The Ceredigion Museum team has taken its summer programme outdoors, staging a sequence of free pop-up events at Aberystwyth Bandstand while the museum building remains closed for essential repair work. The series, aimed at families, residents and visitors, will run on Tuesdays from 21 July and focuses on the themes of Home, Land and Rivers.
What to expect at the bandstand
Each pop-up day will open with storytelling by Peter Stevenson, whose long illustrated scrolls — presented from inside a large wooden box and turned by handles — will be offered from 11am, with stories available on demand until noon. The sessions are described as suitable for all ages, from young children through to grandparents.
From 12 noon to 4pm visitors can take part in drop-in craft activities, try demonstrations, and meet local makers, artists and community groups. The programme has been supported by funding from the Welsh Federation of Museums and Art Galleries, enabling hands-on activities and community contributions while the museum building is unavailable.
Highlights and practical details
- Coracle demonstrations and displays showcasing two different coracle types, their tools and materials (21 July, 4 August and 25 August).
- Clog dancing with Alaw Griffiths, including costume, music and the possibility of an impromptu twmpath (28 July).
- Community-led sustainability activities with Eco Hub Aber (4 August).
- Botanical mono-printing with maker Maeve Moran, and a Lego Club themed on rivers, land and sea (11 August).
- Community cooking focused on sustainable, nourishing food by Ein Cegin (18 August).
- Family activities from Ymylon exploring the central themes (25 August).
The events are drop-in and free to attend. They are intended to keep cultural activity visible and accessible in Aberystwyth while the museum addresses building repairs that necessitated the temporary closure.
| Date | Main activity | Times |
|---|---|---|
| 21 July | Coracle demonstrations | 12:00–16:00 |
| 28 July | Clog dancing with Alaw Griffiths | 12:00–16:00 |
| 4 August | Eco Hub Aber activities; coracle display | 12:00–16:00 |
| 11 August | Lego Club (rivers, land & sea) | 12:00–16:00 |
| 18 August | Ein Cegin community cooking | 12:00–15:00 |
| 25 August | Ymylon family activities; coracle display | 12:00–16:00 |
The museum hopes the bandstand programme will offer a lively substitute for families and visitors while essential maintenance is carried out on the museum premises. For people planning a visit, sessions are largely informal and suitable for intergenerational attendance; the storytelling start time is fixed at 11am and runs until noon, while other activities run from midday into the afternoon.
Further information about accessibility, any weather-related changes and the museum’s repair timeline should be available from Ceredigion Museum’s official channels. The pop-ups demonstrate how local cultural organisations can sustain public engagement even when their buildings are temporarily unavailable.
