One of County Durham's favourite museums is set to host an artisan market this weekend as part of a packed calendar of events.

For the whole of this June, there's something great to see and do every day at The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle. From the beautiful exhibition, Murmuration, and daily spotlight tours to a summer market filled by local artisans, and performance lectures, visitors will be spoilt for choice.

For three days, from this Friday (June 21), the Bowes Museum's much-loved open-air Summer Market is back, returning this June for a long weekend you won’t want to miss!

The three-day extravaganza will be filled with live music, delectable fresh food, high-quality handmade products and family fun activities, with admission costing £6.50 for Adults, £3.50 for Children (5-17 years), and entry to the Museum is included in the ticket price.

The market will be open 1pm to 7pm on Friday, June 21, and then from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

Visitors will be able to browse dozens of independent artisans and traders from across the region showcasing an eclectic mix of treasures. From jewellery and charming homeware to delicious baked goods and treats for your canine companion, this is an opportunity to support local traders and treat yourself to something unique!

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Across the rest of the month at County Durham's Bowes Museum: 

  • Daily Spotlight Tours (11 am). Free for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. A friendly, informal and informative introduction to our exhibitions, collections or building. Led by the team of Visitor Attendants, Curators and Volunteer Tour Guides.
  • Stay and Play, every Thursday (10 am – 2 pm). Free for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. Time for you and your baby or toddler to explore play in the galleries, investigate materials and be creative in this self-led, free-play session. Suitable for pre-school children.
  • Artist Makers, every Saturday (1 pm – 3 pm).  Free for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. Make time for making; join in and get creative. An opportunity to try out new techniques, materials and experiment with our team of artists, makers and designers. Suitable for ages 5 and over..
  • Murmuration exhibition, until Sunday, June 23. Free for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. Immerse yourself in the world of birds, exploring avian symbolism in art and trace its significance across time and cultures. Murmuration presents a wide selection of work from artists and makers from various generations, backgrounds and contexts  whose work ranges across drawing, sculpture, film and installation.
  • Stories in Stitch, until Sunday, September 29. Free for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. The Fashion and Textile Gallery plays host to a new collection of textile artworks most of which have not be shown before. Many of these items were acquired by Joséphine and John Bowes as part of the Founding Collection of the Museum, including works by the professional embroidery artist, Mary Linwood (1755 – 1845). The exhibition draws out stories of makers, mainly girls and women, influences from art and social history, and the development of embroidery materials, techniques and teaching from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
  • Kinetic Arboretum by Martin Smith, extended until Sunday, August 4. Free access to indoor exhibits for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. Artwork by UK-based artist, Martin Smith (b. 1972) at The Bowes Museum. Sited in the Museum’s grounds this summer, Kinetic Arboretum’s (2018) three metal trees will respond to the elements with gentle, rhythmical movements.

  • Floris van Swet: The International Origins of Japanese Ceramics: Korean Potters in Japan after the East Asian War of 1592–1598. Thursday, June 27 (2.30pm). Free for members, day ticket holders, Friends, National Art Pass and Max Card holders. The third and final talk in this exclusive lecture series, delivered by Northumbria University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dr. Floris van Swet.