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PREVIEW: Events Galore with The Auckland Project this Autumn

Posted on September 24th 2018 by Whats on Northeast

A new exhibition celebrating strong women, the launch of a landmark and the chance to be part of art history are all on offer to visitors in County Durham this autumn.

The Auckland Project, based in Bishop Auckland, is running a full calendar of events as the nights begin to draw in, including the launch of its new visitor centre, Auckland Tower.

The unique building, which opens on Saturday, 20 October, has been designed by awardwinning architects Niall McLaughlin to link the former private palace of the Prince Bishops of Durham, Auckland Castle, to the town beyond.

To celebrate its official launch, a special community event will be held from 10am – 3pm, providing visitors the first chance to take in the sights from the Tower’s 15 metre high viewing platform and see the exhibits housed inside.
There will also be a chance to get up close to the building’s decorative architectural elements, including the engraved text on the exterior, exploring the story of the Bishop Auckland area through the centuries, from the Roman period and continuing to the present day.

As part of the launch of Auckland Tower, The Auckland Project will also be participating in The Big Draw, a national campaign promoting the benefits of drawing. Between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 20 October, budding artists will have the chance to put themselves in the picture by drawing themselves into the landscape as seen from the top of Auckland Tower.

These creative drop in sessions will continue daily 11am – 3pm, from Sunday 21 until Friday 26 October, with some of the resulting artwork being displayed in the learning rooms at Auckland Castle when it reopens in 2019 to inspire visiting pupils.

October will also see the launch of a new temporary exhibition at The Auckland Project’s Mining Art Gallery. Breaking Ground – Women of the Northern Coalfields will explore the role of women in 19th century mining communities

Artworks by artists such as David Venables and Archie Rhys Griffiths will highlight the Pit Brow Lasses, whose work and controversial dress shocked Victorian sensibilities, and local stories of women who were the backbone of the home told through objects and photographs.

The exhibition will launch on Saturday, 13 October 2018 and run until Friday, 24 March 2019. The gallery is open daily, 10am – 4pm, with last entry at 3:30pm. Admission is £5 for adults, £4 for concessions and £1 for under 16s. Pre-booked groups of more than 10 receive a discount of 15%.

Other highlights being offered by The Auckland Project during autumn include a new exhibition at No.42 launching on 5 September, Heritage Craft and Printing Workshops running monthly, a spooky trail through the grounds of Auckland Castle on 29 October and a chance for young archaeologists to get some hands on experience with a special club running from 13 October.

For more information about The Auckland Project’s exciting events programme for October and November visit www.aucklandproject.org, or follow The Auckland Project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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