Press Releases

Are you an aspiring artist, a super sketcher or a dextrous doodler? If so then the National Slate Museum is the place for you this half term.

The Museum is holding a series of activities during the half term to celebrate the fact that the Quarrymen's Houses, 1-4 Fron Haul, will have been at the Museum for ten years in 2009. Marketing Officer Julie Williams explained further:

"In 1999 these houses were re-located from Tanygrisiau to the Museum. Today they are one of our most popular attractions and over half a million people have stepped through the doors, stood by their fires and marvelled at the stories in the stones!"

"We literally want to ‘draw' attention to the houses and we're holding the events now as part of the BIG DRAW campaign, a national campaign to get people drawing! The buildings and collections of the museum have inspired many artists over the years and we're hoping that this year, the Quarrymen's Houses will bring out the artist in people!"

Events include art workshops on October 27 and 28 with local artist Luned Rhys Parri who will be working with families and visitors to create pieces of art to celebrate the houses, and also a drawing competition to create an image of the houses for a birthday card to be produced next year. All the art work will be on show throughout 2009 as part of the celebrations.

"We're asking all our visitors to draw a picture of the houses for us" said Julie "It can be anything from a drawing of the outside to one of the little teacups of plates inside or even one of the fireplaces or the beds ... anything that holds their imagination about the houses.

"The lucky winner will see their drawing realised in a birthday card to celebrate the houses during 2009. We're looking for a drawing which captures the spirit and significance of the stories in the stones of these houses. We're encouraging all ages to take part, because we're not looking purely for technical skill, but also for a drawing that is inspired!"

The competition will run throughout the winter until the end of March 2009 and the card will be produced in readiness for the Summer Season.

The art workshops will be held on October 27 and 28 at 11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm. All activities are FREE. Booking is advised as space is limited. Contact the Museum on (01286) 870630 for more information.

Entry to all Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales sites is free, thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government. Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales operates seven museums across Wales - National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.

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For more press information and photographs please contact Julie Williams on (01286) 873707 or julie.williams@amgueddfacymru.ac.uk. Photographs are available from the National Slate Museum.