Coffee with a curator These informal sessions held in The Wilson Kitchen café lounge area at lunchtime on the first Wednesday of the month (1.30pm-2pm) give you the chance to join one of our curators for a half hour chat as they introduce pieces from The Wilson’s extensive collections. From pottery and works of art to items that reflect the social history of the Cheltenham area, you’ll get to have a closer look at the objects as they are brought out of the archives. There will be a different object every month. Book a place for £3, which will include a complimentary tea, coffee or squash from the café. For details of the objects and subjects for each monthly session, see our Facebook and Instagram.

Dive into Cheltenham's transformation by a humble pigeon into a Regency resort town. Explore Cheltenham's gems at your own pace with a self-guided walking tour. End your adventure in the picturesque Montpellier Gardens, a perfect finale. Offline access to audio, maps, and geodata through the VoiceMap App for Android and iOS. Lifetime access to this self-guided tour in English. The Wilson, Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's Royal Crescent The Minotaur and the Hare Edward Wilson Statue Neptune Fountain Cheltenham Town Hall Imperial Square and Gardens Gustav Holst Statue Queens Hotel Cheltenham Montpellier Walk Cheltenham College Chapel Montpellier Gardens. This experience is perfect for individuals of all physical fitness levels. Experience supplied by VoiceMap All ticket sales are final and cannot be refunded, exchanged, or otherwise modified. Click here to check out the T&Cs.

An artist led holiday club for 5-11 year olds who love to make, share and play. We will collaborate on engaging individual and group craft projects with a focus on nature, the world around us and free play to encourage creativity, language and expression within the arts. This informal holiday workshop will be fun and light, providing your child with the chance to express themselves artistically while making new friends and learning new skills. We will take a tour of the galleries, explore the works on display and (weather dependant) we will take a nature walk outside, so please supply a coat if you are happy for your child to join. Please note: • On sunny days we like to get outside! If you are not happy for your child to leave the building then please let us know at the time of booking. • Children aged 4 are only permitted to attend on a shorter day of 11-3 according to government safeguarding guidelines. If you book a 4 year old on to any of our holiday club days you will not be allowed to drop them off before 11am. • We may get messy! Please send your child in old clothes that you don’t mind them making and playing in, as we do occasionally use materials that may be harder to wash out. • Please pack your child a drinks bottle, so that they can help themselves through the day. Feel free to pack them a snack as well – exploring can be hungry work! • Children should bring a bag to help them carry home all their crafts and keep them safe through the day. All children will now need a packed lunch, there is no longer the option to add it to your ticket booking. However, ‘Arty’ lunch boxes will be available to purchase from the café on the day if you wish, with a 20% discount for Creative Explorers. Please note this is a drop-off session. The cost includes all materials.

Textiles can tell stories, share ideas, and help us imagine new futures. In this hands-on workshop for home-educated children, we’ll begin with a short visit to Material Worlds, The Wilson’s new exhibition exploring how contemporary artists use fabric, thread, and texture in creative and meaningful ways. We’ll explore how artists use materials to express ideas, develop our understanding of different materials and processes, and build confidence in expressing our ideas visually.
In this workshop we’ll play with fabric, thread, and colour to shout, whisper, dream, and remember. What do you want the world to look like? How can textiles help us say it out loud?
 Children should be accompanied by an adult. Adults go free.

Textiles have long been used as tools of resistance, storytelling, and care. Starting with a visit of the new Material Worlds exhibition, we’ll explore how contemporary artists use textiles and gather some inspiration. In this workshop we’ll play with fabric, thread, and colour to shout, whisper, dream, and remember. What do you want the world to look like? How can textiles help us say it out loud? Please note this is not a drop-off session, adults are expected to stay with their children throughout, and attend for free with each ticket holding child.

Sunday 5 October, 1pm – 3.30pm | £8 per teen Look Club - See art differently. Talk about it. Your way. Ever looked at a piece of art and thought “What even is that?” Or, “I’ve got a better idea of what’s going on?” In Look Club at The Wilson, your voice matters. We’ll check out a couple of artworks, talk about what we notice, and see how our ideas build together. No right or wrong answers. No tests. No pressure to speak, its ok to just listen if you prefer. Just your opinions, your ideas, and maybe a few surprises! And after we’ve looked, you’ll have time to sketch, doodle or write your own take – whatever the art inspires in you. For teenagers aged 12 - 16 years old. Teens should be accompanied by an adult. About Debbie Kersley Debbie Kersley is a trained Visual Thinking Strategies facilitator, a practicing artist, and a nature journaller. She works with people of all ages – from young children to older adults – on creative arts projects in the community. Debbie has a background in Health and Social Care and believes everyone should have the chance to take part in the arts. Since lockdown, she has been running a monthly online Look Club and now enjoys bringing this same relaxed, friendly approach into art galleries and community spaces. Find out more about the Visual Thinking Strategies approach

Home Educators Workshop: Medieval Art Two sessions 10am - 12pm (4 to 9 year olds) 1pm- 3pm (9 to 14 year olds) The Wilson Learning Team is delighted to offer a workshop for Home Educators and their children aged 4-14. Medieval art is something we see around us every day in churches and architecture, but what is the story behind it? This Art History lesson will allow us to delve into what we can learn about Medieval people from the way they presented themselves creatively. We will study different mediums such as manuscripts, mosaics, stained glass, tapestries and paintings, from Europe and the Middle East, comparing the two cultures as we answer some key questions, including: -Why do religious figures feature so heavily in European Medieval art? -Why do the people and animals look so strange? - What is the significance behind certain colours, and how were the inks and paints made? - Why does Islamic art contain so much calligraphy? Featuring a visit to Cheltenham’s only surviving medieval building, the Minster, we will create some of our own art to reflect medieval themes and techniques, including decorating illuminated letters and producing our own stained glass, in this highly creative approach to learning about the past. Accompanying adults do not require a ticket but please note this is not a drop off session and adults are encouraged to join in activities with their children. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to ask: [email protected]