Reigning and Raining

Flag bunting

Despite having to call off a couple of outdoor events, we have had a very jolly time this month marking the Jubilee with local groups.

Of all the many metres of bunting we have made, this string produced by adults who attend the Bedford Centre is one of my favourites.

We made rather superior crowns at St Paul's Church 'square party' and had a great response from local people when we supported the BIG Picnic in Jubilee Park.

Who could say no to a church warden who looks like this!

Two special awards go to the Queen's Park Neighbourhood Centre team for services to the Jubilee, one for the genius throne they made for their party, for babies to have a go at reigning with crown and sceptre and the other for the most beautiful piece of hand painted bunting I have seen all year (and I have seen a lot!). 

Half Term with The Higgins

Half Term with The Higgins - Four Days of Fun!

Sunday 2nd June - Big Victorian Jubilee Picnic

Wednesday 6th June - The Great Siege of Bedford Castle - Wootton Village Hall
Thursday 7th June - The Great Siege of Bedford Castle - Great Denham kickabout area
Friday 8th June - The Great Siege of Bedford Castle - Wixams Village Hall

Sunday 2nd June - Big Victorian Jubilee Picnic - The Queen's Diamond Jubilee - with a twist! 

We are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee on the lawn beside The Higgins, on Sunday 3rd June between 11am and 4pm, in Victorian style! There will be flag and bunting-making and traditional toys and games to play, so bring a picnic and doff a jaunty hat or bonnet, for a pleasant and rewarding celebration.

Wednesday 6th June - The Great Siege of Bedford Castle - Wootton Village Hall 

Friday 8th June - The Great Siege of Bedford Castle - WixamsVillage Hall 

Thursday 7th June - The Great Siege of Bedford Castle - Great Denham kickabout area

Re-enact the Great Siege of Bedford Castle using props and costumes - a story of greed, kidnap and medieval mayhem! Help us tell the tale of the wicked baron, the rats in the dungeon and the terror of the king's revenge!

Sessions 10am - 12pm       Cost £1      For ages 9 - 16   

Booking essential

Contact Laura Pottinger  laura.pottinger@bedford.gov.uk 01234 718627

For more information contact: The Higgins - 01234 718618  

e: thehiggins@bedford.gov.uk

w: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk

The World Around Us

26th April – 31st May at the Tourist Information Centre, St Paul’s Square, Bedford

We have been working in partnership with Carers in Bedfordshire to create artworks inspired by the work of Edward Bawden. The work produced during their six-week course will be on display at Bedford Tourist Information Centre. If you are a Family Carer and would like to join please contact sally.petre@carersinbeds.org.uk



Visit http://www.carersinbeds.co.uk/ for more information

What – The Higgins…?

Cecil Higgins Art Gallery & Bedford Museum is being rebranded ‘The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, Bedford’ or, ‘The Higgins’ for short!

We have been involving various groups of people within our re-development project and are very keen to gather teachers’ opinions about our future education provision. With this in mind, we are organising a Teachers’ Advisory Group to help us reformulate our approach to learning, using the new art gallery and museum displays.

This group will meet once a term from summer term 2012, during which time participants will be introduced to the redevelopment project and the new themes across the art gallery and museum displays. Members of the group will be asked to contribute to developing new education sessions for schools and help us review and devise ways that we can extend our schools’ learning provision.

Art Gallery & Museum staff education workshop

Teachers Help The Higgins

You and teaching peers have told us about the value of seeing genuine artefacts when it comes to comprehending, appreciating and being able to consider history, cultures and art critically. We want you, as teachers of humanities and arts, to inform us about your curriculum needs, so we can help to enhance your school’s cultural provision.

We can’t promise the earth, but this is the opportunity to work together, to push for what works for you and us, locally. The Higgins will be a significant Borough resource in the ownership of local people and a venue on your doorstep, that pupils can revisit as often as they like. This is the chance for you to have your say in the provision of learning opportunities within this exciting new development.

If you are interested in joining the advisory group, please contact Susannah Oliver on 01234 276351 or susannah.oliver@bedford.co.uk

The Higgins Museum & Art Gallery, Bedford

We are very pleased to be able to unveil our new name and brand, The Higgins Art Gallery & Museum, Bedford.The new name and brand for the former Cecil Higgins Art Gallery & Bedford Museum brings a fresh new look and provides a glimpse of what is to come when we reopen in Spring 2013. They mark a new beginning for the art gallery and museum, illustrating the bringing together of the organisations and the buildings.


We love our new name and look but it does mean we're going to be making some changes.


Our main blog will be changing its address to http://www.thehigginsbedford.blogspot.co.uk/
Our News From The Stores blog will be moving to http://www.thehigginsbedfordcollections.blogspot.co.uk/
Our Out & About blog will be moving to http://www.thehigginsbedfordoutandabout.blogspot.co.uk/


We will be moving to these new addresses on the 20th April 2012.

Egg-tastic Easter Painting

Creative young people had a height advantage

Painting in the open air, or 'en plein air'  was enjoyed by the 19th Century Impressionists and the budding artists of Bedford had fun in the fresh air too this week as they applied their creative flair to the giant hoarding surrounding the Art Gallery and Museum buildings. The broad theme was Spring and Easter so we had eggs, chicks, rabbits and flowers galore.

Georgina created a lovely pink nest for her egg

The urge to make your mark where others will see it is hard to resist and local people of all ages (from tiny toddlers to very tall teens) responded to the opportunity to pick up a brush and have a go. The rain held off, the sun came out and our marvelous volunteers helped make it very successful event.  Eastcotts and Bedford Central Children's Centres both brought groups of parents and children along and over  two days around 239 people took part in the painting or rose to the challenge of a puzzle hunt around the Castle Gardens.


Keen to make the most of this outdoor canvas, we will be returning to the lawns again on Saturday 5th May for 'The Thing about Me' a Pop-Up Museum and on Sunday 3rd June to paint flags and bunting for the jubilee. Keep an eye on our main news blog for details.

Out and about at Harrold-Odell Country Park

Glad of a change in the weather, the Learning and Access team were out and about in Harrold-Odell Country Park for St Valentine’s Day.

Reviving the ancient tradition of tree dressing, visitors were invited to create a special message to a loved one to hang in the trees for others to find.

February half-term is clearly a time when lots of grandparents have their grandchildren to stay and we had lots of declarations of love for the older generation, including two messages to much loved granddads who are no longer with us. We also had a message of love from one girl to all the dogs who walk in the park.

Today we are making Roman mosaics and wall paintings at Wixams and tomorrow it is Saxon shields and beads at Project 229 in Kempston. You can keep up to date with our holiday activities at our 'What's On' page.