Learn new skills at the British Motor Museum…
It is often taken for granted that classic car interest and ownership ‘comes naturally’, yet there are many who would like to become involved, but have never previously been involved with older vehicles and buying/restoring/maintaining/writing about/photographing/sketching them etc, and don’t know quite where to begin… Fortunately help is now at hand…
The British Motor Museum is inviting people to come along and learn a new skill with its series of motoring related workshops this autumn. These popular and fascinating workshops enable participants to learn new skills in photography, creative writing, drawing and classic car ownership. Each course includes entry to the Museum so participants can visit the extensive collection of British historical cars.
The popular ‘Classic Virgins’ Experience Day returns on 20 October. This is a hands-on, informative day aimed at those who wish to buy and own a classic car. Experts will deliver guidance on the theory of car ownership and provide basic practical workshop based maintenance sessions. There will also be the opportunity ride in a variety of classic cars. One of this April’s Classic Virgins Experience attendees said “The day was a great introduction to classic cars, and a really good opportunity to meet experienced owners”
For those interested in photography, the Museum is offering three workshops. ‘Cars through the Lens’ on 6 October is aimed at the aspiring amateur photographer while ‘Lights, Camera…Cars’ on 7 October focuses on developing lighting skills for the more advanced. Finally ‘Cars through the Lens goes Studio’ on 17 November is designed for those looking to develop photographic techniques, composition and lighting in a home studio setting.
The Museum will be delivering five art based workshops, the first ‘Sketching and painting Land Rovers’ on 7 October will be led by artist and Land Rover enthusiast Maria Clancy, and will cover how to capture the essence of these popular vehicles. Richard Cook, retired art teacher and accomplished pencil sketcher will deliver a more general sketching workshop ‘Sketching from Automotive History’ on 20 October followed by ‘Automotive History in Watercolour’ on 21 October giving participants the chance to bring life to their sketches with watercolour. Richard will also deliver two workshops exclusively on perspective. ‘Automotive Sketching in Perspective’ on 24 November which will cover techniques such as one and two point perspective, vanishing points and the horizon line, and then an advanced perspective workshop on 25 November for artists wishing to gain an understanding of 3 point perspective while sketching their favourite cars.
For those interested in creative writing, Sharon Bradshaw, a poet and bestselling author of historical fiction will deliver ‘Motoring Memoirs’ on 20 October. Participants will be guided through creative writing techniques and the skills they need to create their own memoirs.
Booking is essential for all workshops, they also make ideal gifts for would-be classic enthusiasts. You can book online or call 01926 649649 (Monday – Friday 8am – 5pm). All workshops include refreshments and entry to the Museum. Lunch is provided for the Classic Virgins Experience Day, for the other workshops participants can use the Café or bring their own packed lunch. For more information and to book please visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/events/workshops-1
More information about the British Motor Museum
- The British Motor Museum houses the collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust – over 300 cars spanning the classic, vintage and veteran eras and a huge archive of film, photographs, personal papers and business documents.
- The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust (the Trust) is an independent educational charity formed in 1983. The Registered Charity Number is 286575. Its mission is to collect, conserve, research and display for the benefit of the nation, motor vehicles, archives and ancillary material relating to the motor industry in Great Britain and to provide a world-class motor museum and major visitor attraction, providing a broad based academic and educational facility coupled to an entertaining and attractive display.
- In December 2014 the Trust gained the coveted Designated status from Arts Council England which confirms that its collections are of national significance. The Designation Scheme is a mark of distinction, identifying and celebrating pre-eminent collections of national and international importance in non-national institutions.
- British Motor Museum is a a National Portfolio Organisation supported by Arts Council England providing funding for a four year programme of exhibitions, engagement and learning activity from 2018 to 2022. Arts Council England is the national development body for arts and culture across England, working to enrich people’s lives. It supports a range of activities across the arts, museums and libraries. Between 2018 and 2022, it will invest £1.45 billion of public money from government and an estimated £860 million from the National Lottery to help create these experiences www.artscouncil.org.uk
- The British Motor Museum delivers a range of educational packages which support the National Curriculum – science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at KS1 to KS4. A wide range of family and lifelong learning activities also take place in the Museum during school holidays.
- Each year the Museum hosts a number of highly successful and varied motoring Shows and Rallies as well as family events, lectures and workshops. For full details please visit the website www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk .
- The address is British Motor Museum or British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, Banbury Road, Gaydon, Warwickshire CV35 0BJ.