News from the MUSEUM


Kids in Museums New Conference Facilities at Maidstone Museum


Younger visitors will soon be able to enjoy many more exciting


activities at the museum. Spike, the museum’s friendly Iguanodon dinosaur, will be on hand to lead new activities for children and families. Wherever you see Spike you’ll find a great new activity - exciting additions will include a great new interactive display using a digital microscope to examine the museum’s natural history collections.


Treasures from the Matsura Museum, Japan


The Matsura Museum in Hirado houses one of Japan’s best regional collections. Highlights include material relating to Will Adams, the


Gillingham-born sailor who was the first Englishman to set foot in Japan and is still the first and only officially recognised foreign samurai. Known by the Japanese as Anjin-sama, Adams became a key figure in the development of Anglo-Japanese relations. He died in 1620 and was buried in Hirado. 2013 marks the 400th anniversary of Anglo-Japanese relations when the first English ship


If you have a meeting or event coming up, Maidstone Museum and Bentlif Art Gallery has spaces in both the new extension and the original museum, catering for everything from meetings and training sessions to birthday parties and wedding receptions.


For more information or to book a tour of the facilities, please contact our meetings and events team on 01622 602847 or email museumbookings@maidstone.gov.uk.


Half term at the Museum


Rag Rugging – Mon 18 Feb Learn how to rag rug and make your very own sample piece to hang at home.


Pattern & Mosaics – Tue 19 Feb


Create a geometric patterned picture to rival historical designs. QORWK Soldier Puppet – Wed 20 Feb


Choose from two designs and make a soldier puppet.


arrived with presents for the Shogun from King James, and then returned to London with reciprocal presents. To mark the anniversary, a selection of fabulous exhibits from the Matsura Museum will be displayed at Maidstone Museum this summer.


Bentlif Open Art Prize Exhibition 2012 - until 9 February piece to grace your home.


52 artists submitted works to the exhibition, and local artists Mike Chaplin RWS and Graham Clarke joined representatives from the Bentlif Trust and


Come and be inspired by the exciting artwork produced by talented artists from Maidstone, Kent and the South East. With many of the works available to purchase, you have the opportunity to support local artists and buy an original


Maidstone Museum in judging the winning entry. They chose a painting by Maidstone artist Rob Andrews, who received a cash prize of £500, kindly funded by the H R Pratt Boorman Family Foundation.


Customise your Clothes – Thur 21 Feb


Bring in an item of clothing to revamp vintage style! World War II Toys – Fri 22 February


Make your very own WWII style toy using new and recycled materials.


Sessions start at 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30pm Suitable for 4+, £2.50 per child


All of the entries are on display until 9 February, and visitors can vote for the People’s Prize in a public vote. The winning artist will receive the opportunity to have a solo show in the community exhibition space at the museum.


The competition is run in association with the Bentlif Trust and Maidstone Museum & Bentlif Art Gallery, and provides artists aged 16 years and over with a platform to exhibit and sell their original art work.


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