Ulster Museum Brings History, Art and Adventure to Local Libraries

Local libraries in the Belfast area will be buzzing with creativity and curiosity this August as the Ulster Museum’s Education team visit local libraries for a series of free, hands-on workshops as part of this year’s Big Summer Read. Children can explore fascinating objects, learn amazing facts, and create their own masterpieces, all inspired by history, art and world cultures.

Sea Stories in Paint

Cregagh Library on Tuesday 5 August at 11:00am and 12 noon

The sea is full of adventure and magic and so many books are about sea journeys. From The Odyssey to Where the Wild Things Are, writers and poets have taken us all over the world, through many dangers, to other lands.

Colleen Watters, Art Education Officer from Ulster Museum will guide children (aged 4+) in creating their own sea-inspired painting, taking inspiration from the beautiful seascapes of Sir John Lavery.

Thomas Edison and the Victorian Age of Inventions

Ballyhackamore Library on Tuesday 5 August at 2:00pm and 3:00pm

Have you ever had an idea for an invention? Thomas Edison had over 1,000! Children aged 8+ are invited to join Jacqueline Barker, Discovery Centre Coordinator from Ulster Museum, to find out about his favourite invention using real objects from the Ulster Museum’s teaching collection – and even produce your own replica patent.

Ancient Egypt

Grove Library on Friday 8 August at 11:00am

Dig into Ancient Egyptian spiritual beliefs with a guided investigation of artefacts connected to the practice of mummification. 

Join History Education Officer Sharon McKibbin from Ulster Museum where children aged 8+ will discover how these skilful people made their own pigments by taking on the role of an Ancient Egyptian scribe to decorate your own papyrus bookmark. 

Ancient Egypt 

Chichester Library on Friday 8 August at 2:00pm

Step into Ancient Egypt and find out how these knowledgeable people kept clean and tidy with a guided investigation of artefacts connected to personal care. 

Join History Education Officer Sharon McKibbin from Ulster Museum where children aged 8+ will discover the skills used to make make-up and have a go yourself then decorate your own papyrus bookmark. 

World Cultures

Chichester Library on Friday 8 August at 3:30pm

Children aged 8+ are invited to join Agrippa Njanina, Assistant Curator from Ulster Museum, to explore fascinating objects from around the world. Through fun activities and group sharing, children will uncover cultural meanings, similarities and differences and discover how different cultures create and connect – just like we do.

Where did the dinosaurs go?

Newtownbreda Library on Tuesday 12 August at 1:30pm and Thursday 14 August at 1:30pm

Explore the fascinating world of dinosaurs in this interactive workshop! Children aged 4+ can discover how an asteroid led to their extinction and how birds are their modern-day descendants. Using real objects from the Ulster Museum’s teaching collection – including fossils, meteorites and bird specimens – participants will get the chance to handle these incredible items and ask Ulster Museum's Natural Sciences Education Officer, Nigel Gilmore-Cook, all their dinosaur questions.

All sessions are free, but booking is essential, and children must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information or to book your place, contact your local participating library.