Families can search for hidden animals, create their own art and enjoy traditional crafts as part of a cracking series of activities in Bishop Auckland this Easter.
A special woodland trail through Auckland Castle’s historic Deer Park will be running from 30 March to 15 April 2018. Visitors can hunt for clues leading to wooden animals hidden around the medieval park. Each will reveal part of a secret word, with special Easter-themed prizes waiting for anyone who cracks the code.
The Easter Trail was created with help from two local artists who both sell their work at The Auckland Project’s No.42. Artist and entrepreneur, Gillian Gamble provided illustrations for the animals and trail map, while Sinead Croarkin, founder of The Three Peaks Company, which specialises in wooden greetings cards, produced the wooden animals dotted around the Deer Park.
The beginning and end of the Easter Trail is the Mining Art Gallery in Bishop Auckland Market Place, where free Easter-themed craft activities will be on offer from Monday, 2 to Friday, 6 April 2018.
Here, visitors can try their hand at traditional crafts between 11am and 3pm each day, including decorating eggs, making chicks and creating Easter cards inspired by printing techniques used by mining artists. In addition to craft activities, there will also be a chance to learn more about the artists featured in the gallery by following a special family trail, also designed by artist, Gillian Gamble.
Hannah Peaden, Head of Visitor Experience for The Auckland Project, said: “The Mining Art
Gallery showcases the inspiring work of local artists. It is therefore very fitting that our
programme of Easter activities encourages young people to enjoy art – from exploring an
Easter Trail created with the help of local artists to making their own artwork with traditional
Easter crafts.”
As well as craft activities in the Mining Art Gallery, children aged 5 to 11 can also take part in
Arts Award – Discover in a Day workshops, offering youngsters the opportunity to explore
different types of art and find out about local artists. Participants will then create their own
artwork, inspired by what they’ve seen and heard.
The one-day workshops at The Auckland Project’s community gallery and shop, No.42, will
run from 9.30am-3.30pm on Wednesday, 11, Thursday, 12 and Friday, 13 April 2018 and
cost £15 per child, including entry to the Mining Art Gallery.
The Auckland Project has specifically tailored the workshop activities to enable participants
to achieve the first level of the Arts Award, a unique range of qualifications that inspire and
challenge young people to get involved with art.
To book a Discover in a Day workshop, contact The Auckland Project on 01388 743791 or
email education@aucklandproject.org.
The Mining Art Gallery, which launched in October 2017, features works by prominent
mining artists including Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish and explores life in the
coalmines and surrounding mining communities.
The gallery is open daily, 10am-4pm. Tickets are £4, concessions £3, and admission is free
for under 16s, National Art Pass holders and HHA members. The Easter Trail is included in
the price of admission to the Mining Art Gallery, or £2 if purchased separately.
The programme of Easter activities is delivered by The Auckland Project with support from
National Lottery players via the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
For more information about The Auckland Project’s Easter activities and the Mining Art
Gallery, visit aucklandproject.org.