Bishop Auckland Town Council in partnership with Durham County Council have an exciting lineup of activities throughout the Summer Holidays taking place in Bishop Auckland Town Hall.
Secret Garden Interactive Gallery, 8th July until 31st August
The Bishop Auckland Town Hall Gallery will become an amazing Secret Garden with a playful textile installation by Betty Barnett Brown, which will lead you through to the interactive projection created by Green Croft Arts, that captures your movement and makes the garden grow.
Explore the story garden where you will find the Curious Creatures, made by Abigail Lagden and families who have took part in the workshops. The Gallery is filled with giant garden games, books, instruments and other magical things; its a great way to spend your time this Summer.
Open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm and Saturdays 9:30am to 12noon
Planetarium and Space Art, 31st July
An amazing, immersive, 30 minute planetarium film showing the galaxy about our northern England dark skies with photographic astronomer Gary Lintern.
Following straight on from the film artist Mel Connell will help you create your own planet or mini solar system using a variety of techniques and a variety of balls of different sizes.
Workshops: 10am to 11:30am; 11am to 12:30pm; 1pm to 2:30pm and 2pm to 3:30pm.
Tickets available via the Town Hall Box Office: 03000 269 524
Age: 4+, £1 per child; adults free
Story Time with Shelley O’Brien, 31 July
Join Shelley O’Brien for a morning of stories and music for little ones in the Secret Garden Gallery.
10:30am to 12:00noon
This is a Free event and no booking is necessary.
Music and Drama Workshop, 7th August
Join theatre makers Jake Jarratt and Philip Richardson who will be following the Secret Garden theme for this workshop full of fun, laughter, music and games in the theatre.
This north east based creative duo will teach you all about how to tell stories from your imagination through freeze frame; movement and music and creating your own songs, raps and rhythms.
Workshops: 10am to 12 Noon, 1pm to 3pm.
Tickets available via the Town Hall Box Office: 03000 269 524
Age 6+, £1 per child.
*These sessions run at the same time as Curious Cavern workshops.
Curious Cavern Art Workshop, 7th August
Down in the depths of Bishop Auckland Town Hall, inside the Secret Garden is a mysterious place called the Curious Cavern, where all kinds of strange things can be found. Come along and create new creatures who will make the Curious Cavern their Summer home.
These sessions are aimed at families, who will work together to create a curious creature. Once the creatures are complete, they will be displayed in the Curious Cavern until the end of August. Participants will also make a little something to take away on the day.
These sessions involve working with a fabric hardener which can be a little messy, so please wear suitable clothing (aprons will be provided).
Suitable for ages 6+ with adult assistance.
Workshops 10am to 12noon; 1pm to 3pm.
Tickets available via the Town Hall Box Office: 03000 269 524
Age 6+ family groups. £1 per child, adults free.
*These sessions run at the same time as the Music and Drama workshops
Story Time with Pete Baynes, 7th August
Join Pete Baynes for a morning of stories and music for little ones in the Secret Garden Gallery.
10:30am to 12 Noon
This is a Free event and no booking is necessary.
LEGO Workshop, 14th August
BLOCK PARTY LEGO® Workshops bring along around 30,000 pieces of Lego and a custom ramp. Children will obviously be able to have some free play with the Lego however our host Iain will help them with ideas on what to build, there have cards the children can build from and the children will be able to test out their vehicle building skills and race the finished product down our ramp, and for budding engineers there’s a tower building challenge too!
This activity is for ages 6+ and places must be booked.
However, there will also be free play with Duplo® for children under the age of 6.
Workshops run from 10am to 11:30am, 11:45am to 1:15pm and 1:30pm to 3:00pm.
Tickets available via the Town Hall Box Office: 03000 269 524
£1 per child, accompanying adults free
Story Time with Shelley O’Brien, 14th August
Join Shelley O’Brien for a morning of stories and music for little ones in the Secret Garden Gallery.
10:30am to 12 Noon
This is a Free event and no booking is necessary.
Teddy Bears Picnic, 21st August
Come along with your furry friends for a Teddy Bears Picnic.
Bring your own packed lunch and spend time with storyteller and performer Shelley O’Brien, who will keep you entertained with fun, laughter and games.
Artist Dawn Belshaw will also be on hand for face painting and bear crafts in the theatre. Visit the Gallery space with your teddies too, where there are curious creatures, woodland animals and plenty to see and do in the interactive and ever growing Secret Garden.
Picnic open 11am to 1pm.
Gallery free and open all day.
Tickets available via the Town Hall Box Office: 03000 269 524
£1 per child (no lower age limit), accompanying adults free.
