What’s on this February @ Bruce Castle Museum & Archive

Reminiscence Cafe is back for 2023

From family activities in half-term, to new Reminiscence Cafés, to art classes and LGBT+ history, there is something for everyone this month at The Castle!

Family activities – Dragons @ The Castle

Stuck for something to do this half term? Come down to The Castle and get creative! We have an array of fantastical themed activities on offer for children of all ages.

Wyvern Wings

Saturday 11 February & Thursday 16 February

1.30-3.30pm

Free

Find out what type of dragon a Wyvern is, see if you can spot any at Bruce Castle, and craft your own pair of Wyvern wings.

Please note: This activity has limited places.

Wyvern wings

Suitable for children aged 6-12

Unicorn Horns

Sunday 12 February & Wednesday 15 February

1.30-3.30pm

Free

Uncover more about fantastical creatures and magical beasts by seeing a real narwhal horn and making a unicorn mask.

Unicorn horns

Suitable for children aged 3-8

Dragon Ships

Saturday 18 February & Sunday 19 February

1.30-3.30pm

Free

In this clay-based workshop, hear the story of the Viking boat found on Tottenham Marshes, discover the role of dragons in Norse mythology, and use clay to sculpt your own Viking Dragon Ship.

Dragon ships

Suitable for children aged 6-12

Our Little Explorers Gallery will also be open Wednesday-Sunday, 1-5pm. It is a dedicated family fun space for parents and carers with children aged 3-8 years old. Drop-in to the gallery to explore our interactives, dress-up in costume, read a book, or try a puzzle. Entry is free!

Reminiscence Café is back for 2023!

First on the monthly programme is:

Wooing with Love Hearts

Tuesday 14 February, 2 – 4pm

It’s that time of the year again when we see ever more sophisticated adverts for ever more sophisticated gifts to give our loved ones on Valentine’s Day. But I have a preference for the simpler adverts of my childhood, such as this one for Love Hearts produced by Barratt’s Sweets in Wood Green.

Not that we children needed adverts to get us to buy sweets, but it is likely we were directed to certain products by seeing advertising around us in the streets and shops, magazines and comics. Most adverts were aimed at adults giving us a glimpse of the world of grown-ups.

Betting and beer, soap powder and scents, and many, many different brands of cigarettes. Did people really smoke that much then? What adverts and bygone products do you remember most? Did any influence you or your family to buy certain ones? The washing powder your mum used, perhaps, the family chocolates at Christmas. We have many examples to show you and jog your memories.

Reminiscence café is back for 2023!

Come along to the museum for this free event and share your memories over a cup of tea.

Drop in and Draw @ The Castle

Saturday 11 February, 10.30-1pm

Saturday 18 February, 10.30-1pm

Saturday 25 February (all day event), 10.30-3pm

£12 per ticket

Join local artist and tutor Susan Bryan at Bruce Castle Museum, a perfect setting for drawing. These lovely, relaxed workshops for absolute beginners in drawing provide a great chance to release your inner artist in a unique and inspiring Grade 1 listed building.

Drop in and draw @ the castle

Includes:

  • Art materials
  • Tea, coffee and biscuits
  • Friendly tuition and artistic guidance
  • An opportunity to create artworks in a beautiful, historic building

Tickets can be booked via the following Eventbrite link:

DROP IN & DRAW @ THE CASTLE Beginners Drawing Workshop with tuition Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

 

‘Behind the Lens: Capturing Hidden histories Through Film and Oral History’

By Angela Mascolo, Public Historian

Saturday 25 February 2.30pm (doors open 2pm)

Free

For LGBT+ History Month, our Young Curator’s talk features Angela Mascolo who will be sharing her work ‘Behind the Lens’ recording voices and hidden histories. She will be talking about the importance of oral history in preserving marginalised histories, as well as her journey implementing it in her own work and her most recent LGBTQ+ heritage project.

Behind the lens capturing hidden histories through film and oral history

Angela Mascolo is an MA Public History graduate from Royal Holloway, University of London, currently working in the museums sector.

Book for your free ticket for this in person talk at the Museum via Eventbrite: Behind the Lens: Capturing Hidden Histories Through Film & Oral History Tickets, Sat 25 Feb 2023 at 14:30 | Eventbrite