From 20 February 2023 - 2026 Show all dates and times Image: Five Six Photography Fresh from its recent return home to the Natural History Museum, Dippy the Diplodocus (DIP-low-DOCK-us) is stomping into Coventry this February half-term, set to remain as dino-in-residence at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum for three years! Dippy the dinosaur is a life-size, plaster-of-paris replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton. It became the first Diplodocus to go on display anywhere in the world when it was gifted to the Natural History Museum by Andrew Carnegie on 12 May 1905. It quickly became a star, capturing hearts and imaginations, and went on to complete a whirlwind tour of the UK in 2017. After a brief return home to London, Dippy heads down to Coventry this year, and will be ready for visitors from 20 February 2023. Diplodocus carnegii lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 155 – 145 million years ago and their skeletons have been found in North America. They were huge, plant-eating dinosaurs, with long whip-like tails. They grew to about 24-26 metres long and probably weighed up to around 15 tonnes. For comparison, a London double-decker bus is around 14 metres long and weighs 12 tonnes. Image: FiveSix Photography Sign up to our newsletter or follow #DippyInCov on social media for updates. Dippy the diplodocus is on loan from the Natural History Museum, London

Tuesday 21 February 2023 - Saturday 21 February 2026 | Available during opening hours Show all dates and times Presented in collaboration with Warwickshire Museum, this free fossil display will take you back in time to the Jurassic era, a time when much of the region was underwater. A selection of fossils drawn from both the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and Warwickshire Museum collections offer a fascinating insight into the strange sea creatures that swam through Coventry and Warwickshire between 200 and 145 million years ago. The display includes our star fossil - an ichthyosaur skull found in Harbury. Held in the Herbert's covered court, this exhibition is only accessible to ticket-holders for Dippy: The Nation's Favourite Dinosaur. Find out more about visiting Dippy here. In April 2024, Annabelle Elvis, aged 6, won our naming ichthuosaur naming competition. The fossil was found in a Harbury Cement Quarry and has been part of Herbert Art Gallery & Museum’s collection since the early 1960s. In 2023, the Ichthyosaur received some much-needed restoration work, which has outlined a flurry of new details. Pictured: Annabelle Elvis with Curator, Ali Wells

Group bookings available on request - please email for details Show all dates and times These sessions are designed for those in need of additional support, due to health, wellbeing support, memory or concentration loss. Designed for age 50+, but all are welcome. Please email [email protected] to book a session. Join us for an informal discussion and exploration of our visual arts collection. These sessions are designed for those in need of additional support, due to health, wellbeing support, memory or concentration loss. Led by our arts education specialist, Brian Scholes, they offer a relaxed environment, with seating available and talks adapted to suit the needs of those in the group. We will offer a safe space for you to enjoy relaxed time together to study our visual arts collections, with the support and encouragement of our team. We do not expect all participants to actively join in with conversation, but they are welcome to if they feel comfortable doing so. We welcome questions, knowledge-sharing and your suggestions for future Awaken the Arts sessions, so if you have a particular artwork you would like us to focus on, please ask and we will include this in future sessions. Friends, partners and care givers are welcome to join in, to share the experience with their loved ones. Awaken the Arts needs to be booked in advance for groups, which can be booked to suit the date/time of your regular group meet ups. For further information, please contact Lisa Ford, Learning and Engagement Manager by emailing [email protected]

Tuesdays (Coventry term-time only) | 10.30am - 11.00am adds context by using a physical object to give words meaning; extends learning through play and increases their opportunities to develop good listening and language skills. Sessions take place in different galleries each week, simply ask at the Welcome Desk when you arrive to find out what space we will be in so your little ones can experience our collections through play. Covid-19 Safety Measures We want you to feel safe and assured that attending our Sensory Stories and Rhymes sessions will enable you to have a fun and engaging experience with your children. Here is what we are doing to ensure this for you:

Open Every Day During Opening Hours | Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm, Sundays 12pm - 4pm Show all dates and times Explore Coventry Rugby Club's 150-year history through artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia in this new display. Founded in 1874, the club quickly rose in English Rugby, navigating challenges and rebuilding for a sustainable future, with community engagement and ambitions of returning to the Premiership.

Available During Opening Hours | Friday 28 March - Sunday 8 June 2025 Show all dates and times We are thrilled to announce the 13th Coventry Open exhibition! This prestigious event aims to showcase the quality and diversity of art being produced in Coventry and the wider West Midlands region, providing valuable selling opportunities for artists. Building on the success of the last exhibition, we’re excited to see the return of the Young Artists category introduced in 2023, allowing artists aged 15-18 the chance to exhibit their work. Visual artists working in any medium were invited to submit images and supporting information about their work via our online submissions portal. A £1,000 prize was awarded to one winning entry chosen by an independent judging panel, alongside an additional prize for the Young Artists category winner. The Coventry Open 2025 attracted more than 1,000 submissions and features 140 artworks across a wide range of media – from painting and photography to textiles, ceramics, video and installation art. The exhibition promises something for everyone, featuring an eclectic mix of artworks that will appeal to visitors of all ages. This year’s main prize was awarded to Coventry-based photographer Alan Van Wijgerden for his audio-visual piece Sent to Coventry Again. Alan, who lives in Spon End, said: “All artists ultimately want to share their work and this competition has provided a great opportunity to do that." “My submission has really been developed over a very long time in the city I have spent most of my life. I’m really pleased, and shocked, to have won – and it’s quite strange to think that people visiting the Herbert will be seeing my work.” The film draws from Alan’s extraordinary archive of hundreds of thousands of photographs taken over four decades, weaving together stories of the city’s recent history. A key theme of the work is the ever-changing skyline of Coventry, reflecting the city's evolution and resilience over time. Image: Garry Jones A People’s Choice Award, valued at £500, will be announced at the close of the exhibition in June. Visitors are invited to vote for their favourite artwork during their visit to the gallery. Check out our FAQs: FAQs JEMIMA GRAHAM Jemima Graham, director of Glue Collective and programme coordinator at Stryx Gallery, has over 20 years' experience enriching Birmingham’s cultural landscape through intergenerational events and dynamic public programmes. Her work in place-making and exhibitions, both indoor and outdoor, embodies her dedication to inclusive art, connecting human and ecological elements through play and empowerment themes.  Graham’s contributions to the production of events like Birmingham Weekender and grassroots festivals highlight her dedication to creating impactful, inclusive art experiences. Her expertise extends to consulting in place-making, focusing on designing spaces that nurture connections between human, non-human and more-than-human ecologies through play.  Graham continues to develop her practice through exhibitions and projects in galleries and outdoor settings. Her work has featured in exhibitions at the Herbert, Centrala, Stryx Gallery, Ikon Gallery and Birmingham City University - where she's currently an artist in residence. Inspired by the quantum entanglement of all things, her work explores themes of empowerment and connection - both human and environmental. Her installations and visual arts celebrate and embrace play as a transformative force and invite audiences to connect with the rhythms of the earth and one another.  JASON WILSHER-MILLS Jason Wilsher-Mills, a disabled artist from West Yorkshire, creates large, psychedelic sculptures celebrating 1970s working-class popular culture and highlighting disability issues. Wilsher-Mills was born in Wakefield in 1969. He grew up on council estates and is the youngest of eight children. He was a very active child but fell ill with chicken pox when he was 11 years old. The virus attacked his central nervous system, causing paralysis from the neck down and requiring the use of a wheelchair. He needed 24-hour care and had to spend one year in hospital.   Through his large, psychedelic sculptures, Wilsher-Mills celebrates the working-class popular culture of the 1970s, littering his work with references to British children’s comics and popular TV shows of the time, while also highlighting issues relating to disability.  When asked what his work is about: "Think ‘I, Daniel Blake’ meets ‘The Beano’”. Wilsher-Mills was commissioned by the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha and exhibited at Qatar and the Houses of Parliament among other international venues. He was awarded the Adam Reynolds Award in 2020. In 2024 he exhibited at the Wellcome Collection in London, the Venice Biennale and Ferens Art Gallery in Hull.  Image: Benjamin Gilbert CC-BYNC DR CARA COURAGE Dr Cara Courage is an art and placemaking specialist who brings communities and artists together to transform spaces and places through creative collaboration and cultural engagement. She has dedicated her career to championing the transformative power of art in communities, working alongside artists and residents to create meaningful change through cultural participation.   From leading innovative programmes at artist studios, museums and universities, to working with artist collectives and grassroots groups, she brings deep expertise in socially engaged creative practice. Courage’s work spans contemporary visual arts, public art and community-led cultural initiatives, always prioritising local voices and artistic excellence.   As both practitioner and advisor, she has shaped creative projects across the UK's urban and rural landscapes, from high street regeneration through arts engagement to pioneering new approaches for cultural institutions. Her hands-on experience includes directing award-winning social innovation programmes and fostering creative partnerships that bring artists and communities together in authentic collaboration.   Through extensive work with cultural organisations of all sizes, Courage demonstrates an unwavering commitment to art's vital role in shaping vibrant, connected communities.  UnT1tL3d UnT1tL3d is a multi-disciplinary artist who encodes deeply personal life experiences into her art, emphasising personal storytelling over imitation. Her UnT1tL3d persona serves to separate the artist from her creations, enabling her to explore complex themes with a degree of personal detachment.  UnT1tL3d’s work resists the need for overt interpretation, focusing instead on deeply personal life experiences encrypted into her art. She works across various mediums, including sculpture, charcoal and ink drawings, and digital media. Her creative approach is inspired by the techniques and colour palettes of artists such as Alex Ross, Robert Rauschenberg, Shepard Fairey and Banksy. The persona of ‘UnT1tL3d’ serves as a deliberate separation between the artist and her creations, allowing her to explore and narrate her stories without having to directly relive them.

14 September, 5 October, 9 November, 7 December 2023, 11 January 2024 | 10.30am - 12pm & 1.30pm – 3.00pm Show all dates and times For ages 0-4. There is tons of creative fun for little hands and feet in this relaxed and engaging art session. Babies and toddlers will have the opportunity to explore various materials across the sessions including paint, glitter, paste, sand, clay, slimy spaghetti, chalk and much more. Messy play is an important element of early childhood development, appealing to children’s curiosity and helping them to understand the world through their senses. These sessions will also expose them to early mark making, enabling them to develop good concentration, muscle control and encourage their imaginations. Be prepared to get messy for both children and adults! 6 July – Coventry Street Art: Taking inspiration from our Work on Walls exhibition, your little ones will have all the fun transforming the studio into a colourful street art scene. They can run wild, spray painting onto canvased walls with watered down paint and use paint dabbers, hands and feet to colour inside bold shapes. Tuft trays of sensory mess and colourful playdough will encourage play and the opportunity to sculpt your own street scene. 14 September – Last of Summer: One of our favourite themes to celebrate! Delve into our sandpits, sculpt pom-pom paper ice-creams, bring to life sunny scenes with hand printing, with this colourful Mini Makers session. 5 October – Wildlife Wonders: Taking inspiration from the Wildlife Photography Exhibition this October, join us in capturing the awe and wonder of our natural environment, with its colourful wildlife and plant forms. Explore our nature inspired sensory trays to sculpture your favourite wildlife creatures using colourful play dough. Also explore mark making wild handprints and take them home in sparkly photo frames made by you. 9 November – City full of Lights: Celebrate special events happening throughout November with an abundance of sparkle, colour and pattern. Our youngest visitors will make splash-tastic fireworks, explore crackling sensory trays, create clay diva lamps, and explore pattern making with rice on our rangoli tables. 7 December – Jingle Bells: An invitation to join us for some very messy festive fun! Dive into trays filled with cinnamon scented cloud dough, bells and fluffy snow. Make sooty footprints as you walk in the footsteps of Santa, ice biscuits and make your own unique and colourful decorations to take home this festive season. 11 January – Winter Wonders: In the calm and quiet of January, embrace the winter season with serene sensory play. Children will explore small world ice trays, dive feet first into foamy snow, make melted snowmen paintings and cute keepsake handprint mittens. It is advisable that you and your child wear items of clothing that you are happy to risk getting paint on. Whilst the paint is water based it may stain if not washed out quickly. Many of our regular visitors have a dedicated 'messy' outfit for the purposes of enjoying this session to its fullest extent, with a spare outfit to change into afterwards.

Available During Opening Hours | Saturday 31 May - Sunday 7 September 2025 Show all dates and times Step back in time and explore the prehistoric world with Brick Dinos, brought to life with stunning LEGO creations by artist Warren Elsmore and his team. This educational and entertaining experience features LEGO dinosaur sculptures designed in collaboration with palaeontologists, including a soaring Pterodactyl, a four-metre-long Masiakasaurus, and more. Discover 16 intricately detailed dioramas, uncover fossils at the interactive Dino Dig, and learn quirky fun facts about our prehistoric friends. Get creative with hands-on LEGO and Duplo play, design your own dinosaurs on a graffiti wall, and take home dinosaur-themed colouring sheets. With photo opportunities, behind-the-scenes videos, and breath-taking LEGO recreations of fossils, skeletons, and palaeontological digs, Brick Dinos promises an unforgettable adventure for dinosaur and LEGO enthusiasts of all ages.

Available During Opening Times | Friday 14 November 2025 - Sunday 19 April 2026 Show all dates and times Stories That Made Us will showcase the lived experiences of a South Asian family in Coventry from 1968 to 2010, drawing on Coventry Archives’ Virk Collection and curator & artist Hardish Virk’s ‘Stories That Made Us’ Collection. Using photographs, books, magazines, posters, vinyl records, cassettes, and personal memorabilia to tell the story of migration, activism, identity and cultural contributions. The exhibition will also feature immersive room settings, oral histories, radio broadcasts, music, video, and graphics to bring these stories to life. The exhibition will showcase the lived experiences of a South Asian family in Coventry from 1968 to 2010, drawing on Coventry Archives’ Virk Collection and curator & artist Hardish Virk’s ‘Stories That Made Us’ Collection. This will include photographs, books, magazines, posters, vinyl records, cassettes, and personal memorabilia that tell the story of migration, activism, identity and cultural contributions. The exhibition will also feature immersive room settings, oral histories, radio broadcasts, music, video, and graphics to bring these stories to life. Coventry is home to a vibrant South Asian community, with 18.5% of the city’s population identifying as Asian or Asian British (2021 Census). Despite this, the stories and contributions of South Asian communities are often underrepresented in public collections and exhibitions. This project aims to address this gap by preserving and sharing the heritage of South Asian migrants and their descendants, ensuring their stories are accessible to future generations. Themes of Roots (the journey of migration and the contributions of South Asian communities to British society), Resilience (the challenges faced and overcome by migrants and their families), and Representation (the importance of telling these stories authentically and without stereotyping) will be explored in the exhibition. By doing so, it will challenge conventional views of heritage and highlight the importance of living memory and personal experiences.

Available for bookings throughout the year in the community settings, group homes etc. Show all dates and times Sessions are delivered in the community, at group homes and community settings. To book a session or enquire, please contact [email protected] who will direct you to our Community Engagement Coordinator. Celebrate and share memories through the immersive stimulus of objects, photos and other prompts from the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum collections. An ideal activity for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reminisce. There are a number of themes to choose from, and we can arrange to visit your setting on a regular basis so your group can enjoy multiple experiences with our Learning Team, who are all Dementia Friendly trained. The cost of the sessions are based on your location within the midlands. Price per postcode, per session can be seen below: SCHOOLDAYS: Take a trip back to the classroom with this interactive session which explores, where we went to school, what we learnt and what school dinners were really like! HOLIDAYS & TRIP TO THE SEASIDE: A session which will take you back to seaside holidays, the feeling of sand between your toes and the sound of crashing of the waves and other holiday experiences. MADE IN COVENTRY: Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town? This session explores some of the brilliant things that were invented and made in Coventry. ALL DRESSED UP: This session explores the way we used to dress, how fashions have changed and reflects on some of the places we brought our clothes from. MAKE DO & MEND: This session reflects on how Coventry was affected by WW2 how everyone pulled together and had to be more resourceful, particularly during and just after the war when essential items were in short supply and rationing was in place. FOOD TO THE TABLE: This session takes us back to a time before microwaves, ready meals and takeaways when people often used ingredients grown in the garden and cooked meals from scratch. ROYAL DAYS: This session takes us on a journey through the decades as we consider all the Royal occasions that have taken place over the years and how they can become the landmarks of peoples lives. ENTERTAINMENT, TOYS & GAMES: This session explores all the different entertainments and games we have enjoyed over the years and considers how much they differ from the way children play today. TIME TRAVELLERS: Travel through time, from prehistory to the present day, with objects from our museum collection. Can you guess how old these objects are and what they were used for? DIPPY THE DINOSAUR: We have a very special visitor with us at the Herbert at the moment, learn more about Dippy the Dinosaur and prehistoric fossils found in Warwickshire. LANDMARKS OF LIFE: This session explores all the major milestones on our lives including weddings, passing the driving test, royal celebrations and other cultural celebrations. SPORTING MEMORIES: Discover local legends and sporting highlights of Coventry’s past to present. From football, rugby, the speedway and Coventry Blaze, we have a great range of objects to invoke memories for sports enthusiasts. CHRISTMAS IN COVENTRY: This session takes us back to Christmas in the past, from hanging up Christmas stockings to making Christmas puddings on stir up Sunday! All of these sessions last between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the needs of the group. For those taking part, they will be able to handle real museum objects from the past, learn about what the objects are from the museum’s Learning & Engagement Team and take part in active discussion within the group. The Herbert's reminiscence sessions carry a to cover staff and travel expenses.

Saturdays | 10 May, 21 June, 16 August, 25 October TBC, 29 November 2025 | 6.30pm - 9am Show all dates and times £50 per person for adults, children and carers. Sleepover events are strictly for children aged 6 and above and their accompanying adult/adults only. There are no single adult tickets available. Includes admission fee. Stay overnight in the museum, snoozing under the feet of a 26-foot Diplodocus! Join us for a night of exploration and fun-filled activities designed for children aged 6 – 11 and their grown-ups. This will be a night you will always remember! During the event you will: · Take part in torch light tours of the museum. · Get creative with arts and crafts. · Discover fun facts about Dippy and get hands on with our fossil collection. · Wind down for a short film in our studio. Lights go out at 11pm and then it's time to settle down to sleep. Breakfast is served between 7am to 8am, and before departing you can join us for a wake up and shake up dino inspired routine to get you energised for the day ahead. Departure from the museum is at 9am. Saturdays | 10 May | 21 June | 16 August | 25 October TBC | 29 November Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation and a full itinerary for the night will be sent to you. Please bring your booking confirmation with you on the night of the sleepover. (£50 per person for adults, children and carers.) The timetable for the event is as follows: Saturday Night: 6:30pm – Arrive, register, receive your team colour for the night and set up sleeping spot. 7:00pm – Welcome from the museum team and a review of the ‘rules’. 7:15pm – 1st Activity 8:00pm – 2nd Activity 9:00pm – Break for evening refreshments (please note snacks will need to be brought with you, but water, tea and coffee are available in the café area and is included in your ticket price). 9:30pm – 3rd Activity 10:15pm – 4th Activity 11:00 – Activities end, get ready for bed (no pyjamas, must be loungewear in case of evacuation) 11:30 – Lights out. Sunday Morning: 7:00am – Breakfast and pack up. 8:00am – Farewell activity with a dino inspired wake up and shake up routine. 9:00am – Home time. · The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum closes the public at 4pm. We will reopen at 6:15pm to welcome all Dippy sleepover groups. You will not be permitted to enter the museum before this time. · Children and adults will need to have had dinner before arriving to the museum. A designated snack break is factored in at 9pm. · Sleepover events are strictly for children aged 6 and above. · When you arrive, please come to the main entrance to the museum, which is opposite the Old Cathedral and clearly marked with a giant Dinosaur graphic around the doors. · Please bring your email confirmation (no need to print just show at the door). · When you have registered at the welcome desk, you will be given coloured wrist bands for children to wear that highlight what group they will be in for the evening, for the various activities. You will then be shown to your sleeping area which will be around Dippy. Please note that all participants will be sleeping in this communal area. · All activities and resources will be provided by the museum so all you need to do is to show up. · Once you are in the museum, you will not be able to leave and comeback unless it is an emergency, this is to ensure that our collections remain as secure as possible, that children are protected from strangers entering the building and that no children leave the premises or become separated from their grown-ups. · Please ensure that you have an evening meal before you arrive. Please bring snacks with you, but please avoid nut-based foods. Water, tea and coffee will be available from self-serve stations in the café and is included in your ticket price. · Please bring a bottle of water that can be secured. · Breakfast will be provided the following morning in our café. Please make dietary requirements known at the time of booking. Dietary requirements will need to be sent through at least one week prior to your sleepover. The breakfast available will be a cold, self-serve breakfast (cereal, pastries and fruit) along with water and juice (and tea and coffee for the grown ups). · A sleeping bag. · Pillow. · Toothbrush and any other toiletries. Please note that we do not have showers on site, only wash basin facilities. · You may want to bring ear plugs and eye masks as there will be some lights left on for Health and Safety reasons. · You will be provided with a sleeping mat. · You are welcome to bring additional sleeping mats with you, but for health and safety reasons, we cannot allow any air mattresses above 2 inches thick or mattresses that require electricity to inflate. · You won't be able to use electrical items that require a plug, so we recommend adults to bring their own battery packs to recharge phones is required. We strongly advise children to not bring phones or devices with them. All personal belongings are the responsibility of the individual, and the museum takes no responsibility for loss of items during the sleepover events. · All activities will be inside, but some activities will require getting messy and active! · No changing in the communal areas, please use toilet cubicles, which are gender neutral. They are located on the upper floor and each cubicle has its own sink and hand drier, with enough space to change in. We also have male and female toilets located on our ground floor. · We are requesting no pyjamas, in the event of a fire evacuation and also for modesty. Instead please wear loungewear, such as jogging bottoms, leggings, t-shirts and/or hoodies. Please note Adults are responsible for their children at all times throughout the night. This will ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable evening. An adult must be present at each activity and accompany their children at all times. Adult ratios are recommended as follows: 1 - 2 children = 1 adult 3 - 4 children – 2 adults 5 - 10 children = 3 adults After that, we have a strict 1 adult to every 10 children policy

Saturday 10 May 2025 | 10.15am - 3.30pm Show all dates and times Designed for age 16+ | Suitable for beginners and experienced makers Herbert Admission fee included Led by our informative tutors, Laura and Naim, this course will teach you all the basic techniques of silversmithing, and because we keep numbers small there is time to explore a range of techniques for those that want to. From sawing, filing, texturing with hammers and drill, soldering with a blow torch, and polishing and finishing you’ll learn skills for the future whilst making something beautiful to take away. We accept multi levels on the course so if you have done silversmithing before, either with us or someone else, feel free to come and expand your knowledge! You’ll make items of your choosing rather than following a set plan to give you the flexibility to make this day personal to you. You will be given an inch square piece of silver as well as unlimited brass and copper. More silver can be purchased on the day. 

1st Tuesday of every month | 8 February, 8 March, 5 April, 3 May & 7 June | 10.30am - 12.00pm Show all dates and times Each month, guided by a member of our friendly museum team, we will provide craft resources, conversation and a hot drink and something sweet too! Designed for people aged 60+ (but all are welcome) You will be guided and supported by a member of our friendly museum team. We will provide craft resources that will encourage you to learn new skills and experience different materials, but you are welcome to bring along your own craft projects to share and talk about too. You may end up teaching us a thing or two! The Create and Craft café, will take place in Alfreds Café at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, and is an opportunity to renew social networks and reconnect with communities. Look out for the sign-posted tables with a member of staff there to greet you. You will also have a hot drink and something sweet too from the café included. For further information, please contact Lisa Ford, Learning and Engagement Manager: [email protected]

Friday 11 July - Sunday 5 October 2025 | Available during opening hours Show all dates and times Jason and the Adventure of 254, an exhibition by Jason Wilsher-Mills. Gallery Photo: Benjamin Gilbert/Wellcome Collection. Jason and the Adventure of 254 is a major solo exhibition by artist Jason Wilsher-Mills showcasing his largest and most personal work to date, commissioned by the Wellcome Collection. The exhibition is a joyful and subversive exploration of the body, drawing on the artist’s experience of becoming disabled as a child. Reimagining the gallery space as a hospital ward, Wilsher-Mills’ installation of sculptures, dioramas and illustrations challenges cultural and societal perceptions surrounding disability, medicine and the human body. Through a kaleidoscope of colours, tongue-in-cheek humour and a touch of magic realism, the exhibition is also a celebration of family, the artist’s working-class background and the opportunities he received through hospital education. Jason and the Adventure of 254 delves into the transformative moment when Wilsher-Mills was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, which was triggered by contracting chickenpox at the age of 11. Paralysed from the neck down until the age of 16, and unable to physically explore the wider world around him, the artist came to inhabit an interior world filled with action heroes, TV shows, films, comics, books and his own vivid imagination. The exhibition’s title refers to the exact moment - 2.54pm on 1 August 1980 at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield - when the artist witnessed his parents being told of his diagnosis. At the same time Sebastian Coe, wearing the number 254, was winning the gold medal in the 1,500 m race at the Moscow Olympics, which was being shown on the ward’s TV. The exhibition features a monumental figure in a hospital bed, watching a TV that has morphed in Sebastian Coe, surrounded by oversized plastic toy soldiers delivering viruses, inflatable germs hang in the air, and a pair of large calliper boots have been reimagined as boots the artist would chose to wear. Floor to ceiling illustrations depict significant episodes during the artist’s life and a series of dioramas based on penny arcade machines, act as windows into the artist’s mind, illuminating some of his childhood memories before and after his diagnosis.

Saturdays & Sundays | 3, 4 & 31 May, 1 June, 5 & 6 July, 2 & 3 August 2025 | Saturdays: 10am - 4pm, Sundays: 12pm-4pm Show all dates and times With up to 25 independent traders showcased throughout our ground floor, Baxters coffee shop and around Dippy, there is sure to be something for everyone! From personalised gifts, painted vases and homemade artwork to lego mini figures, jewellery, books and a whole lot more!

Every Day (Tuesday-Saturday, plus Monday 26 May) | 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 & 31 May 2025 | 10.30am-3.30pm Show all dates and times Adults can attend the workshop for free, however they will need to pay the admission fee to enter the museum. Celebrate Coventry’s rich weaving heritage this May Half Term with a week of vibrant, hands-on crafting activities. From making colourful cardboard loom coasters and bookmarks to exploring the art of silk painting in our Thursday Art Masterclass (bookable online), there’s something for everyone. Whether new to crafting or a seasoned creator, come along and discover the joy of making! Saturday 24, Monday 26, Tuesday 27 May: Handmade Woven Bookmarks Craft a beautifully patterned bookmark using easy weaving techniques, vibrant yarn, and craft sticks—add a dash of creativity and watch your design come together! Perfect for keeping your place in your favourite books or as a thoughtful gift for someone special. Wednesday 28, Thursday 29: Cup Weaving Pen Pots Brighten up your desk with a colourful woven pen pot made from paper cups and wool. The weaving possibilities and ideas are endless this half term—come and create something amazing! Friday 30 & Saturday 31 May: Woven CD Dreamcatcher Discover how you can use craft to transform everyday items like CDs into looms for woven crafts! Join us to make a stunning dreamcatcher perfect for hanging above your bed at night.

Thursdays & Fridays | 10 & 11 April, 15 & 16 May, 19 & 20 June 2025 | 10.30am - 11.30am & 1.00pm - 2.00pm Show all dates and times Designed for ages 0 - 4 | Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis Museum admission fees apply from1 April 2025. Let imaginations soar as your child learns to play creatively in this interactive space. Explore and grow using inspiring sensory materials, where the possibilities are endless! Using open-ended items babies and young children are free to use their imaginations and take their play experience in the direction that they wish to. This session is hands-on, for even the youngest of children, assisting with fine motor skill development, gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, problem solving and social interaction. Above all else it is fun and offers you a wonderful opportunity to play with your child in a relaxed and engaging environment.

Thursday 8 May 2025 | 10am - 4pm Show all dates and times Across Coventry Transport Museum & Herbert Art Gallery & Museum Entry is FREE for Herbert Art Gallery annual pass holders. Please note if you do not have an annual pass for the Coventry Transport Museum, you will need to pay for admission to visit their VE Day activities. The day will feature a range of informative and engaging activities aimed at honouring the significance of Victory in Europe Day and exploring the personal stories and historical impact of the Second World War. Visitors of all ages are welcome to attend and discover more about this pivotal moment in history through talks, handling objects and interactive displays. Your £10 ticket gives you access to both venues throughout the day and can be purchased on the day from the box office at either Coventry Transport Museum or Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Further details will be announced soon.

Thursday 29 May | 10.30am - 12.30am & 2pm - 4 pm Show all dates and times For Ages 8-16 Museum entry fees applicable for accompanying adult. Discover the art of macramé in our latest Art Masterclass. Young creators will craft a beautiful wall-hanging piece to take home and proudly display. Guided by a macramé artist, participants will learn essential knots and beginner-friendly techniques, such as the lark’s head knot, half square knot, square knot, and bobble knot. This engaging workshop is perfect for nurturing creativity, enhancing focus, and building confidence. As part of our exciting Art Masterclass series, it’s an inspiring experience for budding designers of all skill levels. Parent’s are not required to stay but are welcome to do so. Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop.

Wednesday 4 June 2025 | 10am - 3pm Show all dates and times For Ages 0-11 Join the learning team for a day of magical fun of Myths, Mosaics and Modelling at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. Be inspired by our magnificent art collection and enjoy storytelling and creative fun where you will be able to make your own masterful artworks to take home. There will be activities suitable for a range of ages from 0 – 11 years old, with older children welcome to attend. Throughout the day, you can select workshops to attend, drop-in play-based activities and take time to explore the museum. Choose from the following workshops and activities to attend, giving you a range of experience for mixed ages appealing to varied learning abilities and interests: Sensory Stories and Rhymes: Explore our collections through songs, stories, movement and sensory play. These sessions provide an opportunity for our youngest visitors to engage with our collections in a way that is meaningful to them. The hands-on nature of these sessions appeal to their imaginations and above all else is fun. Each child will receive a sensory play bag, containing freshly cleaned sensory resources, which helps to keep them engaged for the duration of the session; adds context by using a physical object to give words meaning; extends learning through play and increases their opportunities to develop good listening and language skills. Mini Makers Messy Play: There is tons of creative fun for little hands and feet in this relaxed and engaging art session. Babies and toddlers will have the opportunity to explore various materials across the sessions including paint, glitter, paste, sand, clay, slimy spaghetti, chalk and much more. Messy play is an important element of early childhood development, appealing to children’s curiosity and helping them to understand the world through their senses. These sessions will also expose them to early mark making, enabling them to develop good concentration, muscle control and encourage their imaginations. Be prepared to get messy for both children and adults! Mosaic Designs and Making: This engaging drop-in activity invites participants to explore the art of mosaic-making while drawing inspiration from historical patterns. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a curious beginner, this hands-on experience will allow you to express your creativity and learn about the rich history of mosaics. Clay Modelling: Join in with clay modelling to develop artistic skills for young artists and unlock their creative potential! This fun and interactive activity is designed to inspire imagination and bring out the artist in every child. From squishy sculptures to detailed masterpieces, our Learning Team will guide your children through a world of artistic expression... plus we encourage adults to join in too! Stories through Art Workshop: In this interactive workshop children will explore how paintings and other artefacts can communicate stories. Children will be encouraged to develop their imaginations as they translate the image to the spoken word. As they are introduced to the characters and plots of traditional myths and legends, children will have an opportunity to demonstrate their acting skills through performing in the gallery (for those comfortable doing so). Children will also have the opportunity to improve their own drawing skills as they are encouraged to make their own sketches in response to the artworks. Myths and Legends Trail: Explore the museum further with a myths and legends trail, helping you to discover hidden pictures, creatures and features throughout out gallery spaces. Full timings of the day to follow. Following on from your booking, our team will contact you in the lead up to the event to confirm which bookable workshops you would like to attend on the day to help us manage numbers, avoiding overcrowding and to create a positive learning environment for your children, Please note, bookable workshops will be repeated to allow for maximum participation. For further information, please contact: [email protected]

Saturday 7 June | 10.30am - 3pm Show all dates and times The Great Big Green Week is a heartfelt celebration of communities coming together to protect nature and take action against climate change. Join us at the Herbert Art Gallery for a special family day, where we’ll highlight the incredible efforts of people working to care for our planet whilst exploring creative and empowering ways to connect with nature and inspire lasting change. Funded through Art Fund, this family event will encapsulate ideas and themes inspired by The HERDS, a worldwide public art and climate action on an unprecedented scale, parading through cities from the Congo Basin to the Arctic circle, covering 20,000km. Wildflower Seed Bomb Making Bring the beauty of wildflowers into your world with this hands-on family activity! Learn about the importance of rewilding and how it helps restore natural landscapes, support our planet and enhance wellbeing. In our community garden, you can experiment with natural ingredients such as flour, soil, construction paper, clay, and powdered pigments to create your own seed bombs. These can be sown in pots, flowerbeds, or meadows, helping to bring vibrant colours and life to the local green spaces. Wonderful Windowsill Planter Workshops Get creative with your family and grow a windowsill garden this summer! Using recycled materials like egg boxes and milk cartons, create soil containers and plant cress or herb seeds. Add your personal touch with colourful embellishments like sequins, pom poms, and markers. Once complete, take your garden home, place it on your windowsill, and watch it bloom into a beautiful and sustainable display that helps to support our planet. Butterfly Finger Puppets Inspired by our natural history collection, visitors can create their won finger butterfly puppets to fly through our galleries. We will be encouraging visitors to write statements about how they can help to protect these endangered species for the future. This activity will also feature take home information sheets about how you can help to protect nature close to you. Urban Nature Recording Venture into our Community Garden space, where we will be supporting visitors to make a sound recording of urban nature. Inspired by activities from the Natural History Museum, we are interested in understanding how we discover the wildlife that exists in an urban environment. This will help us to better understand UK habitats and how to protect them. Stop-Motion Film Making with Lets Animate | Book Online - Coming Soon Let’s Animate will lead a full day workshop for older children, aged 11-16, to create a short film that focuses on climate change, human impact on nature and the protection of local wildlife. This will be influenced by items from our natural history collection, for the purpose of teaching young people about insect species at risk of endangerment. Throughout the day, the participants will learn the art of prop making, stop-motion filming techniques, storyboarding and how to record voice overs for their final film.

Saturday 7 June 2025 | 10.30am - 3pm Show all dates and times Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop. Develop stop-motion film making skills with Let’s Animate, as children aged 11-16 devise a short film to help spread the word about Climate Change. During this day long workshop, young filmmakers will plan an idea based on one scene, inspired by themes around climate change, local nature and the museum collections. Each filmmaker will either build a character from modelling materials to animate with. Split into smaller groups, filmmakers will have a go at bringing their characters to life using a LET'S ANIMATE animation station. Their skills will be completed by finishing off their animations by adding sounds to their masterpiece! The final edited content will be shared with participants following on from the workshop and will also be featured on the museum’s YouTube channel for public viewing. Funded through Art Fund, this workshop will encapsulate ideas and themes inspired by The HERDS, a worldwide public art and climate action on an unprecedented scale, parading through cities from the Congo Basin to the Arctic circle, covering 20,000km. Parent’s are not required to stay but are welcome to do so. Children will be required to bring a packed lunch and drink with them for during the day. Regular breaks will be built into the workshop.

Tuesday - Sunday | Saturday 19 July – Sunday 31 August 2025 | Available During Opening Hours (Including Bank Holiday Monday - 25 August) Show all dates and times For Ages 0-4 The Herbert’s popular Early Years Exhibition for families is back this summer with Playful Planet! Inspired by life after the extinction of dinosaurs and the environmental changes that shaped our planet, this immersive exhibition invites young visitors into a specially designed world of sensory spaces. Perfectly crafted for children under 5, the exhibition features stunning ceiling installations by local artists that captivate imaginations. Children can marvel at meteorites hitting the earth, gaze up at starry nights and distant planets, and explore sensory pods surrounded by calming sound effects and gentle lighting. Illustrator and mural artist Jessica Hartshorn brings the walls and pods to life with beautiful, narrative-rich illustrations of rumbling volcanoes with glowing orange lava, crashing waves with sea creatures, and other fascinating environmental scenes. Tactile resources and interactive playthings are spread throughout the space, encouraging little ones to explore and imagine freely. Older children are welcome, too, making this an inclusive family experience. Open six days a week (Tuesday-Sunday plus Bank Holiday Monday) throughout the summer holidays, Playful Planet is the perfect free retreat for family fun, sensory play, and creative exploration. Don’t miss this magical journey into the dramatic story of our planet!

Friday 27 June 2025 | 6pm - 9pm Show all dates and times For Ages 18+ Only This evening promises to be full of love and a great opportunity to get in the groove for the big Coventry Pride celebration at Fargo on Saturday 28 June. Dress to impress and don’t forget your dancing shoes, we’ll be bringing the entertainment, music and crafts as always!

Saturday 26 July - Saturday 30 August (excluding Mondays and Sundays) | 10.30am - 3:30pm Show all dates and times This summer, embark on an exciting artistic adventure with LEGO Bricks & Superheroes! Our vibrant craft programme offers creative activities that spark imagination and bring out the hero in everyone. Inspired by Jason Wilsher-Mills’ Adventure of 254 exhibition and the Brick Dinos installation, you’ll explore childhood memories and create colourful masterpieces. Whether you’re making wooden spoon superhero puppets or LEGO-built dinosaurs, each activity is a chance to craft your unique story, expressing what’s important to you in bright, fun, and playful ways. Join us for an unforgettable summer of creativity and time travel through art! Saturday 16, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 August: Wooden Spoon Hero Puppets: Transform simple wooden spoons into your favourite superheroes or everyday heroes! Use paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, soft felt, and other fun materials to craft amazing hero puppets. Once you have added all the details, take your creative creation home to entertain friends and family. Thursday 21, Friday 22 August: Heroes Capes & Masks: Get ready for a super summer of creativity. Join us to design your own no-sew superhero cape and matching mask using various colourful materials and fun embellishments. Whether you decorate your cape with your favourite superhero’s symbol or create your unique logo, the choice is yours. Once your masterpiece is complete, take it home and wear it proudly. Show off your superhero skills all summer long! Saturday 9, Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 August: Clay characters: Explore the techniques and possibilities of clay by using various methods and tools to bring your superheroes or dinosaurs to life. Take your sculpture home to display your skills. Thursday 14, Friday 15 August: Slippery Soap Dinos: Slip away into the world of soapy dinos or other superheroes. Have a go at soap carving to create marvellous abstract sculpture art. Make your creation extra special by gift wrapping it in cloth and ribbon, then take it home or gift it to a family or friend. Saturday 26, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 July: Lego Printing Self-Portraits: Discover the art of printmaking by designing your self-portrait with LEGO tiles! Arrange the tiles on baseplates to create a relief image of your face, then print it onto a quality card to make a fabulous piece of art. Thursday 31 July, Friday 1 August: Life Size Drawings - Make life-sized drawings! Trace around your body on giant paper and then immerse yourself in fabric, paper and pens to embellish your portrait with plants, rainbows and everything you love. How will your portrait express who you are? Once your masterpiece is complete, you can roll it up to take it home. Saturday 2, Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6 August: Mosaic Number Masterpieces: Dive into the vibrant world of mosaics and explore what numbers are meaningful to you. Inspired by Jason’s exhibition Adventure 254, discover why 254 is special to him and create your unique mosaic number. Design a beautiful masterpiece with a touch of vintage charm using colourful tiles, buttons, beads, and shimmering mirror pieces. Take your finished creation home to display proudly in your home or garden. Thursday 7, Friday 8 August: Mythical Watercolours: Set sail on a magical adventure under the sea. Bring dazzling jellyfish, enchanting mermaids, or mythical sea creatures to life using watercolour paints and wax-resist techniques. Add the final touch with intricate 3D origami boats, making your artwork leap off the page. Let your imagination flow and create a piece of art as mythical as the sea itself! Saturday 23, Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 August: Block Print Totes: Create stylish tote bags using beautiful block print stamps and colourful used LEGO pieces. Inspired by the intricate hand-carved blocks of India, you’ll learn how to easily print fun and modern designs on fabric. From geometric patterns to floral designs, there’s a stamp for everyone. Use fabric paints to add your personal touch and make a tote for yourself! Thursday 28, Friday 29 August, Saturday 30 August: Lego Friendship Bracelets For the final summer activity, try your hand at making cool, colourful woven friendship bracelets—a perfect symbol of kindness! Create a unique bracelet to give to old and new friends and embellish your woven yarn with pre-drilled LEGO bricks. Bring your imagination to life by designing unique patterns.

Thursday 31 July 2025 | 10.30am-12.30pm & 2pm-4pm Show all dates and times For Ages 8-16 Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop. Join local and published illustrator Jessica Hartshorn in this exciting Art Masterclass, where you can develop your illustration skills while learning to paint with acrylics. Explore Jessica’s stunning artwork displayed in the Playful Planet exhibition, including vibrant murals on walls and sensory pods, and get inspired by her creative process. In this hands-on workshop, children will learn various techniques and skills, including how to mix colours, layer acrylic paints, and create bold, dynamic illustrations. Jessica will guide participants in painting their scenes, from meteorites and starry nights to rumbling volcanoes, crashing waves, and mystical sea creatures. This masterclass offers a unique chance to explore the world of illustration and acrylic painting under the guidance of a talented, published artist. Whether you’re a budding illustrator or an aspiring painter, this session is a fun and creative way to develop your artistic abilities. Parent’s are not required to stay but are welcome to do so.

Thursday 14 August 2025 | 10.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4pm Show all dates and times For ages 8-16 Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop. Parents are not required to stay but are welcome to do so. Join us this summer for an exciting Art Masterclass designed for 8-14-year-olds! This hands-on workshop will teach children how to use Modroc, a versatile plaster-based material, to create sculptures inspired by our current summer exhibitions. The session begins with a short, guided tour led by our learning team to spark inspiration from the vibrant artwork on display. Budding artists will then head to our art classroom to develop their ideas, crafting a base structure using newspaper, tape, wire, foil and other materials. Once their structure is complete, they will apply layers of Modroc to bring their sculptures to life. Although the sculptures will require 24 hours to dry fully, you can take them home on the same day. Once dry, they can be painted and decorated at home, allowing children to extend their creativity beyond the classroom. Our Art Masterclasses are a fantastic opportunity for young artists to develop their skills, gain confidence, and explore new materials. Don’t miss out on this creative and fun-filled session!

Thursday 28 August 2025 | 10.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4pm Show all dates and times For Ages 8-16 Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop. Our latest Art Masterclass instalment will enable participants to learn drawing techniques. They will draw from a life model dressed as a hero from Coventry’s past, inspired by portraits in our permanent collection. Our learning team will introduce the group to several key portrait paintings from our collection before guiding them through the process of successfully representing the human figure in art. Participants will feel like true artists as they work with easels and use a range of art materials while being guided by our learning team to improve their technique. Our series of art masterclasses are fantastic for encouraging creative minds and enhancing the skills of budding artists. Parents are not required to stay but are welcome to do so.

Saturday 31 May 2025 | 10am - 4pm Show all dates and times Image: Dinosaur Experiences To visit Brick Dinos exhibition during your visit, guests must book tickets in advance online or at our Welcome Desk on the day: BOOK BRICK DINOS EXHIBITION TICKETS However, there’s no need to book for activities below – just drop in and join the fun! All creative sessions are included with museum admission, while supplies last. Get ready for a roarsome day out as we celebrate the launch of our brand-new exhibition, Brick Dinos, with a special family event packed with prehistoric fun! Step into a world of incredible LEGO® dinosaur creations and meet some larger-than-life dinosaurs from our friends at Dinosaur Experiences. This exciting event is perfect for families with children of all ages. Explore a range of creative, hands-on activities throughout the day, including: LEGO Mask Making Design and decorate your own LEGO-themed mask – will you be a superhero, a villain? Happy, silly or serious? The choice will be yours! Brick Keepsakes Create a personalised keepsake by attaching your chosen brick to a keyring or necklace, then customise it with fun accessories. LEGO Stamp Art Use LEGO bricks as printing tools to make bold patterns, landscapes, or anything your imagination dreams up.