Stories in the Gallery
Wednesdays: 24 and 31 July, 11.15 and 2.15pm
Free No need to book
Toby’s Tall Tales: Join trained actor and teacher Toby in the art gallery on a creative exploration of stories.
Toby will engage children with immersive story reading and help children create their own stories using puppets, drawings and songs. Ideal for ages 1-5.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please be aware, space in the gallery is limited and is offered on a first come, first served basis.
30 July & 1, 6, 13, 20, 27 August
11.15, 12.45, 2.15
800 years ago, Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with a variety of castle themed fun and creative activities for the family and discover the story.
Tuesday 30 July
Clay Castle
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with making your own castle model from air drying clay with creative practitioner Anne-Marie Abbate.
Workshops last an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 20 per workshop
Price £5.50
Thursday 1 August
Catapult
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with designing and building your own catapult with Little Science Labs. This can be put to the test outside using different objects. Workshops last an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £5.50
Tuesday 6 August
Wall hanging
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with making your own decorative wall hanging with felt and wool. Workshops last an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £3.30
Thursday 8 August
Sword and Shield
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with making your own sword and shield with local artist Anne Marie Abbate. Workshops last an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 20 per workshop
Price £5.50
Tuesday 13 August
Medieval tile
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with making your own painted medieval tile using stencils, sponging and stamping.
Workshops last for an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £3.30
Butterflies
Thursday 15 August
Come and create a little butterfly to flutter through summer skies and a butterfly symmetry painting with Creative Days. Super relaxing and fun all you need to do is choose the colours!
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £5.50
Wednesday 21 August
Sun prints workshop
Use the power of the sun to create beautiful images in our cyanotype workshops for families. The characteristic blue colour of cyanotypes stands out as the image is exposed to sunlight or UV light. It is a photographic process where images are created using textures, stencils or old family photos. You will design your image on pre-sensitised paper.
Two workshops 11.15 – 12.45, 1.45 – 3.15 Free
Suitable for ages 5-14 years.
Tuesday 20 August
Print a Knights flag
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with designing a coat of arms and print your own Knights flag with local printmaker Katie Allen. Workshops last an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £5.50
Thursday 22 August
Crown
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in with designing and making your own magnificent bejewelled crown with creative practitioner Anne-Marie Abbate.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 20 per workshop
Price £5.50
Tuesday 27 August
Castle Collage
800 years ago Bedford Castle was under siege. Come and join in to make a castle collage with Creative Days. Create a Kingdom inspired by real castles using inks and watercolours.
Workshops last an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12.
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £5.50
Thursday 29 August
Take Flight
Join Little Science Lab in an investigation into aerodynamics by designing and making paper rockets. All designs will be launched with pressurised air (outside)!
Workshop times 11.15 12.45 2.15
Places available 15 per workshop
Price £5.50
All workshops last for an hour and are suitable for ages 5 to 12. Book online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm). Please use promotional code HIGGINS30 to avoid paying a transaction fee when booking your place. Supporting adults do not need to book a place.
Creative Activities for Under 5s
All workshops last for an hour and are suitable for under 5s. Book online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Tuesday – Saturday 10am – 4pm). Supporting adults do not need to book a place. Please use promotional code HIGGINS30 to avoid paying a transaction fee when booking your place.
Lots of play with flowers, crafting and making artwork.
11.15 12.45 2.15 Free
Sensory herb play, sowing herbs and making herb wands.
Creative activities for Early Years
Suitable for children aged 2 to 5 years Free
2 August, 6 September
A chance to get creative, have fun, and socialise!
It’s a drop-in activity, so no need to book. Just pop in any time between 10:30am and 12 or between 1pm and 2.30pm and stay for as long as you like.
Please be aware some activities might not be suitable for under 24 months.
Children must be accompanied by an adult, come and join in the fun.
All activities are subject to availability, if the room is getting a bit full, we might ask you to wait until there is space. For more information click here.
Cultural Roots Sound System Museum Discovery Day
21 September 2024
11am – 4pm
Come and join us for lots of fun activities throughout the day exploring the themes from the Sound System Museum display. The day will include demonstrations of sound system equipment, a discussion panel about Sound System with special guests, and sounds from across the decades with some refreshments to enjoy. More programme information coming soon.
I Spy with Kevin the Platypus
Kevin the Platypus has been with the museum for well over 100 years and he still loves exploring.
Pick up a free ‘I Spy’ trail and discover awesome objects and amazing art all over the galleries and collections. There are many themes to choose from.
The Higgins Bedford is delighted to be one of the winners of a book giveaway to mark the release of 'Super Silly Museums' by popular children’s author, Nick Sharratt.
Create your own adventure by seeing how many things you can spot from the book at The Higgins Bedford with this fun self-led trail.
Download the trail or pick up a free copy from reception. The book is available for young visitors to enjoy reading in the museum.
Join The Higgins Bedford and Spectrum Community Arts and travel through a series of video workshops filled with movement, music and games themed around transport. Aimed at children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Subtitled versions are available to watch here.
Sensory Movement with Mel
This sensory movement video is aimed at people of any age who love to dance and use fun, sensory based props! The dances are inspired by transport and we will be dancing like airplanes, bikes and much more. Come along and use noisy shakers, colourful scarves and other props to explore fun ways of transport!
Sensory Adventure with Frankie
Calling sensory seekers! Help Frankie follow the map to find the hidden treasure! This adventure will stimulate your senses as we journey up the river using props, music and movement.
Learn a Dance Routine with Jade
On your marks, get set, GO! Join Jade to learn a fun, accessible dance routine! Aimed at those with disabilities and additional needs - get your engines revving as we dance down the highway together!
Arts & Crafts with Lila
Up, up and away! Join Lila to make your own hot air balloon in this fun crafts session inspired by Colonel Frederick Burnaby’s air adventures. (Adult supervision required)
Sensory Music with Sarah
Whoo Whoo – All Aboard! Get ready to sing, play and move in this sensory music session. We’ll be climbing aboard a stream train and flying high in a hot air balloon. Bring an instrument or even a tub of pasta and let’s shake, rattle and roll together!
These workshops were part of Bedford Borough Council’s Summer of SEND, a celebration of all things Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND) across Bedford.
Note: Neither Spectrum Community Arts, The Higgins Bedford or Bedford Borough Council own the music used in these videos. It is being used purely for performance purposes and not for profit.
Join Vicki as she reads a story from the Tales of Colonel Frederick Burnaby. The famous Victorian Bedfordian was known for his great strength and daring, world-wide travelling adventures, hot air ballooning escapades and eventful military career. A ‘larger than life’ man, who was very much of his time. (Suitable for ages 7+)
Part 1
Part 2