Brown bear inspires fun exhibits at museum

Whanganui Museum's brown bear will be a focus of holiday programmes this week. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Winter, puanga, World War I, moa and bears are the themes that will be explored at Whanganui Regional Museum during the school holidays.

Educator Margie Beautrais said most of the programmes are free with nominal charges for a couple of activities.

The bear theme was inspired by artist Andrea Gardner participating in the new Museum exhibition Infiltrations II.

"Each artist has created an artwork or installation in response to something from the museum collection.

"Andrea chose the brown bear, and has installed some bear-related items in the atrium area, including tags for children to read, and a suspended table with bowls of porridge."

Ms Beautrais said the actual bear had been installed in the settlers' cottage upstairs and the theme was chosen as a focus for many of the holiday programmes because this installation is designed to be engaging for children.

Artist Joanna Pegler's installation Gotta Go Upstairs is a series of mini dioramas and children will have the opportunity to make their own dioramas at a workshop on July 15.

Other activities include the opportunity for children to dress up in WWI clothing and take "selfies" in the museum's photography studio, a behind-the-scenes tour of the natural history collection with Dr Mike Dickison as well as a number of craft activities.

There will be a collage table and another for puzzles and colouring in set up in the museum every day of the holidays with free activities for children to explore all the themes on offer.

Some of the activities are age-specific, and Ms Beautrais said booking for all scheduled activities is essential.

Bookings can be made by visiting the museum's website wrm.org.nz or call 06 349 1110.