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TogetherFest

Togetherfest is a festival of events across our museum sites that celebrates being together. All of our Togetherfest events are free (with museum entry), facilitated by professional artists and are intended for both younger and older visitors to participate in.

This year, TogetherFest will take place at our partner museums and gallery venues across the year, in school holidays.

I am from a local charity, can we get involved with Togetherfest?

Half of our Togetherfest events are open for free to the public, half of our events are for groups who may otherwise not have the opportunity to engage in a workshop in our museums. We work with local partner organisations such as Humankind, Family Action and local youth organisations to ensure we have the greatest reach and impact.

Please do talk to us about how we may be able to support your group to partake in a Togetherfest event. Contact Heather, Children and Young People Officer: heather.minto@stockton.gov.uk

What ages are the free workshops suitable for?

We try to arrange a variety of workshops that will appeal to everyone, from young children up to teenagers. Parents and grandparents can also get involved.

2026 TogetherFest Events

Image of crafting, materials are on the table, including pom poms, pipe cleaners and other colourful craft bits.
Fri 29 May 2026

Matchstick Maps at Preston Park

Join Artist Sophie Gwynn for a playful family workshop where sticks, strings, and symbols become cities, transport systems, treasure maps, and imaginary landscapes. Drop in, get creative, and help build one giant collaborative world together.

Free activity (included with museum entry) you will need a valid museum admission pass to attend this event. If you don't already have a Museum Pass, we recommend buying yours online before your visit.

Find out more→
Wed 8 Apr 2026

(Past Event) Sensory Garden Collages at Hopetown Darlington

Drop-in sensory collage making, with Tees Valley Museums, inspired by Hopetown Darlington's station garden artworks featuring nature from Tees Valley Museums partner museums.

Find out more→
yellow, blue and green collage with images of scenery, trees, a person, the sky with stars.
Wed 8 Apr 2026

(Past Event) Little Printmakers at Hopetown Darlington

Get creative in this hands‑on collagraph printing adventure with Laura from Wild North Studio!

Kids (aged 5+) and their grown‑ups can dive into a world of colour, texture and imagination as you learn how to make your very own collagraph print. Experiment with shapes and designs, be inspired by the wildlife and railway scenery around you, and take home a unique piece of art you’ve made.

It’s messy, it’s creative, and it’s the perfect way to spend time together!

(Children must be able to safely use scissors.)

Find out more→

TogetherFest Gallery

A woman is standing in the centre of a circle, made from light.
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
People creating light art at Preston Park.
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
People creating light art in the music room at Preston Park Hall.
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
A young child with curly brown hair is painting a picture on canvas.
Paint Off! competition at Kirkleatham Museum
A group of children drawing. There are pencils in pots on the table.
Paint Off! competition at Kirkleatham Museum
A woman is talking to a young man. The man is holding a pallet and pallet knife, and nearby is a canvas on an easel.
Paint Off! competition at Kirkleatham Museum
A young person with curly red hair is sitting painting a canvas on the floor.
Paint Off! competition at Kirkleatham Museum
A group of women talking.
Paint Off! competition at Kirkleatham Museum
Two people standing by a table. A young man is pointing to a piece of paper on the table, and a woman is standing looking at him.
Paint Off! competition at Kirkleatham Museum
A workshop facilitator helping a child to create a lino print.
Lino printing workshop with Hopetown and artist Merlyn Griffiths (The Littlest Falcon)
A group of red and blue prints.
Lino printing workshop with Hopetown and artist Merlyn Griffiths (The Littlest Falcon)
A child holding a blue print of a cat with white detail.
Lino printing workshop with Hopetown and artist Merlyn Griffiths (The Littlest Falcon)
A spirobot is holding a red pen and drawing a pattern on a piece of white paper.
Spirobot workshop at Dorman Museum with JuniorSTEM
A group of people standing in a room with light sticks.
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
A man wearing a green cap and blue and green patterned scarf is sitting at a table with an iPad. He has a large piece of paper next to him with drawings on.
Draw Along Livestream with Carl Wilson
A lady with shoulder length blonde hair is holding a portrait of herself. She is wearing a striped jumper and glasses.
Caricature portraits by Barrie James
Two smiling boys hold a portrait of themselves
Caricature portraits by Barrie James
A man in a colourful jacket stands with a lady holding a portrait of herself
Caricature portraits by Barrie James
Two boys stand in a doorway holding portraits of themselves
Caricature portraits by Barrie James
A lady in a green t-shirt holds a character portrait of herself
Caricature portraits by Barrie James
A girl stands in a dark street with a neon spiral going around her
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
A smiling man looks at the camera with neon squiggles in the background
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
A cobbled museum street is shown at night with neon stripes going along it
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
A see through lady sits on a chair giving her the appearance of a ghost
Drawing with Light workshop at Preston Park Museum with Jenny Vest
A workshop facilitator helps some families use their ipads
Spirobot workshop at Dorman Museum with JuniorSTEM
Multiple families and young people play with ipads and lego
Spirobot workshop at Dorman Museum with JuniorSTEM
A boy looks at an ipad with his mother and grandmother
Spirobot workshop at Dorman Museum with JuniorSTEM