The Wild Escape workshop announcement – Stop motion animation for beginners
Friday 14th April, 10am-1pm
Museum of Lincolnshire Life
Have you always wanted to have a go at animating your own movie? Well now you can learn the basics of stop motion with Investigate Learning team animator Hannah, who has animated our museum Rusti the squirrel!
In this exciting workshop you will have the opportunity to model your own creature inspired by British wildlife and then you will learn how to bring them to life using stop motion techniques. By the end of the session you will have created your very own short animation and learned the skills to make more in your own time!
Participants will require a smart phone with the ability to take photos and download a free app called Stop Motion Studio (available on android and IOS). If this is not possible please let us know when booking.
This workshop is part of The Wild Escape, a major new project led by Art Fund uniting hundreds of museums with schools and families in a celebration of UK wildlife and creativity. The Wild Escape invites children to find a favourite animal in their local museum and create an artwork imagining its journey to a natural habitat.
How to book:
The cost of the workshop is £10 per participant and will take place at The Museum of Lincolnshire Life. The workshop is suitable for ages 7 upwards, please ensure that children under 16 are accompanied by an adult at all times.
Please reserve your place through the Investigate Learning team by emailing investigate-learning@lincolnshire.gov.uk with the subject line ‘Stop Motion Workshop’.. Please provide details of the participant’s name, age and a contact number. Alternatively you can call 01522 550501 or submit an enquiry via the website. Payment will be taken on the day at the museum reception.
Fantastic Earth Day event
We are busy planning this fantastic Earth Day event so join us at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life for a great day! There will be…
- Information stalls supporting the environment and loads of ideas about sustainability
- Demonstrations in wood turning and hedge laying
- Dancing and music
- Pottery sessions
- Creative arts collage and crafts.
- Edible flower planting – make your own plant pot!
- Rusti the Red Squirrel trail and her ideas to help you with your own Earth Day pledge
For teachers the Investigate Learning team will be on site to answer questions about our offers and projects across the Culture Service sites so you are very welcome to drop in for a chat with the team.
Schedule for the day
8.45 to 9.30 am
Dance Free will start the day with a session at Lincoln Castle – see the castle website here for that event Dance Free Event at Lincoln Castle
Start celebrating Earth Day with this unique experience….an uplifting free-movement dance in the grounds of the majestic Lincoln Castle.
Free your body and soul, let go of your mind.
A fun and welcoming space. The session starts with a short facilitated guidance into movement to help you move into your comfort zone, drop into your body and away from your thoughts and then the rest is free movement to music through a journey of ambient, euphoric and soulful beats in a mix of genres. Using silent disco headsets for an immersive music experience
Then at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life
10am – 3.30pm
All day there are opportunities to
- Visit Information stalls across the site
- Join in the creative arts collage making and crafts
- Plant some edible flower seeds for your wildlife habitats and make your own plant pot!
- Demonstrations in wood turning and hedge laying
At these times you can also see
11am, 12 noon and 1.30pm – Poacher Morris Dancing
2pm – Music from Experimental Sonic Machines plus acoustic sessions at various times.
Pottery workshops
11am – 12 noon – Clay animal making
2pm – 3pm – Clay animal design tile making
(book a place in advance – see below)
Dance Free will start the day with a session at Lincoln Castle – see the castle website here for that event Dance Free Event at Lincoln Castle
Start celebrating Earth Day with this unique experience….an uplifting free-movement dance in the grounds of the majestic Lincoln Castle.
Free your body and soul, let go of your mind.
A fun and welcoming space. The session starts with a short facilitated guidance into movement to help you move into your comfort zone, drop into your body and away from your thoughts and then the rest is free movement to music through a journey of ambient, euphoric and soulful beats in a mix of genres. Using silent disco headsets for an immersive music experience
Pottery Sessions – how to book
We have two pottery workshops for you to choose from – or even come to both!
Our learning team potter Victoria will help you to get creating with clay animals (11am session) and clay animal and habitat tile making (2pm session).
Rusti the Squirrel will inspire you or you can choose your own British wildlife animals. You will learn how to model your Wild Escape creatures and develop your pottery skills.
All ages welcome – please ensure that children under 16 are accompanied by an adult to help at all times.
Places can be reserved by emailing investigate-learning@lincolnshire.gov.uk. Please provide details of the participant’s name, age and a contact number.
Alternatively you can call 01522 550501 or submit an enquiry via the website Investigate Learning – Creative and cultural learning experiences.
£4 per participant – payment will be taken at reception on the day for those with reserved places. There may be some extra places on the day so pop along if we book up.
Our event contributors
We are excited to have a wide range of collaborators holding stalls and giving demonstrations on the day. Here’s a bit more about them…
Dance Free
Dance Free is a free-movement dance activity, held at beautiful natural locations across Lincolnshire. Experience mindful-moving through music in nature. Fun and welcoming for all. Guiding you into your comfort zone, to feel happy, release worries and stresses, and experience a connection with you, others and nature.
When we move freely in nature our hearts open and senses heighten, leading to a deep connection and appreciation for beauty.
For more on Dance Free, see www.wedancefree.com
Earthlincs
Created by some local not for profit groups, and supported by Lincoln City Council, they currently run a climate cafe at the Mint Lane Cafe on Saturday afternoons. They are also seeking larger premises. Their vision is to offer a cafe, repair workshops, library of things, education, exhibitions, craft-embellished second hand goods, information, resource sharing, skills workshops, meeting spaces. The people of Lincoln are already suffering due to our changing climate, so they will also be listening to their experiences and learning what more they can do to help. The Earthlincs stall will also provide a demonstration of seed bomb making.
Experimental Sonic Machines
Experimental Sonic Machines is a one-person-and-a-robot electronic music project based in Lincoln UK. Peter uses scrap materials & run-down cells & solar power to create original electronic & acoustic music. He uses paper disc programs & wear sci-fi style costumes. He doesn’t drive and uses a bicycle & trailer to transport my equipment, & public transport or lifts with friends for further afield events. He uses energy-efficient circuits to minimize power consumption. The music & equipment is developing from performance to performance – each one is unique, with established songs plus improvisation.
Green Synergy
Historic Places Team
Come and join Lincolnshire County Council’s Historic Places Team who will be showcasing how investigating the past can contribute to a greener future. Archaeology has enormous potential to help us understand how human forces have impacted the natural environment throughout history and how we can direct a positive change for the future based upon historic evidence!
Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service
They are committed to nature recovery within the Area of Natural Beauty (AONB), that is the Lincolnshire Wolds. They advise farmers on how best to look after the land for the benefit of nature, and help communities improve their local environments. Lincolnshire Wolds Countryside Service (LWCS) also publishes a large number of walk leaflets and information sheets to ensure locals and visitors alike get the best experience from their connection to the AONB.
At Earth Day, LWCS will be showcasing the importance of hedges in nature recovery. There will be clay tiles to make, a tree identification quiz and an opportunity to have a go at a hedgerow survey. Come along and grab your free ‘Hedge Hero’ badge so you can spread the word about the humble hedge.
https://www.lincswolds.org.uk/
Lincs Loves Plants
Love Lincs Plants (formally known as Lincolnshire Plants: Past & Future) is a Lottery Heritage Fund supported project to create a collection of native Lincolnshire plants. The collection is held in a number of locations including two geographically separate herbaria
Old Wood Organic CIC
Old Wood Organic CIC, began as a response to the pandemic. The owners, Ben and Atma wanted a place of refuge during these unprecedented times and retreated to a plot of land in Skellingthorpe to reconnect with an inner sense of peace and foster a loving relationship with the Earth – hoping to restore feelings of wellbeing.
The first step was to build a market garden among the trees. With the help of Ben’s trusted friend Finn and his knowledge of organic growing techniques, Ben set to work nurturing the soil and planting a diverse range of fruits and vegetables, using the No-Dig technique. The nourished soil brought abundant growth and delicious produce, which Ben and Atma now share with local restaurants and organisations.
As their family grew to include Ayla-Rose, Atma and Ben felt called to share the serenity of their woodland space with others who might be in need of the same restorative peace they had discovered while tending to the land. This is how an intensional community begun to grow around them. Land and Leaf Collective joined with Old Wood Organic CIC to provide forest school and outdoor education for Home Educated children.
In September 2022, the idea for the Woodland Wellbeing Programme was born and supported by Shine managed funding. On this programme the local community can access free holistic wellbeing courses that include, therapeutic horticulture, Yoga, Mindfulness, Sustainable Eco Crafts and most recently added Green Workworking.
Plastic Free Lincoln
Plastic Free Lincoln is part of a national campaign, Plastic Free Communities, organised by the environmental charity SAS – Surfers Against Sewage. The Plastic Free Lincoln campaign group are leading a campaign to achieve Plastic Fee community status for Lincoln.
https://www.lincoln.gov.uk/environmental-issues/green-sustainable-living-1/5
Sir Joseph Banks Natural history and Science Centre
The Joseph Banks Centre is a recently restored Grade II listed building in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. The building houses numerous curated collections including History Society archives, a Reference Library, Herbarium and Tribute Garden. There is also a variety of technical equipment, including IT systems and 3D imagers & 3D printers, used to support the Centre’s science work. See website
Joseph Banks Centre – Natural Science & Local Heritage (horncastlejbc.info)
Victoria MacDonald Pottery workshops
Victoria is a member of the learning team and has been doing pottery since she was a child and professionally since 2012. She loves both teaching and making, particularly using historically informed techniques. Her own work ranges from animal figurines to wheel thrown pots to maiolica tiles, which you can find at The Pot Shop, 16 Steep Hill, Lincoln.
The Wildlife Trusts
Providing information on local wildlife and the nature reserves they care for, with a representative on hand to chat to the public. They hope to encourage people to learn more about the wildlife on their doorstep and what they can do to help conserve it, through offering advice on wildlife gardening and current projects, volunteering and supporting the Trust by becoming a member. People are often surprised by just how many wildlife events are available to them.
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/
Poacher Morris
Poacher Morris are the original, finest (& only remaining) Morris side based in Lincoln. We perform lively dances in the style of the Welsh Border Morris tradition. Throughout the year Poacher Morris perform at local events, festivals, pubs, and other places too.
New members are always welcome as dancers, musicians or both. No experience is necessary, all dances and steps are taught at our regular practice nights. It’s a great way to keep fit and make new friends!
Come along and see us and find out about ‘The Morris’ at the Earth Day Event at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Sandford Award for Investigate Lincoln Castle!
Great news! We’re excited to announce that the Lincoln Castle Investigate Learning team have received the Sandford Award for heritage learning!! For each of the assessment categories, we received the highest score, which is great news for our enthusiastic learning team. We’re so pleased to share this amazing site with our learning visitors.
Sandford Award Lead Assessor wrote:
Lincoln Castle thoroughly deserves its second Sandford Award in recognition of the unique and compelling insight it offers visitors into a series of locally and nationally significant historical phenomena, ranging from the medieval world and the Magna Carta to the treatment of prisoners in Victorian England.
The learning team has demonstrated impressive creativity, resourcefulness and analytical dexterity in using the site’s long and complex story to bring into focus key historical themes that relate directly to the content of the school curriculum. In so doing, they have created both a highly stimulating and memorable learning experience delivered in the most authentic of settings.
Visitors cannot help but be captivated by the breadth of history on display here and by the site’s skill in bringing it vividly to life in a way that will resonate with learners for years to come.
This recognition builds upon our Sandford Award success last year for The Collection Museum and we enjoy meeting all of our learning participants!
Prehistory workshops shine bright this autumn!
The team are busily taking bookings for all our offers and will be introducing a special prehistory workshop day for Key Stage 1 & 2 in the Autumn.
We are excited to be linking new sessions to the fantastic visiting exhibition Gathering light: A Bronze golden sun – a British Museum Spotlight Loan. It will feature this 3000 year old extraordinary Shropshire Sun Pendant. Glittering objects will be on site between 11th November 2022 to 20th February 2023.
Workshops will involve museum investigations, beaker pottery making and our archaeology dig challenge.
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Our patch of earth project
The Our Patch of Earth Exhibition and Creative Arts Garden project is underway and has been very exciting this year.
Artist in Residence, Esteban Peña Parga, explored our relationship with the natural environment with his focus on native wildflowers for the Gatehouse Gallery exhibition. Pop along and see it until 30 August 2022.
Using innovative painting and drawing techniques, as well as new media and technology in relation to the use of colour and light, this exhibition will evolve as winter turns into spring! Esteban will be on-site to talk to visitors about his practice and we will add to the exhibition during his residency.
Our new potting bench and planter area has been set and we have started gardening at all our holiday events and learning workshops! We link to Victorian gardening ideas and are developing ideas and plans for our ‘secret’ garden area based upon sustainable and environmentally friendly planting.
We welcome enquiries from schools for school learning sessions (Victorians and/or Creative Arts) as well as having our family activities school holiday event days.
Watch this space for our updates to the schedule of events…
Events schedule
Kitchen cupboard medicine workshop day
Using everyday herbs and spices to make simple remedies
- Saturday 30 July
- 10am to 3pm
- £25
- Age 18+
- Limited places available and all places need to be booked in advance.
How to book
Book a place either in person at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life reception or emailing the Investigate team (who will then phone you to take payment).
For more information please email investigate-learning@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Just bring Lunch (there are shops near buy) an apron and notebook.
In this workshop we will explore the medicinal virtues of some culinary herbs and spices and use them to make small tablets or troches, make a healing electuary from dried powdered herbs and dried fruit and discover how to make infused herbal oils from hedgerow and garden plants for use in muscle rubs and salves.
Spend a day learning how to make these simple and effective everyday remedies, you will take home a cream, and electuary and some troches. All ingredients and equipment will be provided together with handouts.
Debbie Lincoln BSc (Hons) is a Medical herbalist and a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She currently practices in and around Lincoln, Sleaford, Newark and the surrounding areas, visiting clients in their own homes. She also runs workshops on foraging for medicinal plants and gives walks and talks about herbal medicine. Debbie has been a fantastic source of knowledge for the Our Patch of Earth garden project as we explore what native plants to include. For more information please see her website at www.herbwise.co.uk.
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Have an Usher Gallery exhibition in your school!
That’s what Waddington All Saints Primary have just done!
Wow what a response from the pupils! Using our new Creative Arts kits they set up their own art studio. What an impression it made.
The pupils absolutely loved it and told us it felt like they were in a real gallery and they can’t wait to visit us at the Usher.
It was great to hear how they had linked the art works to their history and geography studies and responded to the De Wint painting of Lincoln Year 4 Teacher and Art and Design lead, Victoria Maycock piloted our new loans kits and told us that when the pupils entered the room they were ‘in awe’.
It was a fantastic way to introduce the art works and find out how they made the pupils feel.
What a great result!!
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Our new Patch of Earth Investigate Learning project
The Our Patch of Earth project has had a wonderful start at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life and the exhibition will now continue until the end of August.
Our Victorian ‘secret garden’ plans are moving ahead and we have had visitors busy planting as part of schools workshops and holiday events! Great stuff.
The themes of the project are linked to environmental responsibility, wellbeing and community.
Our new Victorian Life workshop sessions have been great fun so let us know how we can link Victorians and creative arts for your projects and activities.
Adults may also like to volunteer for this garden project so contact us for more information.
See the details below and signup for our newsletter to know how our project progresses and how your pupils could be involved.
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Autumn is coming – and so are our workshops
We are looking forward to welcoming you back for our workshops across the sites this autumn. Demand has been very high and we have reviewed our capacity and learning spaces. Access for some of our offers will be limited until next year so please check with us with regard to topic availability. In particular we are unable to offer Egyptians and Greeks at The Collection Museum and the Castle self-led all-inclusive this year.
Our loans kit offer (Investigate Learning on Tour) – see the updated list – has been increased and during the Autumn we will also be adding our new creative arts kits and even a Tudor banquet experience kit! We will also be launching our new ‘Learning from the Castle Walls’ films, focussing on the Norman period for each key stage – they are in the editing suite right now (image above)!
We are launching a new environmental garden project at Museum of Lincolnshire Life called ‘Our Patch of Earth’ which links to the site Victorian history and creative arts. There are opportunities for schools to be involved so watch out for further details.
To find out more about our learning offers please sign up for our newsletter using the form below.
Sandford Award success for Investigate
We are delighted to have been awarded the Sandford Award for the Investigate Learning team at The Collection Museum and Usher Gallery.
Feedback from lead judge, Nina Sprigge:
“The Collection provides engaging interactive learning experiences, both on-site and digitally. The knowledgeable Learning team is enthusiastic about sharing the significance of the local archaeological collections and deepening understanding of the creative arts.
“Archaeological displays cover Prehistoric, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, Viking and Medieval times, along with items from Ancient Greece and Ancient Egypt. Key Stage 2 on-site visits, in which Lincoln’s Roman and Viking history is imaginatively bought to life for pupils, are highly recommended.
“A well-organized carousel of fun memorable learning activities can include pupils dressing in Roman helmets and marching in formation.
“Creative arts workshops at the Usher Gallery focus on both the permanent art displays and temporary exhibitions, sometimes involving artist in residence projects. Learning staff offer impactful Arts Award projects for both schools and home learners, deepening understanding of artist methods and developing individual creative expression.
“GCSE and A Level students can benefit from working with professional artists, and secondary schools are encouraged to request bespoke projects.”
Anita Fox, Learning Manager for the Culture service said:
“This has been a very unusual year and so to have such positive comments from this assessment is very encouraging. We are looking forward to seeing schools, colleges and university students and teachers back on site in the Autumn.
“We will be publishing our new digital offers too – watch out for our new Lincoln castle learning films. Our loans kit offer has also been expanded and includes new prehistory, early medieval, creative arts (with canvases of art works from our collection) and even our new Tudor banquet kit offer!”
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Shared voices in Learning and Exhibitions
Welcome to our finale of our Battle of Britain Exhibition Learning Project. Our new film showcases the collaborative work to bring to life the art works from the Imperial War Museum and our own collection.
The Creative Collective of young people have been at the heart of this creative response which has been fantastic. How they approached the challenges has been inspirational.
The last year has brought many challenges for us all and so it has been an absolute pleasure to take part in this project which will also be part of the Imperial War Museums digital project in September so look out for that.
It has also been great to award pupils at Birchwood Primary in Lincoln their Arts Award certificates as part of the exhibition project and if schools would like to know more about future projects, or about our work as an Artsmark Partner and Arts Award centre, then please contact the Investigate Learning team.
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