This summer, Ripon Museums are offering a selection of activities, events and exhibitions for visitors to enjoy.
Keen crafters can take part in two workshops from Yorkshire-based textiles group 6-Ply, inspired by their Lives Unravelled exhibition, which is currently on display at the Workhouse Museum.
The Rubbings and Stitch Workhouse Workshop takes place on Thursday 22 July, from 11am to 2pm. Artist Sarah Lowe will lead the session, exploring the colours and textures of the workhouse. Using transfer crayons, rubbings on fabric will be taken of items representative of the Workhouse; the coloured fabric will be set by iron and then stitching will be used to enhance areas and a card insert produced.
On Saturday 14 August, from 11am to 2pm, join Hazel Waite for the Counted Threads Workhouse Workshop. Using motifs from features of the workhouse building, participants will create a stitched sample which could be used as a small picture, bookmark or greetings card. Tickets for each workshop cost £10 and can be booked via the Ripon Museums website.
The Lives Unravelled exhibition is on display at the Workhouse Museum until Sunday 5 September.
The exhibition consists of five textile installations, located throughout the museum, inspired by the lives of women who lived and worked in Ripon Workhouse. Inspired and prompted by their research into the workhouse, textiles group 6-Ply have created beautifully crafted and unique textile pieces, using a variety of techniques and materials, which reflect the real experiences and imagined emotions of women in Ripon Workhouse.
Over the summer holidays, there will also be plenty to keep families entertained, with summer activities running from Tuesday to Friday each week. On 27 to 30 July, 3 to 6 & 10 to 13 August, the theme is Make Your Mark. Visitors can join in with the creation of a giant wall hanging depicting feelings and life during lockdown, as well as following a museum trail, baking in our Victorian kitchen and having a go at Rag Rugging. Get creative and take whatever you make home with you!
During the second half of the holidays, the theme for our summer activities will be Garden Camp. On 17 to 20, 24 to 27 & 30 August, and 1 to 3 September, explore the outdoors in the Workhouse Museum Garden. Make and decorate your own recycled plant pot holder and plant a seed: take it home and watch it grow! We’ll also be offering a museum trail, plus bird and bird call identification activities and a bird search game in the game. Not to mention, the little ones will be able to play in our new garden den. Family activities are included in the cost of museum entry.
Also this summer, don’t forget to visit the Prison & Police Museum for a creative walk through the criminal justice system with the My Path exhibition. It showcases artworks from across Yorkshire, which were submitted to the 2020 Koestler Awards for arts in the criminal justice system. Every work shown was made by someone in a prison, secure hospital, young offender institution or on probation. The exhibition runs until Sunday 26 September. Entrance to the exhibition is included in the cost of museum entry.
All tickets to Ripon Museums are valid for repeat visits over a 12-month period. For more information about our events and exhibitions, or to book tickets, visit riponmuseums.co.uk or telephone 01765 690799.
