Art on Your Doorstep: five free dates across Derry and Strabane
Derry and Strabane residents have five final opportunities to join the Tower Museum’s Art on Your Doorstep programme between Saturday 12 September and Sunday 27 September. All activities are free and take place at locations including Acorn Farm, Strabane Library, Newtownstewart and Castle Park in Castlederg.
The workshop series is designed for families, individuals and people of all ages. Its closing programme combines drawing, printing, outdoor painting and guided observation, with each activity drawing inspiration from recognised artists and the surroundings of its host community.
Five creative events from 12 to 27 September
| Date | Event and location |
|---|---|
| Saturday 12 September | Art, Nature and Community at Acorn Farm in St Columb’s Park |
| Friday 18 September | Guided Walk & Draw from the Tower Museum to Acorn Farm |
| Saturday 19 September | Creative Drop-In Session at Strabane Library |
| Saturday 26 September | Reflections of Now and Then in Newtownstewart |
| Sunday 27 September | Beneath an Open Sky at Castle Park, Castlederg |
The first workshop places seasonal produce, flowers and other natural materials at the centre of the creative process. Art, Nature and Community will be led by local artist Sinéad Smyth at Acorn Farm, where families can experiment with drawing and mono-printing techniques.
The session takes ideas from works by Paul Gauguin, Caravaggio and Hans Holbein the Younger. Rather than separating the artwork from its setting, the activity uses materials gathered from the surrounding environment to connect observation, nature and image-making.
Culture Night walk links the Tower Museum and Acorn Farm
On Friday 18 September, the programme moves into the city for a special Culture Night Guided Walk & Draw. Participants will travel on foot from the Tower Museum to Acorn Farm, combining mindful walking with observation and simple drawing exercises along the route.
The emphasis is on looking at familiar surroundings from a different perspective. Participants do not simply arrive at a workshop venue: the journey between the two locations becomes part of the creative activity.
A day later, Strabane Library will host a Creative Drop-In Session for children and adults. Participants will make colourful, textured rhinoceros artworks inspired by Pietro Longhi’s Exhibition of a Rhinoceros at Venice. The drop-in format distinguishes it from the guided walk and the location-based workshops elsewhere in the district.
Newtownstewart and Castlederg host the closing weekend
The final weekend begins in Newtownstewart on Saturday 26 September. Reflections of Now and Then invites families to explore the town, the Strule River and Newtownstewart’s historic surroundings through drawing, observation and creative expression.
Art on Your Doorstep will then finish at Castle Park in Castlederg on Sunday 27 September. Beneath an Open Sky focuses on colour, light and landscape through outdoor painting activities inspired by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent van Gogh.
The five dates complete an initiative that has taken art and cultural activities into communities across the Derry and Strabane district. Mayor Grace Úi Niallais said the remaining events give families, friends and individuals an opportunity to create together and find inspiration in their immediate surroundings.
Booking details to check before attending
Every event is free, although advance booking is recommended for some workshops. The council notice does not specify event times or provide transport or accessibility arrangements; participants are advised to confirm the individual meeting location, clothing guidance and booking requirements before travelling.
For further information, or to reserve a place where required, contact the Tower Museum by telephone on 028 7137 2411 or use the email contact provided in the council’s event notice.
Source: Derry City and Strabane Council News
Context & actions About this article
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The dates, locations, cost and booking guidance were drawn from the published Derry City and Strabane District Council event notice.
- Confirmed five programme dates between 12 and 27 September 2026.
- Confirmed that every listed activity is free to attend.
- Matched each workshop with its stated location and activity.
- Retained the notice that advance booking is recommended for some workshops.
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- Derry City and Strabane Council News
- Scope
- Derry and Strabane
- Updated
- 2026-09-09 12:44
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