Summer fun at Highland Archives

5th July 2011

If you are going to Inverness in July and want something of interest for the kids then this might help.

With a store full of fun and activities, Highland Council's Archives are calling on children to join them in a creative choice of seven different activities throughout July.

A painting competition (for all school aged children), based around the French artist Pierre Delavault, who painted Inverness Architecture around 1903 will take place on 11, 13, 14 and 22 July from 11am - 1pm and 2 - 4pm. Competitors will look at Delavault's paintings of buildings and then paint the same buildings which still stand on the same sites or which could possibly stand there in the future. The paintings will be categorised by age, judged and prizes will be awarded. An exhibition of some of the paintings will be held at the Highland Archive Centre.

Fàilte - welcome to a Gaelic taster session for complete beginners aged 8 - 12 years on Tuesday 12 July from 11am - 12noon and 1 - 2pm which will be led by local tutor Inge Birnie first winner of the Gaelic Learner of the Year Award in 2009.

Further creative and artistic events will take place on Friday 15 July from 11am to 4pm with a Coat of Arms walk and painting session (based at the Spectrum Centre) for 8 - 12 year olds and on Wednesday 20 July (10am - 12noon and 2 - 4pm) a Pirates, Smugglers and Ghosts frieze making session at the archive centre for 5 - 8 year olds.

Eight to twelve year old participants can pas-de-basque their way to the archive centre for some "Strictly Come" Scottish Traditional Dancing fun on Tuesday 19 July at 11am and 2 - 3pm which will be led by members of the Royal Scottish Country Dancing Society. Children will require soft shoes.

On Thursday 21from 10am - 12noon and 2 - 4pm, family tree research will be the root and branch of the activity sessions as people can learn how to discover who their ancestors were. These sessions will be lead by the expert genealogy staff of the Highland Archive Service. They will concentrate particularly on the surnames of those attending the sessions.

Rounding off the end of July as the new moon rises on Saturday 30 star gazers and planet lovers can join an astronomy fun day from 10am to 1pm with members of the Highland Astronomical Society and will involve making rocket ships and constellations. This event is for children aged 8-12 who must be accompanied by an adult.

All activities are free except the Coat of Arms Walk and Painting session and the Gaelic Taster session which have a small charge of £2 per child.

The activities will be held at The Highland Council's Highland Archive Centre, Bught Road, Inverness, except the Coats of Arms Walk and Paint session, which will be based at the Spectrum Centre, Inverness and involves a walk though the town. Children must be accompanied by a parent for the Coat of Arms Walk through Inverness.

Booking on all events is essential. To book places please contact: Janet Baker, Highland Council's Education and Outreach Co-ordinator on tel: 01463 256444 or email:janet.baker[AT]highland.gov.uk Further information see The Highland Archive Service website at www.highlandarchives.org.uk