bound to find the perfect gift for your friends and family, or even treat yourself!

During the weekend as well as watching demonstrations from the craft workers, and purchasing gifts, you can also view most of the museum galleries.
You may also be a winner on the raffle or tombola, so make sure you purchase a ticket. There will be a separate raffle on the Saturday and Sunday.

Images: courtesy of Posers Photographic

Many exhibitors will be demonstrating
Coffee shop open for refreshments

Below is a list of those stallholders who will be attending the 2016 event.

Applications are now closed for the 2016 event. If you would like to be added to our mailing list for the 2017 event, which will take place on Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th October, please email the Collections and Marketing Officer.

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When Gwen Fern walked home accross Slad Valley on a summer night in 1919 she found enough glow worms to decorate her hat with a ‘ribbon of lights’.

On Saturday 26th November at 11am and 1.30pm Slad Valley resident and children’s writer Christine O’Neill will be reading her new story for young children, The Wrong Side of the Dark illustrated by Amanda Lawrence’s glass and inspired by the true story about Gwen Fern and the glow worms which was one of the earliest inspirations for the exhibition The Valley in the Glass.

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Christmas Holidays Art Activity Days:

This Christmas we are running a range of our popular art activity days for children aged 3 years and over. They include:

20th Dec – Christmas Wreath
21st Dec – Willow Sculpture
22nd Dec – Christmas Scraper Boards
23rd Dec – Stained Glass Effect Christmas Fairies
28th Dec – Glass Painting
29th Dec – Glitter Painting
30th Dec – Make Your Own Textile Bunting

Each workshop interprets the day’s theme using age appropriate materials and techniques. The different times are:
10.30-12.00pm: for 3 – 7 years
1.00-2.30pm: for 3 – 18 years
3.00-4.30pm: for 8 – 18 years

Each activity costs £6 per child and includes free entry to the museum for one accompanying adult. All activity must be booked in advance via our online booking system.

To see full details and to book please visit our Activity Days home page, here.

(Images left to right: Natty Decco, Nicole Iredale Designs, Karen Edwards, Pear Tree Arts, Nutmeg & Sage)

£2 entry
Free for under 16’s (including access to upstairs museum galleries)
Car parking is free

One of our most popular events, the annual craft fair at Nature in Art has become well known as a source for unique, individually hand crafted gifts, offered to you directly by the crafts people who made them.

Many of the makers will be demonstrating so you will be able to see just how your unique gift was created.

The range of quality gifts you will find at the craft fair includes woodturning, jewellery, ceramics, textile items, as well as stained glassware, metal work, paper crafts and much more. With such a wide selection you are bound to find the perfect gift for your friends and family, or even treat yourself!

During the weekend as well as watching demonstrations from the craft workers, and purchasing gifts, you can also view most of the museum galleries.

You may also be a winner on the raffle or tombola, so make sure you purchase a ticket. There will be a separate raffle on the Saturday and Sunday.

Save

Legacy of Love is a unique book bringing together 57 charity founders, actors, poets, artists and photographers celebrating their love of animals in personal words and stunning pictures. This summer, some of the Legacy of Love team are taking to the road with a series of exciting events across the UK.

Come and join our Family Fun Day and help create community artwork, meet some of the contributors of the Legacy of Love book and members of conservation charities.
Enjoy various charity stalls, take part in fun garden games and discover the endangered Animal Treasure Trail to win a prize. Look around the museum and see artists at work.

Ticket: £3 per person (under 8’s FREE)
This special admission price also includes entry into the museum. No pre-booking required.

To find out more about the Legacy of Love three day tour, reach out to the team via the contact form at: www.legacyoflovebook.org
If you wish to make a donation please visit: www.gofundme.com/f/legacy-of-love-on-tour