Half-term creative takeover! 

Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 May
10.00am - 4.00pm 
Free for Newark and Sherwood Residents
Just pop in and get creative!

Get ready for two unforgettable days of creativity, colour and hands‑on fun this May Half Term as the National Civil War Centre transforms into a buzzing hub of art, music and imagination.

Across Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 May, families can dive into a packed programme of activities designed to spark curiosity and bring people together. From giant cardboard installations to graffiti workshops, roaming artists and a magical sound garden, every corner of the museum will be alive with things to make, do and explore.

Art sessions with Emily Cartwright 
Leading on from her incredible art trail, Emily will be hosting creative art sessions (Tuesday only).

Create with Image Skool
Try your hand at graffiti‑style art in a safe, supervised space perfect for kids and adults alike.

Build, Colour & Take Home
Help bring a huge bespoke cardboard backdrop to life, inspired by Newark Castle, and design your own cardboard crown to take home.

Meet the Roaming Artists
Keep an eye out for our playful, costumed artists who will be popping up throughout the day to entertain, inspire and surprise.

Explore the Orchestra of Objects
Step into our courtyard sound garden where everyday items are transformed into musical instruments. Bang, tap, shake and discover new ways to make noise!

Quiet Space
For anyone who needs a moment of calm, our beautifully curated sensory room will offer a peaceful retreat.

Recycled Puppets Family Workshop

Monday 1 June
11.30am - 12.30pm 
Free session!

Families are welcome to drop into Newark Library for the Recycled Puppets Family Workshop with artist Michelle Reader of Wayward Objects Theatre. Running from 11.30am until 12.30pm, this free, relaxed session gives young children and their families the chance to explore storytelling through craft, using recycled materials to create their own characters.

Inspired by the imaginative world of Olive the Park Keeper and Teaspoon the Bird, participants will be encouraged to invent their own stories and bring them to life in a fun, accessible way. The session is designed especially for children aged 0–5, but is open to all ages, with no booking required.

Tales from the Wheelbarrow Puppet Show

Thursday 4 June
12pm - 1pm 
Free event at the National Civil War Centre!

This free, bookable performance introduces audiences to Olive, a determined puppet park-keeper tackling litter, and Teaspoon, an anarchic bird made entirely from discarded materials. 

Set in and around a life-sized wheelbarrow, the production transforms everyday objects into curious characters, blending puppetry, storytelling and live performance. Created by Michelle Reader and Steno Vitale, the show offers a playful and imaginative adventure for audiences.

Spaces for Tales from the Wheelbarrow are limited and can be booked via the Newark Palace Theatre box office: https://www.palacenewark.com/