Grayson Perry visits York: What’s happening and when

If you go down to the Museum Gardens on Thursday, you’re sure of a big surprise.

Unless, of course, you were already aware that it was being turned over to a teddy bear hunt led by Grayson Perry.

This Thursday (May 15) sees the long-awaited visit to the city by one of Britain’s most famous artists.

Potter, cross-dresser and cultural commentator Grayson is here for the Museums At Night event at the Yorkshire Museum, thanks to a public vote.

The evening will include family friendly activities based around the York Museum Trust’s bear themed collections and the chance to meet Grayson as he plays hide and seek with visitors.

The event is free and there is no need to book.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming Grayson and his bear Alan Measles to York for this very special event,” said Gaby Lees, the trust’s assistant curator of arts learning.

“He is very keen to come and see our collections and share his thoughts and ideas with the people who voted to bring him here.

“We hope people will get in the spirit of this teddy bear gathering and bring their own bears along to join the party.”

The details

5.30pm Grayson officially opens the museum for the evening.

Members of the public will be invited to seek out bears from the trust’s collections, which will be scattered around the various galleries.

York College students have also been busy making their own bears and these will also be on show in the museum and gardens.

Other activities include

• making clay bears
• making costumes and dresses for your bear
• listening to bear themed tales in the storytelling area
• learning about woolly bear moths
• face painting and
• a catch a salmon game.

Visitors can also visit York Observatory to find out how to spot the Great Bear in the night sky, and are invited to bring sandwiches and their bear for a teddy bears’ picnic on the lawn.

6pm-6.45pm For those lucky enough to have a ticket, the fully booked Grayson Perry In Conversation takes place in Tempest Anderson Hall.

Grayson will chat to psychoanalyst and psychotherapist Valerie Sinason about his life, work, childhood, play and teddy bears.

6.45pm Grayson rejoins the fun and games in the museum, chatting to the public and seeking out the bears.

7.45pm Grayson leaves for London, but the fun will continue at the museum until 9pm.