Celebrating Refugee Week 2019

Refugee Week is a nationwide programme of arts, cultural and educational events that celebrate the contribution of refugees in the UK and encourages an improved understanding between communities.

Discover stories of displacement, explore the lives of refugees and the people who welcomed them throughout the generations, based on this year’s theme – You, Me and Those Who Came Before.

Refugee Week Launch

Saturday 15th June

11am – 4pm, Free

Celebrate the beginning of Refugee Week with live music, talks, poetry, creative workshops and stalls.

The 25th Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide Against the Tutsi
Saturday 15th June
2pm - 5:30pm, Free

Hear stories at the Urumuri commemoration for the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi.

Explore Kwibuka Rwanda – Remebering Rwanda, an exhibition developed by Dr Julia Viebach and Pitt Rivers Museum that looks at the memorials marking the sites where the genocide took place.

Working in collaboration with URUMURI Association

Knit-a-thon

Tuesday 18th June

11am – 4pm, Free

Get creative and meet other like-minded crafters to knit and crochet items such as hats, socks, gloves, and blankets for refugees across the globe. All items will be distributed by UK charity Knit for Peace.

To register interest or to support the event with some knitting to be delivered, please email gemma.hutton@bedford.gov.uk.

Pop-up Museum #You, me and those who came before

Wednesday 19th June

11am – 3pm, Free

Bedford Central Library

Bring the stories and objects that you, your parents and grandparents have brought with them from their home countries to share and celebrate at this Pop-Up Museum.

What favourite things did you, your parents or grandparents, bring with them to start life in the UK?

This Noisy Isle

Saturday 22nd June

Perfromances from 10am - 3pm

Adult: £8 / Child £6

Inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, enjoy This Noisy Isle, an outdoor treasure-hunt style performance for 7 to 11 year olds and their families.

This interactive adventure explores the refugee crisis in a new and inventive way and gives viewers the chance to solve puzzles, meet mysterious characters, navigate the choppy seas and more.

Each performance is limited to 16 patrons - Book Tickets Here.

Working in Collaboration with Spun Glass Theatre and The Place Bedford.

Windrush Family Day & Global Kitchen

Saturday 22nd June

12pm - 5pm, Free Entry

 A Different Brew Cafe

Celebrate National Windrush Day and Bedford's Windrush Generation with a day of face painting, music, folk songs, dancing, dominoes, food and Windrush stories.

Working in Collaboration with Arise In Bloom, Nubian Teachings, Friends Of Refugees, Urban Adventures (Natures Gifts), Bedfordshire Opportunities for Learning Disabilities (B.O.L.D), Retired Caribbean Nurses of Bedfordshire (RCNA)

New Events Page

I have just created a new static page for events that you can find on the navigation bar at top or here. I'll keep it updated with everything thats going on and try and add when things are fully booked too. The long list of childrens activities will be on there shortly but in the meantime you can find them in the latest leaflet viewable below if you scroll down a few entries or click here.

What's On this summer at the Art Gallery & Museum

Open publication - Free publishing - More summer

Our new what's on leaflet is out now.

Free Family Event: Earning a Crust - A Victorian Working Day

On Saturday 17th April, from 11am – 4pm there will be a chance to discover how Victorian Bedfordian’s would have lived and worked. Earning a Crust: A Victorian Working Day is a free family day at Bedford Museum.

Come along to have a go at lace-making, rag-rug making and basket weaving. Martin Hazell (pictured) will be showing you how he makes traditional baskets from local Willow and Hazel collected at his smallholding in Gravenhurst.

There will be lots of other activities to try. How about writing with quill pen and ink? Or learning how Victorians washed clothes without electricity or washing machines? There will also be folk music provided by Graeme Meek who sings traditional songs inspired by Bedfordshire life.

The family day is part of ‘Clocking-in: an exhibition of the working day’ at Bedford Gallery. The exhibition is a chance to see the place you live, as you’ve never seen it before. It charts the history of Bedfordshire’s industries and how these industries have changed the lives of Bedfordshire’s residents. The exhibition includes amazing insights into our working day, highlighting what has remained the same but also, how our lives have changed.

‘There were still people in Bedford who believed in what they called gold water, which was the water they washed the gold in, having medicinal properties when they drank it or rubbed it in. His job was to go and retrieve the water that they had washed the gold objects in and hand it out gratuitously to the people of Bedford.’
Richard Stoodley (speaking about his father working at John Bull & Co from 1920 to 1970)

Easter fun at the museum

On Saturday 17th April, from 11am – 4pm there will be a chance to discover how Victorian Bedfordians would have lived and worked. Earning a Crust: A Victorian Working Day is a free family day at Bedford Museum.

Come along to have a go at lace-making, rag-rug making and basket weaving. Martin Hazell will be showing you how he makes traditional baskets from local Willow and Hazel collected at his smallholding in Gravenhurst.

There will be lots of other activities to try. How about writing with quill pen and ink? Or learning how Victorians washed clothes without electricity or washing machines? There will also be folk music provided by Graeme Meek who sings traditional songs inspired by Bedfordshire life.

We have lots of activities for children and families over the Easter holidays. You can find out more about what's on by clicking here

Clocking In

Our new exhibition, ‘Clocking In’ opens on 27th February 2010 at Bedford Gallery and continues until 23rd May.

The exhibition will be an exploration into the past, present and future working lives of the people of Bedford. From market trading to brick-making to cutting-edge aerospace research, the working lives of the people of Bedford have always been varied. We will be using interviews with local people, as well as the Art Gallery & Museum collections to illustrate the vibrancy and variety of Bedfordshire life.

The exhibition includes amazing insights in our working day, highlighting what has remained the same but also, how our lives have changed.

‘There were still people in Bedford who believed in what they called gold water, which was the water they washed the gold in, having medicinal properties when they drank it or rubbed it in. His job was to go and retrieve the water that they had washed the gold objects in and hand it out gratuitously to the people of Bedford.’ Richard Stoodley (speaking about his father working at John Bull & Co from 1920 to 1970)

We have commissioned artist Jonny Hannah to design a poster to celebrate the opening of the exhibition. We are very pleased to have limited editions of the poster, printed by Jonny Hannah at ‘Cake and Ale Press’, for sale at the exhibition.

On the 12nd March we will be having a one-off, free screening of British Pathé newsreels. From 2 – 3pm you will be able to see amazing footage of supersonic jets at Thurleigh, Land Army girls on the High Street, and the ‘Super Giant’ of Stewartby. It’s your chance to see the place you live in as you’ve never seen it before.

On Saturday 17th April there will be a chance to discover how Victorian Bedfordian’s would have lived and worked. Earning a Crust: A Victorian Working Day is a free family day at Bedford Museum. There will be lots of activities; you will be able to join in with rag-rug making, washday, writing with quill pen and ink and laying the table for a Victorian dinner party! There will also be folk music provided by Graeme Meek who sings songs inspired by Bedfordshire life, as well as traditional basket weaving from Martin Hazell and you can have a go at lace-making.

Our popular programme of free lunchtime talks will return, beginning with ‘Clocking In: An Introduction’ on Wednesday 3rd March, at Bedford Gallery, 1pm. Other planned talks include more in-depth looks at The Britannia Iron & Steel Works, Bedford High Street and The Elstow Royal Ordnance Factory.

What was your first job?

Our new exhibition, ‘Clocking In’ opens on 27th February 2010 at Bedford Gallery. The exhibition will be an exploration into the past, present and future working lives of the people of Bedford. From market trading to brick-making to cutting-edge aerospace research, the working lives of the people of Bedford have always been varied. We will be using interviews with local people, as well as the Art Gallery & Museum collections, to illustrate the vibrancy and variety of Bedfordshire life.

The exhibition includes amazing insights into our working day, highlighting what has remained the same but also, how our lives have changed.

‘There were still people in Bedford who believed in what they called gold water, which was the water they washed the gold in, having medicinal properties when they drank it or rubbed it in. His job was to go and retrieve the water that they had washed the gold objects in and hand it out gratuitously to the people of Bedford.’ Richard Stoodley (speaking about his father working at John Bull & Co from 1920 to 1970)

We would love to know what was the first job you ever had? All stories and anecdotes welcome! Get in touch by leaving comments here on the blog, on facebook or on twitter.

My first job was as chief potwasher (kitchen assistant) at The Blacksmiths Arms in Ravensden, where I worked at the weekends whilst I was studying at Bedford College. My favourite part was the potato tumbler that we used to make the chips - an excellent time saving device, really I need one at home.

GH

Britain Loves Wikipedia

On the 18th February, we will be opening our doors to photographers everywhere as part of Britain Loves Wikipedia

Britain Loves Wikipedia is a scavenger hunt and free content photography contest running in museums and cultural institutions across the UK through February. The aim is to increase the number of pictures available to illustrate Wikipedia articles, and to inspire new articles.

Come along and enjoy the opportunity to see behind the scenes at our stores, including a sneak preview of our upcoming exhibition ‘Clocking In - an exhibition of the working day' whilst curators prepare and install the exhibition. Places are limited so booking is essential. There will be two sessions, 12noon - 1.30pm and 2.30 - 4pm. 15 places are available on each session. Flash photography will be allowed for this event. Call us on 01234 353323 to book your place.

GH

What's On: Janurary

Exhibition Edward Bawden @BedfordGallery until 31st January
Exhibition Star-Gazing until @BedfordGallery 31st January
Exhibition CARNIVAL! @BedfordMusuem from 16th January

Diary:
Sun 3rd: Winds of Exchange closes

Wed 6th: Lunchtime Talk- Eric Ravilious 1 - 1.30pm @BedfordGallery
Thur 7th: Reminiscence Coffee Morning 11am - 12.30pm @BedfordMuseum
Tue 12th: Friends Lecture - Treasures I have found in the Gallery by Tom Perrett, Head of Collections 7.30pm, £6 @BedfordGallery
Sat 16th: Carnival! opens - Carnival art and costumes until Sun 18th April Bedford Museum
Sat 16th: Saturday Archaeology Workshop (SAW) Astronomy & Archaeology - Ancient Calendars Contact Susannah Oliver on 01234 217418 to join SAW Bedford Museum
Wed 20th: Lunchtime Talk: Edward Bawden - Art vs Design 1 - 1.30pm Bedford Gallery
Thur 21st: Film Night Hue & Cry (1947) @BedfordGallery http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0039478/ late opening, film commences at 7pm
Sat 30th: Rock, Fossils and Minerals Day - Bedfordshire & Luton Geology Group answer your geological queries. 1 - 4pm @BedfordMuseum
Sun 31st Jan: Last day of Edward Bawden exhibiton 2-5pm @BedfordGallery

Free Evening Lecture: Tuesday 8th December

FREE evening lecture at Bedford Gallery, Tue 8th December, 7pm. ‘Admiral Smyth and Astronomy in Bedford’ promises to tell the fascinating story of astronomy in Bedford, given by Linton Guise, Astronomer at Bedford School. Supported by the Royal Society. Call 01234 353323 for details + booking.

First Bedford Gallery Film Night Thursday 3rd December

Bedford Gallery will be open from 5pm ‘til late, with films starting at 7pm, no need to book. Free event.

See Edward Bawden’s posters for these classic films upstairs then watch the films downstairs.

Thur 3rd Dec The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
Ealing comedy, starring Stanley Holloway and George Relph

Thur 21st Jan Hue & Cry (1947)
Ealing comedy starring Alastair Sim

Call 01234 353323 for more details

Star Gazing Events

To celebrate the launch of the Star Gazing exhibition we will be having a FREE Family Day on Saturday 5th December, 11am – 4pm at Bedford Gallery

Activities include two FREE rocket-making workshops aimed at children aged 4 – 9yrs, led by Tom Karen, the designer of the iconic Raleigh Chopper and the 3-wheeled Bond Bug. These will start at 11am and 2pm and can be pre-booked via Bedford Museum on 01234 353323. Rocket launching will take place at the end of each workshop!
Members of the Bedford Astronomical Society will also be on hand, giving telescope demonstrations and answering your astronomy questions.

Other star-gazing events include a FREE evening lecture at Bedford Gallery, Tue 8th December, 7pm. ‘Admiral Smyth and Astronomy in Bedford’ promises to tell the fascinating story of astronomy in Bedford, given by Linton Guise, Astronomer at Bedford School. Supported by the Royal Society.

On Friday 15th January there will be an open evening at the Piazzi Smyth Observatory and Wolfson Planetarium, 7pm at Bedford School.

Call the Art Gallery & Museum on 01234 353323 to book your place on one of these very special visits. A planetarium show will be followed by a rare chance to view distant stars through the observatory telescope – providing it’s a clear night!

Also, on Wednesday 16th December, 1pm at Bedford Gallery there will be a FREE lunchtime talk given by the Bedford Astronomical Society. ‘Astronomy – a beginners guide’ will be a brief introduction and overview for those interested to learn more about astronomy

Winds of Exchange Free Family Day

Bedford Museum on Saturday 21st November 11am – 4pm

To celebrate our Winds of Exchange exhibition we are holding a FREE Family Day. Come along and join in with a range of activities inspired by the colour and creativity of Japanese culture.

The activities on offer include:
• Trying on kimonos
• Origami – The art of Japanese paper-folding. Learn to make Christmas trees and other decorations from Origami.
• Japanese writing
• Making Temari balls – Temari balls are a traditional Japanese craft that uses silk threads to make decorative patterned balls. They are often exchanged as gifts or used as Christmas decorations.
• Kumihimo braiding – Kumihimo braids have traditionally been used by Samurai as a decorative and functional way to lace their armour.
• Japanese choir (pm) from Milton Keynes
• Raku pot firing - Glaze your own tea bowl and watch it be Raku fired before taking it home (£2.50 per bowl, one per family) Firing by Andrew Jelly.

Film screenings

Bedford Gallery will be open from 5pm ‘til late, with films starting at 7pm, no need to book. Free event.

See Edward Bawden’s posters for these classic films upstairs then watch the films downstairs.

Thur 3rd Dec The Titfield Thunderbolt (1953)
Ealing comedy, starring Stanley Holloway and George Relph

Thur 21st Jan Hue & Cry (1947)
Ealing comedy starring Alastair Sim

Artists’ talks and workshops at Bedford Gallery

Sat 10th Oct
Linocut Workshop with artist Christopher Brown

11.30am – 3.30pm
FREE event, booking essential. Call 01234 353323
Talk and linocut demonstration from printmaker Chris Brown followed by a chance to make your own linocut print.
Christopher Brown studied at the Royal College of Art where he was introduced to, and eventually assisted, Edward Bawden. Bawden encouraged him to explore linocut as a medium; since then, Christopher has exhibited at the Royal Academy and the V&A.

Sat 14th November
Curwen Studio Taster Days

Booking essential. Call 01234 353323 to book your place.
Printmaking ‘taster’ day at the Curwen Studio. £25 per person (price includes a light lunch) The Curwen Studio, Chilford Hall Linton, Cambridge, CB21 4LE

Many of Edward Bawden’s best known works were printed at the Curwen Press and later the Curwen Studio. Today the Curwen Studio continues to offer facilities for artists’ original printmaking. Taster days offer an opportunity to visit the studio, view the archives, discover how lithography works, and make an original print working alongside experience printmakers.

Thur 22nd Oct Edward Bawden

7pm, booking essential. Call 01234 353323
£10 (price includes refreshments)
An evening lecture at Bedford Gallery, from Peyton Skipwith, Bawden’s Literary Executor and a former director of the Fine Art Society, Bawden’s main London dealer.

Fri 6th November & Fri 20th November
Edward Bawden Archive Afternoon

FREE event. 2pm – 4pm
The archive afternoons are free to attend. Come along to Bedford Gallery between 2 and 4pm to explore works by Edward Bawden that are not included in the exhibition. Art Gallery and Museum staff will be on hand to guide you through the archive – the largest of its kind in the world.


Sat 7th Nov
Illustration and typography workshop with designer Jonny Hannah

FREE event, 2pm – 4pm. Booking essential. Call 01234 353323
Jonny Hannah studied illustration at Liverpool Art School and the Royal College of Art. He works as a commercial illustrator for clients including The Daily Telegraph and produces prints, posters and books through his own Cake & Ale Press.

Sat 23rd Jan
Collage workshop with artist Mark Hearld

FREE event, 2pm – 4pm. Booking essential. Call 01234 353323
Mark Hearld studied illustration at Glasgow School of Art followed by an MA in Natural History Illustration at the Royal College of Art. Working across a number of mediums, he takes inspiration from the flora and fauna of Britain and is influenced by Bawden.