Visit York Museums Trust sites for Free This York Residents Festival
23 January 2019
Surround yourself in sounds that inspire Kaiser Chiefs, bump into the BFG, feed a virtual dinosaur or marvel at the shoes of Vivienne Westwood – all free for York residents this weekend.
As part of the city’s annual York Residents Festival, York Castle Museum, York Art Gallery and the Yorkshire Museum are free to anyone who lives in the city on Saturday January 26 and Sunday January 27.
At York Art Gallery When All is Quiet: Kaiser Chiefs in Conversation with York Art Gallery, invites you to experience art and sound in new ways and see where they meet.
Also at the gallery The BFG in Pictures brings some of Quentin Blake’s original artwork to the city to enjoy, together with a cave of dreams and other family themed activities.
Meanwhile at the Yorkshire Museum, travel back in time to Yorkshire’s Jurassic World where you can see the landscapes and creatures that used to live here. There is even the chance to feed a virtual sauropod lunch!
At York Castle Museum some of the most iconic shoes ever created are shown in our exhibition A Personal Collection of Vivienne Westwood Shoes.
As well as this, on Saturday January 26 you can join members of the natual science team for the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch in the York Museum Gardens and also explore York Observatory.
Lee Clark, communication and evaluation manager, said: “We look forward to welcoming York residents into our museums for free this weekend to come and explore some fantastic exhibitions.
“Why not make a day of it by starting at York Art Gallery where you can be inspired by giants of pop, the Kaiser Chiefs, and an actual giant in the BFG in two brilliant exhibitions. Then head to the Yorkshire Museum to meet the Jurassic creatures which once lived in what we now call Yorkshire, before counting their descendants, the birds of York Museum Gardens with the natural science team. Then head to York Castle to see some truly remarkable footwear designed by one of the most famous fashion designers in the world!”
To claim free entry to the museums and gallery on either of these dates, please bring a valid YorkCard, York Student Card or Council Tax Bill as proof of residency. Under 17s always go free at all of our sites.
To find out more about the events click on the links below:
Exhibitions:
York Art Gallery
When All is Quiet: Kaiser Chiefs in Conversation with York Art Gallery,
Yorkshire Museum
York Castle Museum
A Personal Collection of Vivienne Westwood Shoes
Events:
The Big Garden Birdwatch
York Museum Gardens
Saturday January 26
10am-3pm
The Big Garden Birdwatch is fun, free, really easy, and only takes an hour. If you love birds and want to help them, then this is your chance to do something that really counts.
Come along to the Museum Gardens to take part. Guided bird spotting walks at 10.30am, 12.00pm and 1.30pm, each lasting an hour. The sightings will be recorded on a board at ‘basecamp’, and clipboards and pencils are provided. We’ll have tick-sheets available for anyone who wants to go off and birdwatch by themselves.
This event is free and there’s no need to book.
Built in 1832 and 1833 and restored in 1981, York Observatory (which is nestled in York Museum Gardens) is the oldest working observatory in Yorkshire.
It houses a 4inch refractor telescope made by Thomas Cooke in 1850.
Opening hours are subject to the availability of volunteers, so please contact us ahead of your visit.
Our open days are free and there’s no need to book.