Don’t miss out on the fantastic February half term events at Leeds Museums and Galleries

Picture caption: There will be a lot to see and do for young people at Leeds Museums and Galleries this February half term.



With February half term just around the corner, Leeds Museums and Galleries will once again be providing an exciting packed programme of events and activities to keep all of the family entertained.



Beginning the fun is historic house Lotherton Hall, which from Saturday 14 February - 22 February will be hosting a special ‘Love Birds Week’ as part of their celebration of our feathered friends. Come along and take part in a range of special bird themed activities in the magical surroundings of Lotherton. On Thursday 19 February from 1pm-3pm, there will also be the opportunity to make a nest box to take home and encourage birds to visit your garden.



A number of fascinating characters have lived at Temple Newsam House over the centuries, and on Valentines’ Day, join a special tour which will reveal its greatest love stories from 2.30pm-2.45pm. February also marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and from Saturday 14, 15, 17 and 19 February, discover Temple Newsam’s Chinese collections, handle objects and get crafty as we celebrate 2015 and the year of the sheep.



Abbey House Museum is always a great place to visit for both young and old to enjoy, and on Wednesday 18 February from 10am -12noon and 2pm-4pm, enjoy a ‘Silly Science’ event involving gel and goo! A day of activities for all ages will be on offer which will be based the around the science of looking good. Dissolving hair gels and shaving cream rainclouds are just some of the highlights available! The Victorian Streets of Abbey House Museum is the perfect place to hold a murder mystery and on Thursday 19 February from 10am -12noon become a detective for the day and make a number of dastardly disguises. Have you got what it takes to solve the case?



A short walk from Abbey House are the Cistercian ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, which on Tuesday 17 February from 10am-11am will be holding an event specifically for the under 5s. The usual Tuesday morning session ‘Little Snowflakes’ will be transformed and given a wintry makeover, with glitter, glue and sparkles. Prepare to get messy!



Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills is the only place to find out more about the city’s rich industrial history, and to coincide with the temporary exhibition currently honouring the 150th anniversary of the death of John Fowler, the father of modern agriculture, they will be holding a ‘Grown your Own’ plants event on Tuesday 17 February and Wednesday 18 February from 1pm-3pm. A fantastically small and cosy cinema also features in Armley Mills, and from Tuesday 17 February –Saturday 21 February from 2pm-4pm, enjoy a daily a ‘Mystery Matinee’.



Thwaite Mills Watermill, which is set in a riverside setting is also set to celebrate the life and works of one of the city’s most famous engineers during half term. As part of ‘Light up the Sky’ on Thursday 19 February from 1pm-3pm, find out more about John Smeaton and take part in a specially designed family challenge, where you can try your hand at building the tallest stable working lighthouse model using the kit supplied. On Sunday 15 February from 11am-3pm in ‘Fly by rubber band power’ is also set to follow in the footsteps of Sir George Cayley, the father of aeronautics. Take a fun filled exploration of flight by building a model rubber band powered plane.



One of the classical world’s most famous heroes is celebrated in Leeds City Museums latest exhibition on Friday 20 February from 11am-3pm, head to the museum for a fun activity day with the heroes and heroines at the museum. Lovers of comic strips can also be inspired by Leeds City Museum’s Manga collection on Tuesday 17 February from 12noon-4pm. Take your chance to create your own Manga comic strip style super hero or heroine in an event created especially for older children aged 13 plus.



Leeds Art Gallery is the perfect environment for budding artists to learn their craft, and from Saturday 14 February - Sunday 22 February from 11am-4pm, come along and enjoy making pictures about human beings.



Last but certainly not least is the Leeds Discovery Centre, which can boast a diverse array of treasures from the Leeds Museums and Galleries’ collection. Join members of the team on Wednesday 18 February from 10am-12noon at the ‘Flowers and Figures in Asian Textiles’ event and investigate, gorgeous weaves, embroideries and prints from the continent and also embroider your own motif.



Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Leeds City Council’s executive member for digital and creative technologies, culture and skills said:



"Leeds Museums and Galleries are always looking at ways to improve its fantastic events and activities programme, and I am delighted to say that all nine of our sites are offering something for everyone this February half term.



"With arts, crafts, super heroes and even murder mysteries on offer, this really does promise to be a fun-filled week not to be missed!"



Notes to editors:



Full list of half term events at Leeds Museums and Galleries:



Lotherton Hall



Love Birds Week

Sat 14 - Sun 22 Feb, 10am - 3pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 378 2959 or email lotherton.hall@leeds.gov.uk



Make a Nest Box

Thurs 19 Feb, 1pm - 3pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact Rob Driver on 0113 336 7553.



Leeds Art Gallery



People Art in Artspace

Sat 14 Feb - Sun 22 Feb, 11am - 4pm

Price: Free

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 247 8256 or email city.art.gallery@leeds.gov.uk



Temple Newsam



‘Love, Secrets and Stories’ Tour

Sat 14 Feb, 2.30pm - 2.45pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Is required, please contact us on 0113 336 7460 to book your place.



Make and Take Chinese Crafts

Sat 14, Sun 15, Tues 17 - Thurs 19 Feb, R 11am - 12.30pm & 1.30pm - 3.30pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 336 7460 or email temple.newsam.house@leeds.gov.uk



Gruesome Newsam Tour

Fri 20 Feb, 2.30pm - 3.15pm

All the grisly, ghastly and ghostly secrets of Temple Newsam will be revealed in this guided tour of the house.

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Is recommended, please contact us on 0113 336 7460 or email temple.newsam.house@leeds.gov.uk for more details



Abbey House Museum



Wonderful Wigs & Marvellous Moustaches

Tues 17 Feb, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm

A fun day of family crafts and activities inspired by our new exhibition 'How do I look?'. Today we will be making all sorts of weird and wonderful wigs and moustaches.

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 230 5492 or email abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk



Silly Science - gel, goo & the science of looking good

Weds 18 Feb, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 230 5492 or email abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk for more details.



Detective Day with Dastardly Disguises

Thurs 19 Feb, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 230 5492 or email abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk for more details.



Through the looking glass, snap shots, shadows, symmetry and silhouettes

Fri 20 Feb, 10am - 12pm & 2pm - 4pm

Snap shots, shadows, symmetry and silhouettes! Take your picture dressed as a Victorian in our pop up studio, play shadow puppets, draw a silhouette in our back street or have a caricature drawn.

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 230 5492 or email abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk



Thwaite Mills



Fly by rubber band power

Sun 15 Feb, 11am - 3pm

Follow in the footsteps of Sir George Cayley, the father of aeronautics.

A fun filled exploration of flight by building a model rubber band powered plane.

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 378 2983 or email thwaite.mills@leeds.gov.uk



Light up the Sky

Thurs 19 Feb, 1pm - 3pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 378 2983 or email thwaite.mills@leeds.gov.uk



Leeds Industrial Museum



Grow Your Own

Tues 17 & Wed 18 Feb, 1pm - 3pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 378 3173 or email armley.mills@leeds.gov.uk



Mystery Matinée

Tues 17 - Sat 21 Feb, 2pm - 4pm

Price: Free, but usual admission applies.

Booking: Is recommended, please contact us on 0113 378 3173 or email armley.mills@leeds.gov.uk for more details.



Kirkstall Abbey



Little Snowflakes - our under 5s session gets a wintery makeover

Tues 17 Feb, 10am - 11am

Price: Free

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 230 5492 or email kirkstall.abbey@leeds.gov.uk



Leeds City Museum



Manga Comic Strip Workshop

Tues 17 Feb, 12pm - 4pm Activity

Older children 13+

Price: Free

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 224 3732 or email city.museum@leeds.gov.uk



Superheroes, Capes and Capers

Tues 17 & Weds 18 Feb, 10am -12pm & 2pm - 4pm

Capes at the ready! Zoom over to the museum to dream up your own superhero or heroine.

Price: Free

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 224 3732 or email city.museum@leeds.gov.uk



We Love Heroes and Heroines

Fri 20 Feb, 11am - 3pm

Price: Free

Booking: Just turn up. For more information please contact us on 0113 224 3732 or email city.museum@leeds.gov.uk



Leeds Discovery Centre



Flowers and Figures in Asian Textiles

Weds 18 Feb, 10am -12pm BE

Price: Free

Booking: Is required, please contact us on 0113 378 2100 to book your place or email discovery.centre@leeds.gov.uk for more details.



For more information on events and admission, please visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries



For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk