Easter Holidays Art Activity Days:
This Easter we are running a range of our popular art activity days for children aged 3 years and over. They include:
Tues 31st March – Marbling
Wed 1st April – Animal Snappers
Thurs 2nd April – Easter Bunny Trail… a chocolaty treat awaits once you find them all!
Tues 7th April – Inspired by Henri Matisse; Paper Cuts
Wed 8th April – Copper Embossing
Thurs 9th April – Twinkling Wire Wishing Tree
Fri 10th April – Candle Making
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.
Join the art group as they listen to award-winning artist Claudia Hahn, who is an expert at using natural pigments, taken from household items, such as tea, coffee and beetroot to create nature-inspired artworks.
Claudia Hahn will be artist in residence from 5th – 10th April and will be running an art course based around her techinque on Monday 11th April (visit our art courses page for more information). Find out more about Claudia, here.
Join the art group as they get creative with printing. The group will learn about the different types of printing blocks, made from such things as wood or polystyrene. The group will then have a go at creating their own block from polystyrene, to create mono and multi-coloured printed artworks.
There is a £1 supplement for this event.
May Half Term Art Activity Days:
This May we are running a range of our popular art activity days for children aged 3 years and over. They include:
31st May – Clock Making
1st June – Rawww! Lions Mask
2nd June – Block Print Wrapping Paper Inspired by William Morris
3rd June – Get Dotty with Pointillism
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.
Join the art group as they listen to talented textile artist Liz Brooke-Ward as she discusses her work and her inspirations.
Liz Brooke-Ward is artist in residence from 7th-12th June. Find out more about Liz, here.
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.
Join the art group as they listen to up and coming artist Holly Brookes, who will be discussing her latest success as the winner of the ‘Young and Wild’ category, as part of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation’s 2015 Wildlife Prize event. Plus she will discuss her inspirations, both for drawing, painting and print making.
Holly Brookes will be artist in residence, alongside her father Roger Brookes from 5th-10th July.
Join the art group as they explore the Nature in Art garden to find inspiration to draw and/or paint. With an array of wildlife and flora within the garden, not to mention the variety of sculptures, there should be something to suit all.
You will need to bring your own supplies and materials for this evening.






