Half term Halloween activities for you and your family

The activities are Covid secure with a Halloween theme for sessions and workshops.

As part of the programme, Arts Centre Washington’s Saturday Art Class has produced a spooky Halloween trail, created by young people for children and their families to enjoy together.

See how many creepy pictures you can spot during your one-way route – and then get your trick or treat from the venue’s box office. The trail is available from Tuesday, October 27 to Saturday, October 31.

The Arts Centre is also hosting a family portrait drawing class on Tuesday, October 27 (2pm – 3.30pm) that children and adults can enjoy together. Participants will be working from a life model and there will be plenty of portrait drawings tips and techniques given by a

professional artist. Tickets cost £7 and can be booked via the Arts Centre website – www.artscentrewashington.co.uk - or call 0191 561 3455

Meanwhile, over at National Glass Centre, you can design and make your own Halloween decoration, using colourful glass mosaics and glass grains. Frightening Fusing sessions are on throughout Monday, October 26 and Friday, October 30 and cost £10.

The sessions are for children aged six and over and booking is essential. This workshop operates on strict bubble seating and you will be unable to bring anyone additional to the tickets you have booked for.

National Glass Centre also has glass painting sessions for younger children (aged four or more) on Saturday, October 31 (10am, 11.30am, 2pm and 3.30pm).

Children must be accompanied by an adult, but adults do not have to take part, unless they want to.

The Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art (NGCA) within National Glass Centre has also organised some fun for younger children. NGCA’s Halloween Art Seekers session, delivered by Theatre Tots, is on Thursday, October 29, from 1pm to 2pm, and is aimed at children aged from 18months to seven years. Children will make bone sock puppets then follow clues around NGCA before mixing ingredients in a cauldron to make spell. The session will cost £6.

Booking is essential via Facebook Theatre Tots North East / 07951 866261 / [email protected]

For older members of the family, National Glass Centre is hosting half term glassmaking demonstrations (Monday, October 26 – Friday, October 30) throughout each day. Watch the skill of the National Glass Centre Hot Glass Studio team as they make beautiful glass objects, including glass pumpkins especially for Halloween. Each piece they make is also available to buy.

Booking is available on the day at National Glass Centre’s Visitor Services Desk. You are not able to pre-book for these demonstrations. There will also be flameworking and lathe demonstrations.

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is marking Halloween with spooky castle crafts and stories inspired by their exhibition Castles: Paintings from the National Gallery, London. You can make your own model castles and scary puppets and then listen to the ghost story of the Cauld Lad of Hylton Castle.

Or you can get creative and make your own woven textile creations inspired by the artwork cotton.com by artist Lubaina Himid in the Museum’s Received Wisdom exhibition from Arts Council Collection.

Visit Sunderland Museum’s website, www.sunderlandmusuem.org.uk, for dates, times and booking details.

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