Ideas wanted to help celebrate The Bowes Museum's 125th anniversary

CAN you help The Bowes Museum celebrate its 125th anniversary?
That’s the challenge being laid down by the iconic museum’s friends group.
An event has been organised on Sunday, February 26, and anyone with ideas is welcome to go along and share them with the friends.
It takes place in the museum’s Jubilee Room between 3pm and 4pm.
Sandra Moorhouse, chairwoman of the Friends of The Bowes Museum, said she hoped a programme of events would appeal to both local people and visitors from outside Teesdale.
“We are looking at all sorts of ideas and also need people to be part of a working group to put them into operation,” she said.“One thing we are looking at is having something which reflects what John and Josephine Bowes would have felt if they walked through the museum today.”
Both of the museum’s founders died before it was completed and opened to the public on June 10, 1892 – Josephine in 1874 and John in 1885. Mrs Moorhouse added: “We are also thinking of inviting people to write an adventure story featuring the museum.”
She said other ideas included looking back at the museum’s history and how it has developed in the past 125 years.
Another possibility was to involve young people to imagine what life at The Bowes Museum will be like in 125 years’ time – or whether it would even exist in its current form.
“We are probably also looking at doing something fun and truly exciting – something that really gets people to come in and appreciate The Bowes Museum,” said Mrs Moorhouse.
The friends group is working in partnership with the museum and Barnard Castle Town Council, which has agreed to spend up to £2,000 supporting the celebrations, even though nothing is yet in place.
Mrs Moorhouse, who is also a town councillor, added: “We said the 125th anniversary is something we (the town council) needs to get involved in – something that includes the town.
“If we could just get something that attracts local people to come as well – it is their museum.”
Anyone with ideas but who cannot get along on Sunday can contact the friends group on 01833 690606 ext 233 and leave a message, or email friends@thebowesmuseum.
org.uk