Part of Experience Ards and North Down 2025 Explore the rich and varied history of Newtownards. The tour, led by expert guide Paul Whitla, will take you on a journey through time, visiting the Medieval plantation and learning about Georgian periods. You will discover many interesting and exciting stories, including those of John de Courcy and Oliver Cromwell. Immerse yourself in the history of Newtownards - one of the oldest settlements in Northern Ireland! Access includes entry into Newtownards Priory which is not normally open to the public. Things to note Those under 18 years must be accompanied by a paying adult and also purchase a full price ticket Tour covers uneven ground and some inclines, please wear suitable footwear and dress for the weather. This tour may not be suitable for wheelchair users / those with mobility issues - please contact the Visitor Information Centre team for more information. Tickets close 2pm on Friday 25th July Getting there By Car: from Belfast follow the A20 along Kempe Stones Road to Newtownards. At the roundabout take the 1st exit along Blair Mayne Road South. At the traffic lights turn right onto Church Street/ Regent Street. Conway Square on the right. Car parking | Ards and North Down Borough Council By Bus from Belfast: Closest Bus Station - Newtownards. Take the Ulsterbus Bus No, 7, 9 &10 to Bus Station. See Translink NI website for bus departure and arrival times. Accessibility Tour covers uneven ground, please wear suitable footwear. This experience may not be suitable for wheelchair users / those with mobility issues - Please contact the Visitor Information Centre team for more information. Carers Where practicable ANDBC will aim to accommodate carers and be as inclusive as possible. Due to the variety and nature of the Experience AND Programme this requires assessment on a case-by-case basis. If you require further information in relation to this, please call Bangor Visitor Information Centre on +44(0)28 9127 0069, and the team will assist with your enquiry. Terms and conditions apply

Part of Experience Ards and North Down 2025 Tip - Makes a great Christmas gift! Start the New Year off on the right foot, by exploring the rich and varied history of Newtownards with tour guide Paul Whitla. The tour will take you on a journey through time, visiting the Medieval plantation and learning about Georgian periods, discovering many interesting and exciting stories, including those of John de Courcy and Oliver Cromwell. Immerse yourself in the history of Newtownards - one of the oldest settlements in Northern Ireland! This would make for something different to do on New Year's Day, especially with friends and family. Things to note Meet in front of the Ards Arts Centre/Town Hall in Conway Square, Newtownards, BT23 4NP Please dress for warmth and comfortably as dictated by the weather Tour covers uneven ground and some inclines, please wear suitable footwear and dress for the weather No concessions Those aged under 18 years must be accompanied by a paying adult and must also purchase a full price ticket Tickets close 2pm on Wednesday 31 December. Getting there By Car: from Belfast follow the A20 along Kempe Stones Road to Newtownards. At the roundabout take the 1st exit along Blair Mayne Road South. At the traffic lights turn right onto Church Street/ Regent Street. Conway Square on the right. Car parking | Ards and North Down Borough Council By Bus from Belfast: Closest Bus Station - Newtownards. Take the Ulsterbus Bus No, 7, 9 &10 to Bus Station. See Translink website for bus departure and arrival times. Accessibility Tour covers uneven ground and some inclines, please wear suitable footwear and dress for the weather. This tour may not be suitable for wheelchair users / those with mobility issues - please contact the Visitor Information Centre team for more information. Carers Where practicable organisers within the Experience AND Programme will aim to accommodate carers and be as inclusive as possible. Due to the variety and nature of the programme this requires assessment on a case-by-case basis. If you require further information in relation to this, please call Bangor Visitor Information Centre on +44(0)28 9127 0069, and the team will assist with your enquiry. Terms and conditions apply

Ards Arts ever popular creative arts summer scheme runs from 10am until 4pm from Monday to Friday, meaning that you get a full week jam-packed with fun, creative activities! Each day will be broken up into several different workshops combining art, pottery and drama so that each child gets the opportunity to learn and develop skills with different tutors in a range of activities. At the end of the busy week, children will perform a small show for parents and will also have several amazing art creations to bring home. The week is designed to be fun and friendly with a relaxed atmosphere, ensuring that every child gets a unique, inspiring and enjoyable experience. Arts Scheme Details Mon 11 - Fri 15 August 10am - 4pm Ages 8 - 12 years Ards Arts Centre children must be aged 8 - 12 years at the time of the scheme Participants will be required to bring in their own packed lunch, plus a snack and a drink for morning break. Participants will be supervised by an adult at all times, with additional activities provided during breaks.

KEV F'S COMIC ART MASTERCLASS Tuesday 22 July 10am 12:30pm and 1:30pm 4:00pm Fee 8 Suitable age 7 to 16 years Create your very own comic in this workshop with Kev F Sutherland. Kev F Sutherland writes and draws for Beano, Doctor Who and Marvel comics, and makes graphic novels adapted from Shakespeare, and now he'll teach you how easy it is. After the end of a Comic Art Masterclass, everyone goes away with a comic containing a strip by everyone in the class plus an individual caricature by Kev F. Learn everything he knows, so you could leave school and steal his job!

Tuesday 5 August 6.30pm - 9.00pm Wirework Jewellery with Morag Chambers Learn how use wire and beads to make beautiful and individual jewellery. You will be shown the basic wire work techniques that you can then use to create your own designs and will leave the workshop with a finished item of jewellery. 30 Materials and tools Included Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Capturing the Light with Pandora Butterfield Tuesday 5 August 10am - 4pm Strangford Lough and the peninsula is a constant source of inspiration in Pandoras paintings. Its changing light and unpredictable weather creates a challenge as to how to capture it with paint. During this one day improvers workshop Pandora will help you capture these ephemeral and constantly changing aspects of clouds, light and sea. Enabling you to create space, distance and drama alongside guiding you through colour mixing, use of tone and markmaking in your own painting. 33 please bring own materials Equipment list please bring with you: Canvas or canvas board (A3/A2), bristle brushes, paper towels, mixing plate or palette. Acrylics or oil paint colour recommendations: white titanium, ultra marine blue, prussian blue, cobalt, alizarin crimson, vermillion red, lemon yellow, cadmium yellow, raw umber, raw sienna. (Veridian green and cerulean blue are not essential but nice) Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Rag Rug Peg Loom Weaving with Christine Casey Wed 6 Aug, 10am - 1pm, 25 all materials provided Peg loom weaving is an easy, fun method of weaving. It is thought to have originated in Scandinavia, and brought over here by viking travellers hundreds of years ago. We will be using various materials in the workshop, including woollen rovings (carded sheep fleece), yarn and strips of material. No experience is needed, all equipment and materials will be provided. Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Wednesday 6 August 7pm - 9pm Create a small forest sculpture entitled the Green Man. A face and leaves will create the sculpture which can be hung in the garden. Finished pieces will be glazed and fired by Ellen for collection at a later date. 45.00 includes all materials, tools, glazes and kiln firings. Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Mosaic Making with Geraldine Cooper Thur 7 Aug, 10am - 1pm, 38 all materials provided This workshop focuses on creating mosaics from a variety of materials such as tiles, glass, beads, wire, ceramics and more. It will be a 'no grout' mosaic experience, designed purely to investigate materials, texture and the value of movement, in order to produce an entirely unique, exploratory mosaic artwork. Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Linoprinting with Rosie Ennis Thur 7 Aug, 6pm - 9pm, 28 all materials provided Learn how to design, carve and print a lino print. You will learn how to interpret an image to transfer onto the lino block, make a print in black ink or another colour of your choosing onto handmade paper and greetings card. Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Freedom of Painting with Maria Horvathova Friday 8 August 10am - 4pm This full day workshop will provide you with an experimental free spirit approach towards painting, where you will be able to express your feelings towards home through the painting. Free Spirit Painting is the act of using strong memories, feelings and experiences to flow freely onto the canvas, without any rules or limits. You are welcome to bring a sentimental item or image with you for inspiration. You will be provided with paper materials, small canvases, acrylic, oil and watercolour paints, painting brushes, pencils and pastels. The workshop will start with an introduction to the materials, techniques and the processes to demonstrate different ways of creating a personal painting approach. 46 Materials Included Please bring a packed lunch. Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+

Saturday 30 August 10am - 4pm One-day workshop Spend a day of fun in the workshop with Diane Lyness and create a pair of beautiful sterling silver stacking rings. Make them for yourself, or why not gift them to someone special! Each participant will be taught traditional jewellery making techniques by Goldsmith Diane Lyness, such as piercing, soldering, rolling, annealing and polishing. Diane will work alongside you as you design and make your own unique piece of jewellery to take home. No previous experience is required. All you need is an apron and bundles of enthusiasm! Lunch break 12.30pm 1pm. Please bring a packed lunch, drink, and an apron Admission/Price 57.00 Basic Materials Included Tutor Diane Lyness Suitability Adults/All Levels/ 18 years+ Materials Materials and tools included.

Thursday 31 July, 7pm There will be an Opening Reception for the exhibition/s at Ards Arts Centre with speeches and refreshments from 7pm. The award winners of the Creative Peninsula exhibition will also be announced during the speeches. Artists who are exhibiting are encouraged to arrive promptly at 7pm for the prize giving. Admission/Price FREE Facilitated by Ards Arts Centre All welcome to attend!