There’s plenty to put a spring in your step at Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ nine venues this month. From the legend that is Dippy the Diplodocus visiting the Great North Museum: Hancock, to the Late Shows – Newcastle and Gateshead’s annual culture crawl, your diary should be crammed with must-see events.
Dippy on Tour
Comes to Newcastle from the Natural History Museum, London from Saturday 18 May – Sunday 6 October. Unveiled to the British public in 1905, Dippy was cast from the type specimen found in America. The full skeleton is 21.3 metres long, 4.3 metres wide and 4.25 metres high. It’s free to visit Dippy on Tour but it’s recommended you pre-book your free ticket online.
The skull of the Diplodocus housed at the NHM, London © Trustees of the Natural History Museum
The Late Shows
Is back on Friday 17 – Saturday 18 May. The free late-night culture crawl will include over 60 museums, galleries, studio collectives and landmark historical buildings opening their doors to offer visitors one-off events including hands-on workshops, behind-the-scenes tours, performances and parties. This year it is sponsored by The Biscuit Factory, who have been part of the event since it started in 2007. Friday night venues in the Ouseburn will be open and Saturday night is focused on central Newcastle and Gateshead.
The Late Shows
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort
Has undergone a programme of developments over the last year and this May will be launching new fun interventions around the fort site for families to enjoy. Dogs are now welcome at Arbeia too! On Thursday 27 and Friday 28 May, Arbeia will host a two day event celebrating the indigenous Celtic tribes who lived in the area during Roman occupation – try your hand at ancient Celtic art, everyday activities and fighting techniques.
Arbeia, South Shields Roman Fort
Victoria & Albert: Our Lives in Watercolour
Looking ahead… the Laing Art Gallery will be welcoming a beautiful exhibition of watercolours from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s collection from the Royal Collection Trust. Throughout their marriage, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were enthusiastic patrons (and practitioners) of the art of watercolour painting. They formed a collection of thousands of watercolours, many illustrating scenes of their public and private lives, and often spent happy evenings together organising their acquisitions into albums. This touring exhibition – including many works being displayed for the first time – marks the bicentenary of the births of both Victoria and Albert. Victoria & Albert: Our lives in watercolour is at the Laing from Saturday 29 June – Sunday 15 September. Admission charges apply.
Paul Jacob, The Queen and Prince Albert landing at St Pierre, Guernsey, 24 August 1846
Keep up-to-date with exhibitions and events taking place at Tyneside’s museums and galleries by signing up to the must-see museums mailing list: twmuseums.org.uk/member/register
