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Museums at Night explodes into life from Friday, May 8 to Saturday, May 16 2015.

The annual UK-wide after-hours event is a celebration of arts, culture and heritage. Hundreds of museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage sites across the West Midlands will be opening their doors after hours for a series of special evening events. Here's what's happening near Birmingham

Winterbourne House and Garden

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston Park Road Edgbaston, B15 2RT

WHEN: May 14, 10am - 9pm

WHAT: Night with the Nettlefolds. A living history reenactment. It’s the height of WW1 and Margaret and John Nettlefold are looking forward to hosting an evening party for wounded officers, currently laid up at the make-shift hospital just up the road.

Margaret has arranged for a string quartet and John has some lawn games ready to entertain. There’ll be invitation printing in the printing press, a food activity in the old kitchen and plenty of other costumed servants who’ll need your help. A

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: £6 for adults, £5 for concessions, under 5s free

(Image: Graham Young)

Vivid Projects

16 Minerva Works, Fazeley Street, Birmingham, B5 5RS

WHEN: May 16, 5 - 8pm

WHAT: Queer Traces: Realness

Join Vivid Projects and mac Birmingham for a live AV installation deconstructing Jennie Livingston’s documentary of the 80s vogue ball scene Paris is Burning (1990).

The installation will feature a performance Strike a Pose by Kate Spence, Lightborne’s New Gods video sculptures, and a disco soundtrack.

An event presented as part of Queer Traces, a programme of screening events and performances exploring queer glamour and contested sexuality. AGE RANGE: Adults

FURTHER INFO:www.vividprojects.org.uk/programme/queer-traces/

Newman Brothers at the Coffin Works

13-15 Fleet Street Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1JP

WHEN: May 16, 6pm - 10pm

WHAT: Game Over for Museums at Night

Transient-Art is taking over the restored coffin fittings factory in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter to show its work among the coffin handles, shrouds and historic machinery.

Each of the artists and designers have visited the museum and taken part in one of the guided tours and then responded by producing a new artwork inspired by their visit. For Museums at Night artists will make additional work, which will intertwine among the exhibits.

You’ll be able to see artwork, speak to the artists and enjoy a night-time experience in this atmospheric Victorian factory. Fine Art and Fashion Students will also treat you to a fashion show in the Courtyard. Refreshments served.

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: £3 Adults, £1 Young Adults aged 10 - 18 and under 10s free

FURTHER INFO:www.coffinworks.org/coffinworks/game-over-by-transient-art/

http://coffinworksart.blogspot.co.uk

The Pen Museum

Unit 3, The Argent Centre, 60 Frederick Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B1 3HS

WHEN: May 13 - 16

WHAT: A three night event at The Pen Museum, a former Victorian pen factory dedicated to preserving and promoting the legacy of this trade. Includes free museum tours every night from 5-7pm.

May 14: An O-Pen Mic Night, 7 - 9pm, inspired by the Pen Museum, featuring poets from Beatfreeks and local artists. Including writing workshops and expert advice on the night too. Live artist sketching during the event by artist, Addy Adams.

May 15: Craft and Design Night, 6-10pm. An evening to celebrate craft and design month featuring local artists. Come try out a new skill and meet artists who use pens and inks in their work.

May 16: Family storytelling night at 7pm. A shadow puppet interactive storytelling show, featuring stories inspired by the museum. Suitable for all ages. Trails and activities including, Make your own shadow puppet in the museum between 5-7pm.

Plus an art exhibition, Hidden Treasures of the Pen Museum by Birmingham City University Student, Olga Shurakova.

HOW MUCH: Free of charge

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

FURTHER INFO:www.penroom.co.uk 0121 236 9834

Black Country Living Museum

Tipton Road, Dudley, DY1 4SQ

WHEN: May 16, 7 - 10.30pm

WHAT: Red by Night

Famously described as “black by day, red by night”, the Black Country was once an industrial powerhouse like no other.

For one night only the museum will recreate the industrial might of the region by transforming into a glowing plethora of smoke and fire hard-hitting drama fills the streets and see all of the Museum’s industrial areas in action.

The half price night will include street theatre with audio and light effects, live Industrial Demonstrations, Steam Power, street performers, glass blowing, poetry and musicians, a photography exhibition and a chemistry workshop

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: Half price admission booked in advance. Adults: £8.25, Senior: £6.60 and Child (3-16): £4.10

FURTHER INFO: www.bclm.com/ 0121 520 8054.

The Infirmary Museum

University Of Worcester City Campus, Castle Street, Worcester WR1 3AS

WHEN: May 14 from 7 - 7.30pm

WHAT: The Infirmary at Night

Local drama students from the University of Worcester have created a new work based on characters and stories from The Infirmary’s 240 year history. AGE RANGE: Family-Friendly

HOW MUCH: Free of charge

FURTHER INFO: www.medicalmuseum.org.uk

Museum of Royal Worcester

Severn Street, Worcester, WR1 2ND

WHEN: May 16, 7 - 10pm

WHAT: Night at the Porcelain

Experience some of the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of the Royal Worcester porcelain factory. Featuring new artworks, interactive activities for all ages, and themed refreshments.

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: Free of charge

FURTHER INFO:http://www.museumofroyalworcester.org/event/night-at-the-porcelain/

Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings

Bromsgrove, B60 4JR

WHEN: May 15, 7 - 11.45pm

WHAT: Night-time Tales

Watch a special screening of Night at the Museum (PG) in the stunning New Guesten Hall.

Afterwards you can find out what really happens at the museum after dark. Explore 19 acres of grounds, visit candlelit historic buildings and meet some weird and wonderful characters with night-time tales to tell.

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: Adults £8.80; Seniors £7.70; Students and children £4.50.

FURTHER INFO: www.avoncroft.org.uk

Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum

Royal Pump Rooms, The Parade, CV32 4AA

WHEN: Saturday May 16, 7.30 - 11pm

WHAT: Post War Party.

Commemorate the 70 year anniversary of Victory in Europe Day by jiving your way around the Royal Pump Rooms in a post war party and explore the venue.

7.30 - 8.30pm – You’ll have the chance to find out about the Czech Resistance, discover World War II collections, make some VE Day bunting and find out how to create the perfect Victory rolls.

8.30pm – the post-war party begins with live band The Candy Girls and themed cocktails.

There will also be a wartime photo-booth, where you can kit yourself out with props and vintage costume.

1940s/1950s dress is encouraged.

AGE RANGE: 18+

HOW MUCH: £16 per person by calling 01926 742700

The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum

Jordan Well, Coventry, CV1 5QP

WHEN: Thursday May 14, 7.30 - 10.30pm and Saturday, May 16 7pm-10.30pm.

WHAT: Museums at Night: Grown-Up edition (May 14).

See the building in a different light...The Herbert invites you to explore its dark spaces at night. They’ll provide torches, live music, life drawing with a difference, themed doodling in Drink and Draw plus Future Shorts screenings.

AGE RANGE: 18+

HOW MUCH: Free of charge but booking is required. Go to www.theherbert.org

WHAT: The Herbert’s Museums at Night: Family Edition (May 16)

Families are invited to come along in their pyjamas and slippers, bring a adventure, before settling down to a midnight snack and storytelling.

Families can work together to help find the missing cloak of King George within the museum. They can piece the evidence together using investigative skills and by interviewing costumed characters and suspects.

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: Free of charge but to book online go to www.theherbert.org

Visit www.facebook.com/theherbert for regular updates about both events.

Market Hall Museum

Warwick, CV34 4SA

WHEN: May 15, 2.30pm - 9pm:

WHAT: The Great Warwickshire Show and Tell

After winning the Museums at Night Connect 10 programme last year, Warwick town centre will once again be transformed into The Great Warwickshire Show and Tell.

Expect a very public exhibition with more than 50 exhibition spaces all curated by local people and community groups. They will bring together the personal heritage and culture of Warwickshire.

Already 40 organisations already confirmed including Talking Birds street entertainers, the Heritage Motor Museum, Chedhams Yard, Foundry Wood, the George Elliot Fellowship Trust and Escape Arts running art workshops. Discover the history of Warwick with a tour from Warwick History Society and listen to storytelling sessions from Warwickshire Libraries.

Warwick Courts, cells and dungeon will also be open for tours during the event at 3pm, 4.15pm and 5.30pm.

AGE RANGE: family-friendly. Warwick Courts, cells and dungeon tours are suitable for accompanied children aged 8+

HOW MUCH: Free of charge, except for the tour of Warwick Courts, cells and dungeon tour which cost £5 per person. Spaces are limited and places must be booked in advance on 01926 412501.

Heritage Motor Centre

Banbury Road, Gaydon, near Warwick, CV35 0BJ

WHEN: May 16, 5.30 - 8pm

WHAT: Museums at Night: Car Stories at Dusk

An exclusive out-of-hours experience see an extensive collection of British cars. Take part in an object handling session with some intriguing items from the behind-the-scenes collection, share your motoring memories and be a part of the museum’s Car Stories project.

You can also travel back in time and join a 1920s’ theory driving class with the Honourable Mrs Victor Bruce. Musical entertainment even has a motoring theme as local percussionist Bo Davies drums using car parts.

HOW MUCH: Free of charge

REGISTER AT:www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk/event/museums-at-night-car-stories-at-dusk/

Compton Verney

Warwick, CV35 9HZ

WHEN: May 14, 5.30 - 8.30pm

WHAT: Martin Parr and Canaletto

A special late night opening to see Canaletto: Celebrating Britain, and The Non-Conformists: Photographs by Magnum photographer Martin Parr. The acute observation, wit and colour of Parr’s work has established him as one of the most successful and popular contemporary photographers. From the early 1980s to the present day, his photographs document the idiosyncrasies of British leisure culture.

5 - 7pm – Photography Family activity – Pick up a digital camera to take photographs of the evening to document your life. Bring them back to the photo station to be printed and pinned up on the #ParrWall.

7 - 9pm – Oxfordshire Youth Arts Partnership folk musicians will be performing live.

6pm – Parr on Parr: an Evening Talk by Martin Parr is already sold out, but you can still meet the photographer at the Museums at Night event where he will be doing a book signing.

AGE RANGE: Family-friendly

HOW MUCH: £10, £8 for concessions (includes 16 – 24 year olds) and free for under 16s, Compton Verney Season Pass holders and members.

FURTHER INFO:www.comptonverney.org.uk

To find out about other Museums at Night events going on across the West Midlands and the rest of the UK go to http://museumsatnight.org.uk