Summer art club returns to Leamington gallery

Leamington Art Gallery, which is housed in the iconic building, is currently marking the 200th anniversary since the Pump Room was opened with its exhibition A First Class Watering Place - and its summer art club is giving youngsters the chance to make their own art by taking inspiration from the items on display.

On Thursday August 7, children can design their own decoupage box - a box decorated with designs to make it look more attractive; on August 14 they can make a Victorian-style paper brooch; on August 21 there will be a session for constructing a Pump Room flag; and on August 28 participants will be able to design a pair of 1960s-fashion sunglasses.

Sessions are free and run on a drop-in basis (30 minutes each) at 2pm, 2.45pm and 3.30pm.

The gallery’s events administrator Tammy Woodrow said: “Our holiday events are always extremely popular, offering families and young people the opportunity to experiment with all kinds of materials and techniques. This summer, we hope that our A First Class Watering Place exhibition will inspire everybody to be creative whilst learning about Royal Leamington Spa’s history at the same time.”

The free exhibition is on until August 25. Exploring the 200-year history of the Pump Room, the display focuses on the years 1814, 1864, 1914 and 1964. Visitors can find out about the people who built the building and the major redevelopments that were made in the 1860s, discover the role the building had during the First World War and the impact the introduction of the NHS had on the services that were provided there.