Walker Art Party: Renaissance Rediscovered

Join us in celebrating the recent opening of our new Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque galleries! Walker Art Party is a quirky, interactive, venue-wide takeover event and a modern take on this iconic period of art. With themed creative activities, music, decorations, and more, there's something for visitors of all ages to get involved in - so come and join the party! 

Entry is free, but some activities will be charged for. Full details are outlined below.

Explore our Renaissance Art | All day

The inspiration for this year’s party! Enjoy our free, stunning display of artworks in rooms 1-4, accompanied by atmospheric lute music at various intervals throughout the day – the same type of instrument Henry VII was fond of playing. Pick up one of our free gallery trails to help you explore.

Tudor Accessories | 10-11:30am, 12-1:30pm 

Free drop in slots. 
Create your very own Tudor rose inspired corsage to wear throughout the party, a fan accessory, or something else entirely – all ages welcome!

Big Art Banquet | 45 minute slots at 10am, 11am, 12pm, 1:45pm, 2:45pm, 3:45pm

£2 children, £3 adults, tickets available in venue on the day. 
Our quirky twist on a pretend tea party… how about a medieval dinner party? See Big Art transformed with activities for all ages. Children can dress up, join our play dinner party, and get creative with party crafts inspired by our ceramic plates on display. For older children and adults, get creative and decorate your own real ceramic bowl or plate to take away with you, or create your own personalised marchpane sculpture - a delicacy served at the Tudor court and often sculpted to memorialise special events or images.

Quilled Renaissance Jewellery with Josie Jenkins | 10:30am-12:30pm

£20 per person with concessions available, tickets available online in advance and in venue on the day (subject to availability).
During the Renaissance period, quilling was used by Roman Catholic nuns and monks on the continent, to decorate intricate pieces of religious art. Often, guilt edged strips were used to enhance the elaborate designs. In this workshop you will learn quilling techniques from experienced quiller Josie Jenkins. Create a Renaissance inspired pendant or pair of earrings, made from quilling, including beautiful gilt-edged strips. Find out more about the intriguing history of this incredible paper craft and leave with your own artwork and the skills to continue practising at home.

Book now 

French Hoods and Crowns | 30-minute slots at 10:45am, 11:30am, 1pm, 1:45pm

Free, timed sessions with limited spaces - tickets available in venue on the day. Join us and become a fashionable court goer. This fun filled activity will be taking inspiration from the French hood worn by stylish ladies at the court of Henry the V111. So come and make a French hood headband and be a fashionable Tudor lady. For this activity we will also be making fabulous crowns for the Kings and Queens attending our party.

Masquerade Masks | 10:45am-12:15pm, 1:15-2:45pm

Free drop-in slots. 
Join us and make your own fabulous mask, perhaps even use it for our Tudor dance later in the day…

Tapestry Artwork | 11am–1:30pm, 2:30-4:30pm

Free, drop-in slots. 
Get hands on with fabric and yarn and learn the basics of weaving, learn some facts about our tapestry on display, and make your own mini woven tapestry or textile artwork.

Curator Talks | 11:30am-12:30pm, 1:30-2:30pm, 3-4pm
£7 per person, tickets available online in advance and in venue on the day (subject to availability). 
Discover highlights of the newly refurbished Renaissance Galleries with Nicola Scott, Curator of Decorative Art. The three talks will cover different areas - visit the links to find out more and to book your place:
Talk 1: Windows into the soul: Stained glass in the Renaissance Galleries. 
Talk 2: Highlights of the Decorative Art Collections in the Renaissance Galleries. 
Talk 3: Renaissance Rediscovered: The Triumph of Fortitude Tapestry.

Liverpool Renaissance Singers | 1:15-2pm, 2:30-3pm

Free, live performances. 
Enjoy listening to this Liverpool based, experienced chamber choir of around 24 singers, specialising in European Renaissance choral music.

Create a Quilled Trinket Box with Josie Jenkins | 2-4pm

£20 per person with concessions available, tickets available online in advance and in venue on the day (subject to availability). 
Quilling is the art of rolling, manipulating and shaping paper strips that are then applied to a surface, creating beautiful designs. Quilling techniques can even be used to make objects created completely from paper strips! In this workshop you will learn quilling techniques from experienced quiller Josie Jenkins and decorate a trinket box with your own design, including beautiful, gilded quilling strips.

Book now

Stained Glass Inspired Art | 2:30-4:30pm

Free, drop-in session. 
Get inspired by medieval stained glass to create your own bold, beautiful artwork to take home.

Tudor Dance | 2:30-3pm and 3:15-3:45pm, and group dance at 4:00pm

Free, drop-in slots. 
At this point in the party, whether you’ve made a corsage, French hood, a mask or jewellery – you will look the part for a renaissance court, so why not recreate one? Join us in learning some basic Tudor steps in one of our two lesson slots, then join us in the gallery to show off your skills and complete a dance as a group.

We will also have resources such as an art trail, photo opportunities, and a breakout space for early years with books and toys available all day.