The Bowes Museum

A person with curly hair stands in a gallery reading a colourful leaflet while viewing framed paintings displayed on deep blue and cream walls.

An ornate decorative plate with a detailed central scene set in a landscape, surrounded by a patterned border featuring scrolling designs and small inset motifs.

A painted portrait of a woman seated outdoors, partially covered by a dark translucent veil. Behind her is a row of slender white trees and a landscape with distant hills.

A bronze sculpture of a muscular standing male figure, leaning on a draped lion‑skin. The figure has a beard and a powerful, classical pose.

It’s LGBTQIA+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈

Explore The Bowes Museum through a different lens with our LGBTQIA+ Trail, sharing the stories and emotions held in objects through LGBTQIA+ lived experiences.

Pick up a trail at the Welcome Desk or learn more here:
thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/lgb...

A fun half-term activity for young creatives 🎨

Art School… in a trail! is a FREE spotter trail encouraging families to look closer, chat about art and complete creative challenges, plus a sticker at the end ⭐

A colourful promotional graphic with the heading “Art School… In a Trail!” featuring a pink book titled Art School (In a Book): A Future Artist’s Guide to Contemporary Art by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament. Surrounding the book are playful illustrations including a woolly mammoth with children, a Campbell’s soup can, a crown, and a paintbrush. Text at the bottom reads “Join us this February Half Term!” along with a small illustration of a globe and paint palette.

🎨 Brand new trail launching this weekend!

This weekend, families with children aged 9+ can explore The Bowes Museum in a new way with Art School… in a trail! A free spotter trail packed with creative missions 👀✨

Photograph of a very fancy and fabulous bracket clock from about 1750, made by J. Gardelle of Paris. It's made of wood and gilt-bronze. Behind the clock is a beautiful cream and gilt wall panel. Found this elaborate stunner on display in The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle. Although it was built and remains as a museum, it would absolutely fit the mould of a very large and beautiful country palace/house. Absolutely worth a visit if you're in the area or a day out if you're not. Whoever stocks the gift shop is a genius too...no way of not falling in love with many an item in there!

Anna in Paris
for #PalacesAndGardens theme of #TimePassages

(Anna wasn't in Paris!)

#EastCoastKin #photography #clock #antique #C18th #CountyDurham #TheBowesMuseum
@thebowesmuseum.bsky.social
(Android phone camera)

If you enjoy storytelling, heritage and welcoming people, this could be for you.

🔗 Learn more and apply:
thebowesmuseum.org.uk/jobs-and-vol...

Gallery Storytellers will help connect visitors with the stories of Joséphine and John Bowes, supporting a community-focused vision at the heart of these new spaces.

A person wearing black gloves is carefully handling a delicate porcelain object on a white padded surface. The porcelain piece appears to be part of a decorative figurine or ornate structure, featuring floral patterns in pastel colors and intricate details. The individual is using a thin wooden tool to adjust or clean the object. The setting includes dark blue curtains and a window in the background, with soft natural light illuminating the workspace. A red lanyard with white text hangs around the person’s neck.

🌟 Volunteer Opportunity at The Bowes Museum 🌟

We’re looking for local volunteers to join us as Gallery Storytellers in our newly reimagined Founders’ Galleries.

Fyfe Dangerfield

Great gig by the unique Fyfe Dangerfield in the grand setting of the @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social last night. Honoured that he played ‘Birdwatcher’ for @yolobirder.bsky.social and I!

Learn more about these incredible exhibitions here:
👉 thebowesmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/

Impressions of Light Image credit: Claude Monet, Fécamp, Bord de mer, 1881, huile sur toile, 65,3 x 80 cm, Le Havre, musée d’art moderne André Malraux © 2013, MuMa Le Havre/ David Fogel

Ornate antique parasol with an intricately patterned cream lace canopy, displayed partially open against a dark background. The parasol has a slender ivory-colored handle with decorative metal fittings and a tassel attached near the base. The lace features elaborate swirling motifs, showcasing fine craftsmanship and delicate detailing.

🕊 Lace and Legacy: Fashion Treasures from the Blackborne Collection
🗓 14 Nov 2026 – 11 Apr 2027

Celebrating the artistry of lace-making and marking 20 years since Fine & Fashionable: Lace from the Blackborne Collection.

Impressionist seascape painting showing a rocky shoreline with waves crashing against the coast. On the left, steep cliffs in pink and brown tones rise vertically, while the sea dominates the right side with choppy, textured waves in shades of blue, green, and white. The sky above is overcast with streaks of yellow light near the horizon, suggesting a break in the clouds or an approaching sunset.

🎨 Impressions of Light: Masterpieces from MuMa – Le Havre and The Bowes Museum
🗓 26 Sept 2026 – 14 Mar 2027

An international partnership with MuMa, Le Havre, bringing Impressionist masterpieces to the UK for the first time.

Close-up of a mannequin wearing a bold, multicolored mohair coat in shades of teal, purple, and magenta with a textured, fuzzy finish. The coat features gold buttons and is paired with a crisp white shirt and a vibrant tartan tie in red, blue, and green with geometric patterns. The ensemble combines traditional tailoring with avant-garde styling.

👗 Vivienne Westwood: Rebel – Storyteller – Visionary
🗓 28 Mar – 6 Sept 2026

A multi-gallery exhibition honouring one of Britain’s most provocative designers, charting her journey from punk to couture.

✨ Coming up in 2026… ✨

We’re so pleased to share our exhibition line-up for next year; three must-see shows celebrating creativity, cultural exchange and heritage. 🖼️

A dramatic nighttime riverside scene under a moonlit sky. The full moon and scattered clouds illuminate the calm water, reflecting light across the surface. In the foreground, two figures sit in a small rowboat near the shore, while a larger sailboat glides in the mid-distance. On the left, a rustic cottage with a red-tiled roof stands beside a roaring bonfire, casting a warm glow on nearby trees. Additional boats and faint silhouettes of trees appear on the horizon, creating depth in the composition.

Moonlight & bonfires 🌙🔥

Aert van der Neer (18th century) captures the magic of night and the cold glow of the moon against the warmth of a bonfire.

A perfect scene to share this Bonfire Night ✨

Will you be enjoying fireworks tonight?

‘In Concert @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social transforms the museum’s elegant Jubilee Room into an intimate venue for unforgettable evenings with internationally acclaimed musicians.
thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/

Freelance Opportunity: Collections Researcher - The Bowes Museum

More info 👉 thebowesmuseum.org.uk/jobs-and-volunteering/freelance-opportunity-collections-researcher/

Freelance Opportunity: Collections Researcher - The Bowes Museum

Join The Bowes Museum, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, and Watts Gallery as part of the Founding the Future network.

The role involves researching works across all three collections to shape the content and narrative of a new touring exhibition.

The Museum Renewal Fund is live 🏛️

From Trowbridge to Tyneside, the £20 million DCMS fund will support museums in stabilising their financial situation and building towards sustainable and thriving futures.

Read our full news story 👇

Join @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social on Sat 11th Oct for an intimate evening In Conversation with Nathan Coley, the internationally renowned & Turner Prize-nominated artist. Find out about his career & explore the themes behind his installations.
thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/in-...

🦢 Today The Silver Swan had her health check, thanks to The Cumbria Clock Company. Regular care keeps her magic alive for future generations. ✨ #SilverSwan #TheBowesMuseum

Join Turner Prize–nominated artist Nathan Coley at The Bowes Museum for an evening in conversation about his powerful installations & creative practice. 📅 Sat 11 Oct | 🎟️ £18 | 🔗 thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/in-...

🎄The Bowes Museum Winter Market returns 12–14 Dec 2025!

Explore 100+ stalls with unique gifts, food & drink, enjoy festive workshops, carollers & free entry to exhibitions. Tickets £7 before 8 Dec / £8 after. Under-18s go free.

🎟️ Book: thebowesmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/win...

A room with creaky floorboards and cabinets and bookshelves full of lovely stuff plus a range of comfy chairs and wonderful views

A very ornate crest with foliage, a visor banner writing, bows and arrows on a gold background

A pencil sketch of part of the ornate crest as an exercise in really looking.

There is a fab resource room (The Hive) @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social and it’s the perfect place to sit and #sketch the amazing ceiling.

A huge fruit scone sits on a blue vine scrolled plate next to some jam and clotted cream. A pale green sketchbook sits next to it and thee is a view through barred window to a French chateau style building. Oh, and there is a pot of tea.

Stopped off @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social for a scone and some art. Perfect

Thanks, Sarah! Our visitors are having an amazing time playing with what would normally be a fragile object 😍

Now you can enjoy playful, larger-than-life versions of these delicate ceramics in the gallery.

🔗 thebowesmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/pippa-hale-pet-project

The Cat (c.1825) is based on a Staffordshire pottery piece with bright enamel, yellow spots and plenty of charm.

The Dog (c.1768) is a porcelain King Charles Spaniel, beloved by King Charles II. Legend says he gave them access to all public buildings (even Parliament!) though no law confirms it.

🐱🐶 Ever wondered what inspired the giant squishee Cat and Dog in Pippa Hale: Pet Project?

Pippa Hale: Pet Project opens TOMORROW.

Join us for a summer of play and creativity with squishee sculptures based on our ceramic collection.

Fun for all the family → thebowesmuseum.org.uk/exhibitions/...

After an 11-month tour of Japan, Regatta on the Grand Canal, Venice, Italy by Canaletto (c.1730–1739) is back at The Bowes Museum.

This 18th-century masterpiece has returned from top museums in Shizuoka, Tokyo, Kyoto and Yamaguchi and is now on display daily, 10am–5pm.