Tourism and travel

Chinese New Year, or the Spring Festival is the most important annual festival celebrated by Chinese around the globe. The Festival lasts for two weeks and in 2012 it begins on Monday 23rd January.

At the Oriental Museum we will be celebrating with Dragon themed crafts and activities in the Chinese galleries from 23rd January until 6th February. On Monday 6th February we will hold our annual Lantern Festival, the traditional end to the New Year holiday. The museum will open late from 6pm to 8pm. Visitors can see the museum lit by lanterns, play hunt the dragon, try out our traditional riddles and even join in a dragon parade.

The Chinese Brush Paintings exhibition, by Dr. Chun-Chao Chiu celebrates Chinese New Year 2012 in the “Year of the Dragon”. Most of the paintings shown in this exhibition demonstrate traditional Chinese painting themes, including flowers, fish, and seasonal landscape.

Dr. Chun-Chao Chiu has been teaching Chinese Painting (landscape and flowers) in the North East for many years and is currently a Chinese Painting Tutor at the North East Centre for Lifelong Learning, Sunderland University.

All paintings in the Chinese Brush Paintings exhibition are for sale. If you are interested in purchasing please contact Chun-Chao, 07913159817 or ccchao99@hotmail.com

Study opportunity
Dr. Chun-Chao Chui will be holding Chinese painting classes in Newcastle in the coming months. For more information contac Chun-Chao.

Americana singer-songwriter Josh Rouse showcases his most recent album (his ninth overall), the self titled debut of his new trio, ‘Josh Rouse and The Long Vacations’.

The trio includes Cayo Bellveser and Xema Fuertes, native Spaniards, who accent his new material in an exquisite manner, resulting in a looser, upbeat sound that echoes the acoustic folk/pop that launched Rouse’s career a decade ago.

Centred on Sting’s commissioned painting 'Northern City Renaissance, Newcastle, England' (2004-2008) by leading contemporary American landscapist Stephen Hannock, this exhibition will show scenes from the Laing Art Gallery’s collection depicting the Tyne’s sites of industrial shipbuilding and coalmining history.

The pictures on display have been chosen from the Laing’s collection of 19th and 20th-century paintings. They show how artists have been fascinated by the challenge of capturing springtime freshness, summer heat, autumn breeziness, and the chill of winter. As well as landscapes, the subjects range from holiday relaxation to work in the fields and daily life in the colder months.

Starts Saturday 21 January
Every Saturday Morning for 5 Weeks
10.30am – 12.30pm
For ages 8+

Do you consider yourself to be a budding illustrator? Or do you simply want to know more about illustration technique? Then this is the course for you!

Visit our exhibitions, handle original artwork in an exclusive white glove experience and explore the work of contemporary illustrators to gain an insight into their creative process and how they develop their ideas. You will get to explore a range of techniques over 5 weeks, with the chance to develop and work on your own ideas as well as developing and working on your own ideas.

The course culminates in an exclusive master-class with Anthony Browne, former Children’s Laureate and star of Seven Stories current exhibition, Through the Magic Mirror, the World of Anthony Browne. Anthony will give hints and tips and give an insight into the world of a best-selling illustrator.

Limited numbers. Booking essential. £100 per person for a 5 week course includes child annual pass. £50 deposit required when booking. £79 per person for annual pass holders.

Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection, Athletes and Olympians will feature portraits of well-known sporting stars, many of whom have won medals at previous Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Highlights of the exhibition will include photographic portraits of Olympic gold medallists Dame Kelly Holmes and Sebastian Coe, and boxing world champion Amir Khan. Also included in the exhibition will be a digital portrait of award-winning swimmer Duncan Goodhew, a series of 24 drawings of Sir Steve Redgrave by renowned artist Dryden Goodwin and Sam Taylor-Wood’s video portrait of David Beckham sleeping.

www.shipleyartgallery.org.uk
Free entry

Drawn from the National Portrait Gallery’s Collection, Athletes and Olympians features portraits of well-known sporting stars, many of whom have won medals at previous Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Highlights of the exhibition include photographic portraits of Olympic gold medallists Dame Kelly Holmes and Sebastian Coe, and boxing world champion Amir Khan. Also included in the exhibition will be a digital portrait of award-winning swimmer Duncan Goodhew, a series of 24 drawings of Sir Steve Redgrave by renowned artist Dryden Goodwin and Sam Taylor-Wood’s video portrait of David Beckham sleeping.

Join our ongoing programme of health walks on the first Wednesday and the third Thursday of each month. Exercise at an easy pace with a friendly group and the support of specially trained volunteers whilst exploring Gibside. All are welcome. There is no fee or admission charge for health walk participants.

Why not take a shot at Petanque. It's free, it's French and it's fun. The game can be played by people of all ages and is suitable for all levels. So come along and give this game a go one lunchtime. Simply turn up or give us a call to arrange for someone to show you the ropes. The existing players will give you a warm welcome and there is usually a spare set of boules available for you to join in and try your hand. Takes place each Monday and Wednesday lunchtimes from 12.30-1.30pm.