Community
Free activities for community groups
A Family Collection | A National Museum | An International Treasure House
Our workshops This leaflet highlights some of the activities that we deliver, but we may also be able to design bespoke sessions if you would like to do something a bit different. Please phone the Education Officer for Community Programmes and New Audiences on 020 7563 9577 for more information or to book a session.
The workshops • are free to attend • are led by experienced artists and educators who will respond to the varying needs of your group • require no prior knowledge of art and are particularly suitable for those who may never have visited a museum before Peter Paul Rubens, The Rainbow Landscape, c. 1636, (detail)
• require no skill in art, just a willingness to try something new • encourage people to respond to the Museum • take place in the Museum or as Outreach in the local community • are flexible. If you are interested in something you see here but it does not quite suit your requirements, please phone us.
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in a central London town house. Here you will find Old Master paintings, 18th-century furniture and porcelain, and London’s largest collection of arms and armour. We are committed to welcoming London’s diverse communities and working with community groups across London.
Free activities for community groups Our community activities are designed to make the Wallace Collection more accessible to people who are not used to visiting museums. Through small group work and interactive activities in galleries and private workshop areas, we introduce works of art and encourage people to form opinions about them.
We work with a range of groups and communities. Recently we have worked with hospital school groups, prison groups, people affected by homelessness and/or mental health issues, people from different minority ethnic communities, refugees and asylum seekers and people with differing access needs.
For more information about any of these programmes or to arrange a visit please phone the Education Officer for Community Programmes and New Audiences on 020 7563 9577
Only at the Wallace Collection Birthday Suit
Sensation!
Drawing the human form
Multi-sensory art events for blind and partially-sighted People
Develop drawing skills in this relaxed day-long activity. The morning is spent discussing art as a group in the galleries, and the afternoon drawing individually from a life (nude) model. We can work with a clothed model if requested in advance.
Tea and Tour Introductions to the museum
A tea and tour is a relaxed and informal way of experiencing the highlights of the Wallace Collection. Themed tours may also be available.
‘I enjoyed the whole tour-the explanations were very interesting. Picking on a few salient objects and giving details worked very well and left everyone keen to come again.’ Tea and Tour attendee
ESOL tours (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Our tours complement the ESOL curriculum for Entry 1 & 2
Sessions involve speaking, listening, responding to art, handling armour and drawing from the Collection. A general tour or special themed tour is available. Themes are ‘Clothes and the Body’, ‘Furniture’, ‘Food and Nature’, ‘The Home’, ‘People’ and ‘Travel’.
Gallery activities and workshops are delivered by audio-describers and artists who will help you experience the Wallace Collection in a new way.
Deaf Visions Practical art and art history events in BSL and SSE
Art workshops and gallery talks are delivered in British Sign Language and/ or Sign Supported English by deaf artists and art historians. A BSL interpreter and/or lipspeaker is available to aid communication.
Snuff box, Jean Ducrollay, Paris, France, 1744
At the Wallace Collection and/or Outreach School’s Out! Holiday activities for groups
Activities offer children the opportunity to explore the Collection with an artist and make their own Wallace-inspired artworks. Maximum 20 children per session. This can also run as Outreach.
Practical Art Workshops Day-long or half-day themed art activities
We offer range of art workshops from one-off drawing afternoons to a series of workshops held over several weeks. All sessions held at the Wallace Collection include sketching in the galleries with a professional artist educator. All materials are provided for outreach sessions and we also bring images of the galleries and works of art. We can offer themed drawing sessions, printmaking, screen printing, photography and sculpture with clay and plaster.
Hospital Schools Outreach to hospital schools and Pupil Referral Units
Themed activities which can be delivered in the classroom or at the bedside. All of these creative workshops support the National Curriculum and can be easily adapted to suit younger and older children, group work or one-to-one work. Sessions include object handling, discussion and creating art.
We are Here Creative art sessions to aid language learning
These workshops for refugees and asylum seekers encourage exploration, group discussion and personal creativity. Each session combines time in the galleries with an opportunity to try out different art techniques such as calligraphy, print-making, t-shirt painting, sculpture.
Out of the Frame An Outreach programme using art as a starting point for one-to-one and small group discussion
Using reproductions of paintings in the Wallace Collection to provide a stimulus for discussion, appreciation and/ or reminiscence, this activity has been particularly stimulating for those with dementia. We work individually with participants or in small groups. We can also deliver ‘tea and tour’ sessions at the Wallace Collection.
Asante gold mask, 19th century or earlier
Continuing Professional Development Using a Museum Collection Making museums accessible
Keen on museums but not sure how to use them with your community group? Explore different ways to make art accessible and relevant to your group and learn general techniques such as reading an image to piece together the story behind it. This is a relaxed and informal day and will help you to develop confidence in working
‘I loved seeing the armour up close and touching it and then hearing about the history of it. The readings were superb. It has been the best event at the Wallace ever’ Sensation participant
‘The teaching was excellent-I am now no longer afraid at the thought of doing life drawing!’ Birthday Suit participant
with art back in your place of work. It will also provide the opportunity for you to meet other community Leaders. For more information about any of these programmes or to arrange a visit please phone the Education Officer for Community Programmes and New Audiences on 020 7563 9577
‘I just wanted to thank you for a really great session. She (the artist educator) was lovely with the kids and really drew out the artist within all of them. Her extremely flexible approach is much appreciated and perfect for the setting of a hospital school. We had a really nice morning with her!’ Hospital School Teacher
‘I’m going to come again with my family’ ESOL student
Visiting us The Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London, W1U 3BN
Nearest undergrounds: Bond Street, Baker Street and Oxford Circus. Buses: 2, 10, 12, 13, 30, 74, 82, 94, 113 & 274. Limited parking at the front of the Museum is available to visitors with disabilities. This should be booked in advance by telephoning the Security Desk on 020 7563 9524. There are 2 parking spaces for Blue Badge holders in Manchester Square and others in nearby streets. Baker Street
BAK
Facilities available to borrow: • Folding stools • Wheelchairs • Remote door opener • Large print floor plan • Audio guides • Portable hearing loops • Magnifying glasses • Torches • Raised line floor plan in Grade 1 Braille This leaflet is also available in Braille, audio and large print versions
The Wallace Collection
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Marble Arch
Public areas of the Museum are accessible by stairs and lift, we have an easily accessible toilet and baby changing facilities. We welcome assistance dogs.
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Oxford Circus
Bond Street
www.wallacecollection.org
Contact us For more information please contact the Education Officer for Community Programmes and New Audiences on: Tel: 020 7563 9577 Email: community@wallacecollection.org Please note that all Community Activities need to be pre-booked