Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
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Our museums and galleries house fascinating collections, from living bugs to The Beatles, fine art to photography, the Titanic to ancient Egypt.
Find Your Talent
Creating a work of art!
The following venues offer sessions for Key Stage 1 children. Follow a link to see their offer.
Liverpool Everyman and Playhouse Theatres | International Slavery Museum | Lady Lever Art Gallery | Merseyside Maritime Museum | Royal Liverpool Philharmonic | Sudley House | Tate Liverpool | Walker Art Gallery | World Museum | Unity Theatre
Find Your Talent specific programmes are stamped with this FYT logo. All other programmes are open to all schools in the region.
Reclaim Your Space consists of two specific strands, both aimed at increasing children and young people’s visibility in cultural venues but also within their everyday spaces, such as their school buildings.
Strand 1: An exciting, dedicated exhibition programme for children and young people across the LARC venues. A community exhibition
programme designed and created by young people, celebrating their culture and showcasing their work across multiple art forms.
Strand 2: An opportunity for primary school’s to dress their favourite place in the school building, and create their own cultural hub. Children themselves work with an artist to take charge of decorating their own school hall, foyer or classroom. Strand 2 may also incorporate the chance for children to visit National Museums Liverpool venues.
Contact your local FYT Coordinator for more details.
Roald Dahl's classic 'The BFG' has enchanted young minds for more than twenty-five years. This new stage show by Royal & Derngate, presented by Fiery Light, promises to entertain, astonish and inspire audiences of all ages.
A theatre performance at the Playhouse is followed by a creative craft workshop on the themes of The BFG. The post-show craft workshop will allow pupils to create their own artwork in response to the production which will form a display in the Playhouse. The activity encourages the exploring and development of ideas, of investigating and making art, craft and design plus explores the themes of knowledge, understanding and citizenship.
Visit our website for further information.
Date: 4 November, 10.30am-1.30pm.
The museum-led sessions linked to the International Slavery Museum are very popular. It is essential that you make your booking as early as possible. Do please contact us as soon as you can. All our sessions are FREE. For more info or to book a session: Contact Emma Birtles on 0151-478 4441.
Join Abeni and explore everyday life in West Africa. Learn about Igbo culture. This interactive session allows pupils to handle objects, participate in storytelling and learn about the music, food, and religion of another child's culture. Our sessions linked to the International Slavery Museum are very popular. It is essential that you contact us as early as possible.(English, History, Geography)
Handa's Surprise is a story-sack interactive session on the gallery, told with masks, dolls, dressing up, playing African instruments and using everyday African objects. (English, History, Music)
The Lady Lever Art Gallery houses the collection of soap magnate William Hesketh Lever. The gallery is an intimate in scale, and an ideal place to introduce children and young people to fine art. They can explore a variety of themes including animals, seasons and portraits. Contact our booking line on 0151 478 4178.
Children have the opportunity to smell and feel the soap Lever manufactured. A spot-the-difference game shows children how Lever changed paintings into advertisements before then visiting the main gallery starting in 'Lever the Collector'. Then hunt down 'Lever's treasures' using our activity trail and explore the rest of the gallery. (History, Art, Literacy)
A tour of the gallery focussing on three artworks will be developed in consultation with you in order to link directly to your classroom learning and provide a gallery experience that will help to inform follow-up activities at school.
After their session with our learning staff, students are welcome to complete one of our activity sheets: Soot and Soap, The Victorians Seasons and Animals, The Victorians People and Places, or Myth and Meaning. During this time smaller groups can also visit 'Lever the Collector' to learn about art and advertising, the creation of the Lady Lever Art Gallery and Lever's homes. Allow an extra 30 minutes for this activity.
Teachers notes are available on request or by download from our website.
Over the years, Merseyside Maritime Museum learning staff have developed considerable knowledge about the galleries and the way they can be used. If you would like to discuss your visit before you come, do please contact us on the booking line on 0151 478 4441.
Prepare for the big day out by cleaning and making a picnic. Travel on our 'ferry' and compare seaside experiences then and now. (History, Geography)
Take the interactive guided tour of the 1940s Piermaster's House and find out about technology and lifestyle 60 years ago. Help us with the family washing in the washhouse. (English, Science, History, Technology)
What did pirates do? Join our pirate leader and set sail with dressing-up, treasure hunts, singing pirate shanties, and promenading through the museum looking at our exhibits. (History, Literacy)
Sea Urchins is on the first floor of Merseyside Maritime Museum, in the Life at Sea gallery. It's a play area for families with young children, age eight and under. The maritime-themed activities on offer include costumes, activity sheets and story books. Young visitors can dress up as a lobster, a mermaid, a sailor or even a pirate for some seafaring adventures - without ever leaving dry land! Colouring sheets can be downloaded from the National Museums Liverpool website. This session is led by the class teacher. (History, Art, Literacy)
Hear stories of weird and wonderful animals such as Awkward Aardvark and Lazy Lion. Objects bring tales to life. Learn about the Customs Officers who help to protect endangered animals as part of their job. This session is based on the themes explored in Seized! Revenue and Customs uncovered. (Geography, Literacy, Citizenship, PHSE)
For Merseyside Sings at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, please contact your Find Your Talent Area Coordinator for details. For all other programmes please contact the Phil's Learning Department on 0151 210 2895 or email learning@liverpoolphil.com
This programme will support primary and secondary schools develop singing with children and young people and provide professional development for music coordinators, teachers, teaching assistants, breakfast club practitioners and secondary age young people to develop their confidence as singing leaders. Based on the Sing Up Clusters model, this programme will be led by Music Services with the Phil and Youth Music, and be delivered in schools and local communities in the Find Your Talent areas. Schools will be encouraged to sign up to the Sing Up website where they can access a range of singing resources. The programme will provide a school songbook resource and performance opportunities for participants from the three Find Your Talent neighbourhoods in summer 2010 to be funded by Sing Up and Youth Music.
Dates: September 2009 to July 2010 (exact schedule to be confirmed by Music Services through consultation with participating schools). Cost: Funded through Find Your Talent (transport costs not included)
We offer a range of options for school groups to watch the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra rehearsing at Philharmonic Hall. This fantastic opportunity to see a world class symphony orchestra at work includes a music making workshop and opportunity to meet members of the RLPO.
Dates: Throughout the year Costs: from £200 for up to 30 children
We provide a range of workshop opportunities on an individual and series basis, designed to enhance the music curriculum and to introduce children to live music and professional musicians.
Workshops are prepared in consultation with teachers to ensure specific learning objectives linked to the curriculum are met. Schools can select their preferred orchestral instruments (subject to availability).
Dates: Throughout the year Costs: from £230 for up to 30 children
Your school can adopt a member of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra to lead music making sessions in school alongside teachers for programmes running across a term. Programme content is tailored to the needs of each school, and is designed to enhance and enrich the music curriculum and/or specific cross-curricular projects.
Dates: Throughout the year (subject to availability) Costs: from £115 per session (minimum number of sessions apply)
We can provide learning resources to support your visit to Sudley House. You can also book the learning suite from 10am-12.30pm and 1-3pm for activity work or for lunch. For more info or to book contact 0151 478 4178.
A visit to Sudley House
George Holt, a wealthy shipping merchant, bought Sudley House in 1883. He decorated the ground floor rooms and collected original paintings to display around the house as you can see them today. Upstairs there are displays on childhood, costume and small worlds. The children can also learn about the differences between old and new toys in the Childhood and Small Worlds rooms. (History, Art)
The Victorians at Sudley House
A number of museum led sessions will be available at Sudley House during 2009-10. Please call the bookings line for further information. (History, Art)
For more information at Tate Liverpool sessions please contact : Abigail Christenson, Schools Outreach Curator, on 0151 702 7457 or email abigail.christenson@tate.org.uk
These sessions are slightly shorter than our usual gallery workshops and are led by our early years and family educators. Themes explored are Music and Movement, Tales at Tate, and Art from the Start. Each school can book up to two workshops per term. Sessions also aimed at early years.
Dates: Tuesdays - Fridays 10am-12noon and 1-3pm
Costs: £50 per workshop (maximum 17 students); £60 from April 2010.
This year Tate Liverpool is working with primary schools and children's centres in North Liverpool on an action research project. Transitions works with teachers, parents and carers and children in their journey from early years to primary. Taking part in parallel workshops using art works as a starting point they explore the potential for personal creative expression through making and talking about their art. They then share their experiences and develop their learning together.
Thirty-minute tours led by our experienced and knowledgeable Information Assistants.
This is Sculpture is the current Tate Collection display and shows an outstanding selection of modern and contemporary sculpture by many famous international and British artists. Chosen by international designers, artists, film makers and performers this display gives a unique viewpoint of some famous and challenging art works. You can choose to focus on an area of the displays, or you can hear about the history of Tate Liverpool and the Albert Dock.
Dates:Term-time Tuesdays - Fridays, 10am-4pm.
Costs: £60 for an auditorium talk (maximum 60 students)
Take an in-depth look at a display or exhibition. An artist will encourage your pupils to develop personal responses, share ideas with their peers and build the critical skills to understand and enjoy modern art, exploring the themes of Visiting a Gallery: Ways of Seeing, Portrature and Identity, Figure and Movement in Modern Contemporary Art and Investigating Sculpture. We encourage pupils to use notebooks or sketchbooks to support further work in school or college.
Dates: Term time Tuesdays - Fridays, 10am - 4pm
Cost: £50 per workshop (maximum 17 students), £60 from April 2010.
Outreach workshops for both primary and secondary schools offer an in-depth look at a chosen theme, run in conjunction with a current Tate Liverpool display or exhibition. Led by a practising artist, the workshops offer creative and innovative ways of looking at and learning about modern and contemporary art.
These workshops are designed for students with physical, cognitive or sensory difficulties or disabilities. Sessions are led by artists with extensive SEN experience, and are carefully planned and tailored to your specific needs. By engaging in a series of practical and gallery-based activities, students are made to feel welcome, unhurried and inspired. Sessions work best if students are accompanied by several support staff.
We have a range of resource materials to assist in the preparation of a visit, or for preparatory or follow-up work. If you would like to discuss your visit to the Walker Art Gallery with one of our learning staff before you come, do please contact us. Contact our booking line on 0151 478 4178.
Introduce your pupils to art in our special interactive gallery. Explore the theme of Myself, Nature, or Colour, Shape and Pattern. (Art)
For further information on all World Museum sessions and to find out about availability and booking please contact our booking line on 0151 478 4393 or visit our learning pages.
Sunshine is a lovable cartoon sun; he is very friendly and is delighted when people come to visit. He likes to ask questions and make friends with all the children who visit.
He wants them to get involved, raise their hands and shout out the answers to his questions. He even invites them to join him singing to the stars! Sunshine explores the colours of day and night and how day becomes night, and then gently reveals the stars in the night time sky and challenges them to find the brightest. All the children will receive a colouring-in sheet and Sunshine sticker when they leave.
The Sunshine show is 15 minutes long, but if you want to extend your session we can spend an extra ten minutes looking at some of the animal star patterns in the night sky.
Ideal for early years, but also suitable for children up to 7. (Science)
Please note: the maximum number we can accommodate in the Planetarium is 62, including all children, helpers and teachers
National Museums Liverpool brings the museum into your classroom. This project will use theatrical performance as a stimulus for engaging primary school pupils in the world of the past. Using performance, costume, colour and spectacle the project will introduce children to lives lived in other places, in ancient worlds, and other civilisations. The project will be supported by a series of innovative loan boxes and resources which teachers can use to extend and develop the learning of the students once their initial interest has been captured. A once in a lifetime experience that brings the museum into the world of the school and the community.
Incorporates content from other NML venues.
For further information on the Unity Theatre sessions including costs and bookings please contact: Louise Flooks, Participation Coordinator on 0151 709 6502 or louiseflooks@unitytheatre.co.uk
First Visit offers groups in the FYT areas the chance to experience live theatre in performance. First Visit also offers a full programme of workshops to complement the theatre visit, ensuring a rich experience for your pupils, consisting of:
Dates: throughout the year in accordance with appropriate performances