Memories from Summer Workshops at Newry and Mourne Museum

Since 2012 Newry and Mourne Museum has hosted summer arts and craft workshops for children, based on various themes inspired by the Museum’s wide and varied collection, and the rich history of the area. 

Summer has officially started and it’s the perfect opportunity to have a look back at the Museum’s summer workshops that have proved very popular since they started twelve years ago. These classes have seen children attending from all over the district, enjoying a wide and varied program of activities. 

The inspiration for the camps comes from the Museum’s main and many temporary exhibitions. Usually hosted over five days, the children attending have created their own artistic masterpieces while learning about the life and history of the area, from the stone age man, through the sixteenth century, the Victorians and the Second World War.

In the past participants have made their own Viking weapons and pendants, treasure chests and maps and became World War Two codebreakers writing secret messages in invisible ink. They built their own mini theatre, complete with a cast of puppets and have even met characters from history along the way! They took part in ‘archaeological digs’, designed and made their own pin-hole camera, and created their own comic book character.

It was not all arts and crafts. In 2016 children made their own little bit of history when they took part in a cookery camp, where they made lemon drizzle cake and Italian flat bread in what used to be the general office of McCann's Bakery, which meant that it was the first time in over twenty years there was bread making and baking at the former bakery.

This year, to make life a tiny bit more bearable, our workshops will take place from the 29^th of July until the 2^nd of August. Over the five days the attendees will be making a range of crafts, including making vintage scrapbooks using stickers and mementos, using moulds, stamps and sculpting tools. They will even paint a mini canvas on an easel, inspired by the Newry Artists Past and Present exhibition currently on display. 

The Museum is currently offering free tours of the main exhibition galleries on Wednesdays at 2.00pm. These must be booked in advance by calling our Education Officer at 0330 137 4422. 

Newry and Mourne Museum is open Tuesday – Saturday 10.00 am – 4.30 pm. Please call 0330 137 4422 or email museums@nmandd.org for further information.

Please visit our website at www.visitmournemountains.co.uk