All events and activities are FREE and materials are provided.

13th February 10am - 12 noon
Use your imagination to make and create your very own pocket monster or dragon.
A drop in session for children aged from 2 - 12 years old.

17th February 1 - 4pm (Half Term)
Animal Mask Making
A drop in session aimed at school age children 5 - 16 years old.
Please note that while this activity has been designed  for children aged 5+ there will be toys, colouring etc. available to keep young siblings occupied.

8th March 4 - 6pm
Make slides and lighting gels to project onto the Museum. Come along and light up the outside of the Museum!
This after school play activity is aimed at young people over the age of 10 years.

16th March
An Early Years event for pre school children.
Make your own aquarium and listen to fishy tales!
Two morning sessions, one running 9.30 - 10.30am and one 11am - 12noon, with invitations sent to pre schools and nurseries. One afternoon session 1.30 - 2.30pm for families and child minders.

27th March 10am - 12 noon.
Come on an Egg Hunt and decorate an egg!
A Family event, everyone welcome.

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North Devon in Photographs is an annual exhibition of selected entries from our popular annual photographic competition which is open to both professional and amature photographers of all ages. The idea is to encourage photography of North Devon life and scenery.

Our 2009 1st Place category winners were;

Towns & Villages: Robin Mellor
Under 16s: Alice Leaman

The Coast & The Sea: Lindsey Talbert
Under 16s: Adam Wooldridge

Landscape: Michael Woodhead
Under 16s: Adam Wooldridge

Wildlife: Lindsey Talbert - overall Cup Winner
Under 16s: Alex Stapleton - overall Cup Winner

Characters: Barbara Fryer
Under 16s: Mary Sanders

Anything Goes!: Margaret Gilbert
Under 16s: Robin Tanner

Each year we have a different judge who has a photographic background. For 2009 the Museum invited two judges, Liza Owen and Ben Liddell, both of whom have been teaching photography as well as art and design at FE & HE level for many years at Petroc (North Devon College).

The Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon joins in the
celebration of the North Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Golden Anniversary

Celebrating their 50^th anniversary in 2009, the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership was delighted to be involved with the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon's annual Heritage Photographic Competition. Any photographs entered in the competition, identified as having been taken within this specially protected area, were eligible for entry into an additional category.

AONB winners;

1st Place - Andrew Wheatley
2nd Place - Peter Fry
3rd Place - Robin Mellor
Highly Commended - Agneta Winston
Highly Commended - Mary Stokes
Commended - Keith Lowther
Commended - Adam Wooldridge
Commended - Mr Rob Thorne
Commended - Lindsey Talbert

Devon shepherd and English national sheepdog handler David Kennard, who farms at Mortehoe on our beautiful rugged North Devon coast, was the judge for this special category of the competition.

For a map of the area that the AONB covers in North Devon and their Golden Anniversary events visit www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk

Congratulations to all our award winners and a huge THANK YOU to everyone who entered the competition.

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The aim of the show is to provide a showcase for some of the freshest art from and inspired by northern Devon.

Selected work is being shown at the Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon and at the Gallery Cafe, Queen's Theatre, Boutport Street, Barnstaple from 16th January - 6th March 2010.

The selection panel for the 8th Open Art Show included representatives of North Devon Arts, North Devon School of Art, Museum of Barnstaple & North Devon and North Devon Theatres Trust.

Showing at the Gallery Cafe at the Queens Theatre, Boutport Street, Barnstaple are:

Nigel Banks - collage

Janis Glover - acrylic & oils

Showing at the Museum are:

Mary Cunliffe - ceramics

Angela Read - sculpture

Jill Denton - mixed media & felt hangings

Simeon Chami - acrylic, oils and mixed media

Angela Bridgman - photography

Albert Duplock - watercolour, pen & ink

 The Museum's Learning and Outreach Officer Julian Vayne says "I'm overwhelmed by the quality of the entries and the range of different styles and media being used. Every year the North Devon Open Art Show entrants amaze the selection panel with their fantastic creativity. We are proud to bring another eight artists work onto display and visitors are certain to enjoy the range of work that both venues will be showing."

Please note that opening times may vary at the Theatre please phone 01271 327357 for details.

For further details email: museum@northdevon.gov.uk or tel: 01271 346747

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Throughout the medieval period Barnstaple was a key Devon centre during the wool trade boom.  Come and discover the historical importance of wool to the local area.  See the North Devon Spinners demonstrate the various aspects of wool processing and join in the fun with our exciting family activities.

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Over the years, thousands of girls and young women from North Devon, Taw & Torrodge Divisions have been pushing the boundries, enjoying new experiences and having their voices heard through guiding. The exhibition shows how guiding has always been at the forefront of providing girls with modern and relevant experiences as well as celebrating the achievements of local members from the very beginnings of the movement through to the modern day.

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Every year, an estimated 150,000 people in the UK suffer a stroke, which is the third most common cause of death in the UK and the single most common cause of severe disability.

The Stroke Association is the only UK wide charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages, funding research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation, and helping stroke patients and their families directly through its Life After Stroke Services.

This is a small exhibition of artwork produced by people adapting to the effects of a stroke.

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Peter Passmore has worked with the last remaining
speakers of the North Devon ‘Barumite' dialect to develop an educational resource for future generations. He has produced an audio/photographic record of Barumite speakers to preserve what remains of this unique dialect.

This project has been supported by UnLtd, a charitable organisation set up by seven leading organisations that promotes, supports and develops the role of social entrepreneurs as a force for positive change in the United Kingdom.  UnLtd supports dynamic, creative people who want to make a difference to their communities.

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