Russell-Cotes

The Russell-Cotes is the ideal environment to stimulate and inspire children’s imaginations and creativity.

For further information or to book a free teacher’s pre-visit, to see how a trip to the Russell-Cotes could enrich your curriculum studies, email the Learning & Engagement Team  russellcotes.learning@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Self-Led School Visits

The Russell-Cotes is a great place for an educational visit, with lots of links to various topics including History, Geography, RE, ​Theatre and Art.

With over 1000 objects and works of art on display the Russell-Cotes also makes and excellent drawing resource. Sketching is permitted within the historic house, but we do not allow wet materials or charcoal.

£5 per pupil, accompanying teachers free of charge (on a ratio of 1:10).

We welcome school group visits all year round, for enquiries or to make a group booking please contact us on 01202 128000 (during opening hours) or email russellcotes.learning@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

Supported Visits and Workshops

The Learning Team offer a variety of taught sessions, tours and workshops.

Key Stage 1 & 2

Beside the Seaside: From parasols to penny licks, discover how the seaside developed during the Victorian period and how it has changed since then.  Investigate the changes through the study of paintings, sculpture and object handling.

Heroes, Gods and Monsters: Perseus, Pegasus and Aphrodite are just some of the characters from Ancient Greece whose myths are told in painting, sculpture, ceramic and decorative features around the historic house. Discover how these stories have inspired artists through the ages.

A Victorian Christmas: Discover the charms and delights of a Victorian Christmas. What would Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes have eaten for their Christmas dinner? Who invented the Christmas card and cracker? These are just some of the things you will discover during the session in addition to playing traditional Victorian games, singing songs and making a Christmas craft.

Portrait Detectives: Explore the Russell-Cotes’ wonderful portrait collection. Study the pose, composition, audience and purpose. This interactive session includes observational sketching and culminates in the pupils creating a unique self-portrait.

All Key Stages

Museum Tours: Find out more about Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes, their home East Cliff Hall and the formation of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum.

Museum Tour and object handling session: In this session pupils will explore the house and collection to investigate Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes. Who were they? What did they do? Why did they leave their home to the people of Bournemouth? After the tour pupils will participate in an object handling session and use key thinking skills to investigate the objects.

Art Workshops: Practical hands-on workshops are a fabulous way to develop key skills and try new techniques to create either individual or collaborative pieces of art work.

Pricing
£5.50 per pupil*, accompanying teachers free of charge. 
* For art workshops there may be an additional charge for materials.

How to make an enquiry or booking

Email the Learning Team  russellcotes.learning@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

If there is a particular theme or topic not listed that you would like us to support, please get in touch to discuss your requirements.

School Outreach

Bringing the museum to you! The Learning Team offer the following sessions to schools within our local area.

School Assemblies: Short talk about Annie and Merton Russell-Cotes, their world travels and collecting, their home East Cliff Hall and the foundation of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum.
Cost: Talk free of charge.
Depending on school location there may be a request for travel expenses.

Workshops: We can provide adapted versions of our general workshop offer. We can also support Arts Week activities with a variety of art workshops linked to your curriculum.

Cost: Please contact the Learning Team to discuss your requirements. 

General Information

The upper floor of the historic house is only accessible via a staircase, if you require information about accessibility please visit our accessibility page.

To protect the fragile historic house and our world-class collections the museum has the following guidelines;

• Teachers are to accompany students at all times, and are responsible for pupil management.
• The museum had an open display policy, where collection items are out on display rather than in cabinets or behind barriers, this means the museum has rules regarding not touching, leaning on or sitting on collection items, artworks or historic furniture.
• We do not allow backpacks or any large bags within the historic house.
• Food and drink are not permitted within the historic house.
• Photography is permitted without flash.
• In wet weather all wet coats and all umbrellas must be left in the cloakroom area.
• Sketching is permitted within the historic house, but we do not allow wet materials or charcoal.

Coaches can drop off passengers on Westover Road, close to the museum. This location is convenient for other coach drop-off points in Bournemouth. More Coach Parking details here.

When the booking has been made, teachers are invited to make a free preliminary visit to plan their visit and carry out necessary risk assessments.  These visits must be booked in advance and any accompanying guests must pay the standard admission fee.

Arts Award

We can support your delivery of Arts Award – many of our workshops include a practical art, craft or role play activity, in addition to viewing the art collection and exhibitions.

Bournemouth and Poole Cultural Hub

The Russell-Cotes is a member of the Cultural Hub, a unique consortium of arts/cultural organisations and schools in Bournemouth and Poole which promotes a direct and meaningful relationship between the education and cultural sectors.  Its role is to bring together colleagues from schools and cultural organisations to create, develop and deliver inspirational learning opportunities for children and young people.