Roll up, roll up – summer of fun lies ahead at Ushaw

A SUMMER programme of family activities, including a circus skills workshop, is ready to be rolled out in the historic setting of a reborn North-East events venue.

The series of workshops at Ushaw, on the outskirts of Durham, starts on July 30 with free admission to a stained-glass window workshop run by artist Rebecca Rose.

The programme continues through to August 23 with an engineering workshop run by the North East Meccano Society.

The fun-packed insight into life in the Big Top comes to Ushaw on August 6 with the “Circurama” circus skills and performance workshops.

David Ellwood, Ushaw’s Education and Learning Officer, said: “The aim is to open up the beauty of Ushaw by presenting a wide range of activities that will cater for all tastes and ages.

“It’s really exciting to be able to plan a programme across an extended period so we can maximise the space at Ushaw and appeal to as many people as possible.”

Some of the workshops have been organised in partnership with Age UK to ensure the programme is inter-generational.

Further ahead, a formal educational programme, relating to the fascinating history of Ushaw as a former seminary for the training of priests, will be launched in September, with details released soon.

Meanwhile, to celebrate the arrival of a new art installation called The Nerve Rack, featuring an animatronic eagle, Ushaw is launching a story-writing competition. Writers are being invited to submit a 500-word story about the eagle, with prizes in the 5-10 years; 10-15 years and 16 and over categories. Entries are to be submitted by 30 September to exhibitions@ushaw.org 

SUMMER PROGRAMME DETAILS

Tuesday 30th July: Rebecca Rose – Stained-glass window craft workshop. FREE.

Wednesday 31st July/Thursday 1st August: Snow and Crow – Printmaking workshop. 11am – 4pm. FREE.

Friday 2nd/Saturday 3rd August: North East Meccano Society – Engineering workshop. 11am – 4pm. FREE.

Tuesday 6th August: Circurama – Circus skills and performance workshop. Morning workshop: 11am – 1pm. Afternoon workshop: 2pm – 4pm. Booking is required for this event. £3 for one workshop (morning or afternoon), £5 for both.

Wednesday 7th August: Science at Ushaw – Cyanotypes workshop. 11am – 4pm. FREE.

Wednesday 14th August: Dawn Belshaw – Leaf art and flower pounding craft workshop. FREE (visitors’ crafts available for purchase). Booking is required for this activity.

Thursday 15th/Friday 16th August: Science at Ushaw – Robotics workshop. 11am – 4pm. FREE.

Tuesday 20th August: Tony Gadd – Poetry and performance workshop. Morning workshop: 10am – 12pm. Afternoon workshop: 1pm – 3pm. Booking is required for this event. £3 for one workshop (morning or afternoon), £5 for both.

Thursday 22nd August: Laura Brenchley – Animal curtain rings craft workshop. 1pm – 3pm. FREE.

Friday 23rd August: North East Meccano Society – Engineering workshop. 11am – 4pm. FREE.