Leeds Museums and Galleries to host a raft of activities during February half term

A fantastic week of everything from music and history, science and nature, to arts and crafts will help keep the family busy at Leeds Museums and Galleries this half term.

Lotherton Hall will be celebrating all things feathered during their Love Birds week, which runs from Saturday, Feb 14 until Sunday, Feb 21 every day from 10am until 3pm, and features bird-themed crafts and activities.

Taking part is free but usual estate admission applies.

Leeds City Museum will also be getting involved in the fun, by hosting an exciting day of DJ skills on Thursday, Feb 18 from 11am until 3pm.

DJ School UK will take over the museum’s Broderick Hall for the day of free workshops which will explain the role of a DJ and allow hands on opportunities for young people to use DJ equipment and mix tracks together.

And on Friday, Feb 19 from 11am until 3pm, they will also be hosting free event in partnership with The Grammar School at Leeds, which will feature face-painting, workshops and hands-on activities.

Love will be in the air at Temple Newsam with a week of love related tours and crafts starting on Sat 13, Sun 14 and then continuing Tues 16 until Sun 21, 10.30am-5pm.

Activities are free but usual house admission applies.

Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall will also be putting on a series of events themed around their upcoming Crime and Punishment exhibition including a heroes and heroines day on Tuesday, Feb 16, silly science on Wednesday 17 and a murder mystery day on Thursday 18.

All activities are at 10am-12pm and 2-4pm and taking part is free, but usual admission applies.

Visitors to Kirkstall Abbey can attend Little Crackers on Tues, Feb 16, from 10-11am, a special under 5's session to celebrate Chinese New Year, the year of the monkey.

Thwaite Mills Watermill in the south of the city will be holding workshops themed around science and nature with drop-in sessions on Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18, 1-3pm. Taking part is free but usual museum admission applies.

Lastly, Leeds Discovery Centre will give people a chance to be nature detectives for the day with a special family workshop exploring the custom and excise collection on Feb 17 from 10am.

Visitors to this workshop can take up the challenge of trying to ID some of the strange and remarkable objects. Taking part is free but booking is required, contact 0113 378 2100 or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk.

Councillor Brian Selby, Leeds City Council’s lead member for museums and galleries, said:

“There are some really exciting and fun activities happening at our museums and galleries over the half term and I’m sure there’s plenty to keep youngsters entertained.

“It’s also a great chance to introduce them to some of the city’s history and hopefully inspire them to want to visit us again in future.”

For more details about Leeds Museums and Galleries events including visitor information, opening times and charges, please visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries

ENDS

Notes:

- Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills will remain closed while work is carried out to repair damage caused by recent flooding. Further updates will be posted on the Leeds Museums and Galleries website and on Twitter at @LeedsMuseums and @LeedsCC_News

For media enquiries, please contact:

Stuart Robinson

Communications Officer

Leeds City Council

Tel: 0113 224 3937

Email: stuart.robinson@leeds.gov.uk

www.leeds.gov.uk