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Join Michaella & Billy Bear for some springtime fun & help them on a special mission from the Museum Keeper. Creative fun, stories, imagination, discovery, explorations and tactile sensations! For early years (3 – 5yrs ) & their grown-up! Places limited so book early! 1:30-2:30pm

Following the most recent UK and Scottish Government advice on measures to prevent the slow spread of the Coronavirus, East Ayrshire Leisure have made the decision to close all our venues with immediate effect. All East Ayrshire Leisure activities, events and clubs will be cancelled until further notice.

Come along and have a fun-packed time with your friends exploring the museum with Michaella! Bring the past to life through drama, performance, story creation and creative movement, sharing what you've discovered with friends and family and the end of the block. 7-12 years *Limited places, please book in advance through venue t: 01290 550045 22 April - 2 June 2020

18th Century Costume with Graham Hunter Graham Hunter is a Period Costume Designer who has advised on TV and films such as “Outlander”, "Rise of the Clans" and the forthcoming “Blood of the Clans Pandemic 1918”. Graham is a collector of original 18th and early 19th century male, and some female clothing and accessories. Items in his collection have been copied for various film and television productions. This talk is not to be missed by anyone interested in history and costume. Graham will provide close examination of his 200 year old fashion, fabrics and accessories collection. 6-7:30pm

Join Michaella & Billy Bear for some springtime fun & help them on a special mission from the Museum Keeper. Creative fun, stories, imagination, discovery, explorations and tactile sensations! For early years (3 – 5yrs ) & their grown-up! Places limited so book early! 1:30-2:30pm

If you know where to look, you will find out that the Baird institute is really a castle! Come along and find out why. The Baird Institute will be a castle for a day and you can discover what the people, who lived in castles hundreds of years ago, wore to their banquets as well as what they ate and even what music they listened to! Come and experience a bygone age through art craft making and imaginative exploration of the museums displays and collections. The afternoon session is aimed at families and the younger visitor.

Come along and have a fun-packed time with your friends exploring the museum with Michaella! Bring the past to life through drama, performance, story creation and creative movement, sharing what you’ve discovered with friends and family at the end of each block. 7-12yrs. *Limited places, please book in advance through venue T: 01290 550045 4 March - 1 April 2020

The hand-made guitars in Dean Castle Collection, were created using 17th century materials & knowledge. Their longevity is due to care and the choice of woods used. For most instrument makers leaving a legacy is huge, that something hand crafted lives on, is enjoyed, played and treasured by future generations. Four centuries on, 21st century makers have another challenge – to use scarce and valuable resources sparingly and to embrace the new technological age, searching for new sustainable materials, of a quality, to create instruments that will look and sound beautiful and last… This session will explore this Ayrshire-based makers solutions to a world-wide problem, including insight into the use of a highly prized natural material created by another Ayrshire based company. There will be a demonstration of techniques as well as hands on displays and music played. Mark Bailey of Bailey Guitars has been making guitars professionally for over two decades, creating beautiful acoustics, electrics, ukuleles and basses at his workshop in the Carrick Hills since 2003. Courses are now also run on-line. They use only renewable energy - microgeneratoring using solar pv and until recently a handmade wind turbine. 6-7:30pm

Now in its fifth year, our event celebrating the life of Robert Burns in Mauchline continues to grow, bringing together local communities and attracting more visitors to the area to celebrate our national bard. The highlight of our 2020 festival will be the performance by Mauchline Primary School who have been working with us over the last few months to create a wonderful celebratory performance exploring Burns’ relationship with coasts and waters through a collection of songs and poems from Scotland’s favourite bard. Please join us on Saturday 25th January for an afternoon of art workshops, kirkyard tours, storytelling, performances and much more! Suitable for the whole family and participation is completely FREE

Join Michaella and Billy Bear for some seasonal expeditions, and help them on a special mission from the Museum Keeper. Creative fun, stories, imagination, discovery, explorations and tactile sensations! For early years (3-5yrs) and their grown-ups! These events are free but places are limited so booking is essential. Contact the museum to book a place. 1:30pm - 2:30pm

For the past thirty years, I have been involved with textiles as a community artist, exhibition curator and banner maker. In 1986, I set up ‘Needleworks’ in Glasgow working with people of all ages and cultures, using sewing to celebrate local history, document community experiences and share personal concerns through the creation of wall hangings and banners. I undertake textile commissions and organise sewing projects throughout Scotland. The most recent project has been community Matters where ten people stitched small wall hangings to capture the stories of textiles that were precious to them. On my website you can read about the project and explore some of the themes of my book ‘Threads of Life’. I hope you enjoy the discovery. 2pm - 4pm

Come along and have a fun-packed time with your friends exploring the museum with Michaella! Bring the past to life through drama, performance, story creation and creative movement, sharing what you've discovered with friends and family and the end of the block. 6-12 years 23 Oct 2019 - 27 Nov 2019