Over 200 events are being offered by museums, libraries and archives across the UK as part of Open Weekend. The annual UK-wide celebration takes place from 23-25 July counting down to the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Open Weekend events are all free, and designed to encourage people to try something different – visit somewhere they have never been before, or try their hand at a new skill. The varied programme of events for children and families include building a rainforest for the tigers at Manchester Museum; introduction to family history skills and Cheshire Record Office and behind the scenes tours by the Nottingham Archaeology service.
Stories of the World projects are using Open Weekend to showcase some of the innovative ways they are working with young people, to generate a network of major exhibitions in 2012. Stories of the World events for Open Weekend include South African beadwork workshops at the Shipley Art Gallery to showcase an ongoing exchange programme between young women in Gateshead and the Eastern Cape. Whilst at the Geffrye Museum, their young volunteers have created “Swing into Summer” where the public are invited to compete in the Garden Games and Ping Pong London, dance along to jazz and swing, and get crafty in children’s art and craft workshops.
Events listings for Open Weekend events are available here http://www.london2012.com/get-involved/open-weekend/index.php