Investigating and Creating Portraits

Investigate the meaning of portraits in the collection, including works by famous artists such as Anthony Van Dyck and Dame Laura Knight. Find out what costumes, poses, expressions and symbols can reveal, and work with an artist to create your own masterpiece.

  • The Little Girl at the Door painting, featuring  young girl in a black outfit and hat, looking at the artist, with her hand on a white door knob.

Session details

On arrival please introduce yourselves at our main visitor information desk and then make your way upstairs to our Learning Lab. Our facilitator will greet you and show you where to put coats and bags and lead you into the Learning Lab where the session will take place.

The session takes place in two parts. The group will divide into two and explore some of the most interesting portraits in the collection. This may be accompanied by a short visit to one of our special exhibitions where appropriate.

The second part of the workshop is a practical creative workshop in which the group will take inspiration from the artworks at the museum to make portraits of themselves or eachother using oil pastels.

You may want to allow some time for a more general museum visit after your workshop.

Timings

The Investigating and Creating Portraits sessions run for 1.5 hours and are available at the following times:

10:15 – 11:45

12:00 – 13:30

13:45 – 15:15

Capacity & Age Groups

Maximum capacity for the Investigating and Creating Portraits workshop is 32 pupils plus accompanying teachers. For larger groups we can split pupils into two groups and you can combine your visit with other activities or a museum visit whilst the groups take it in turns to participate in the workshop.

Key stage 1, 2 and 3, intermediate and advanced ESOL students.

Costs

£7 per pupil, accompanying adults are free. Min charge £70.

Lunch Rooms

Please do enquire if you require a lunch space and we will do our best to accommodate you. However, a lunch space cannot be guaranteed.

How to book

All schools and groups must book visits in advance. To book any of our workshops please complete our Online Booking Form. If you have specific requirements that are not covered by the Online Booking Form please contact the Learning Team by emailing: learning@canterbury.gov.uk.

Important Information


  • We advise that all teachers conduct a preliminary visit before arriving with their pupils.
  • Please ensure that all accompanying adults on your visit are aware of their role on the visit and are prepared to engage in the learning and support the pupils.
  • The group leader is responsible for the behaviour and well-being of their group at all times.
  • Please arrive promptly ready to start your visit allowing time for traffic, coach parking and walking through the busy city centre.
  • There is no parking outside The Beaney or Canterbury Roman Museum. Coach drivers can book an appropriate coach drop off time at Canterbury Bus Station (5 minutes’ walk), or a parking space at Canterbury Coach Park (15 minutes’ walk)
  • If payment for the visit is not made on the day, we will invoice for the number of pupils originally booked or the number that actually visited on the day (whichever is higher). If a visit is cancelled less than 2 weeks before it is due to take place, we regret we will still require payment to cover incurred costs.
  • Invoices are issued following the date of the visit unless organisers wish to pay in advance.

Terms & Conditions

Payment can be made on the day of your visit in cash, by credit card or via a cheque made payable to Canterbury City Council. If payment is not made on the day, we will invoice for the number of pupils originally booked or however many actually visited on the day (whichever is higher). If a visit is cancelled less than 2 weeks before it is due to take place, we regret we will still request payment to cover incurred costs.

Responsibility for children on site

Please ensure that all accompanying adults are aware of their role on the visit and are prepared to engage in the learning and support the pupils.

The group leader is responsible for the behaviour and well-being of their group at all times including first aid and ensuring participants are engaged in the activity. The group leaders will be liable for any breakages or damage to Museum property or collections. Your staff should accompany your pupils at all times. Learning activities cannot be delivered by our staff unless your pupils are accompanied by relevant staff numbers.

Late arrivals

If your group arrives late, please note that the duration of the workshop may be reduced (to end at the scheduled time) in order not to run over into time booked by other later groups and therefore the workshop content may not be as advertised. The charges will remain as advertised.

Risk Assessments

Ahead of your visit please download and complete the relevant risk assessment.

Artefacts in exhibition case The Beaney Museum

Get closer to The Beaney and immerse yourself in history, heritage, art and culture