Coalport China Museum in the Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire will be taking on a distinctly Oriental flavour during the school half-term as a series of activities celebrating the Chinese New Year are scheduled to take place throughout the week of Monday 15th to Friday 19th February 2010.
The creative can join drop-in ceramic workshops and try modelling tigers from clay, or decorate rice bowls with the big cats and other Chinese characters. Children can also put their artistic skills and imagination to good use by making dragon masks and shadow puppets, or painting ceramic Chinese flowers.
On certain days you can listen to stories that recount tales of the Chinese Willow Pattern and ‘meet’ Coalport’s magnificent willow dragon, Fire Tongue, who will be taking up residence in the Smugglers Kiln. There’s also a chance to discover your own Chinese Zodiac character according to your birth year, and then follow a trail around the museum in search of the oriental sign; afterwards you can create a special certificate with your birthday and sign.
