Art on Your Doorstep: five free dates in Derry and Strabane

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-09-09 12:41 3 min read

A person with long brown hair looks at a historical painting hanging on stone.

Five free creative events will take place across Derry and Strabane from 12 to 27 September as the Tower Museum’s Art on Your Doorstep programme enters its final month. Families, individuals and people of all ages can join workshops and guided activities at Acorn Farm, Strabane Library, Newtownstewart and Castle Park, with one walk beginning at the Tower Museum.

The September programme moves between urban streets, riverside surroundings, parkland and community venues. Each event uses a particular place or well-known artwork as the starting point for drawing, painting or other hands-on work.

Natural materials open the September programme

The first event, Art, Nature and Community, takes place at Acorn Farm in St Columb’s Park on Saturday 12 September. Local artist Sinéad Smyth will lead families through drawing and mono-printing activities using seasonal produce, flowers and natural materials gathered from the surrounding environment.

The workshop takes inspiration from works by Paul Gauguin, Caravaggio and Hans Holbein the Younger. Its setting gives participants an immediate collection of colours, shapes and textures to study before turning them into artwork.

Culture Night brings a change of pace on Friday 18 September. A Guided Walk & Draw will lead participants from the Tower Museum to Acorn Farm, combining mindful walking and observation with simple drawing exercises along the route. The focus is on looking at familiar parts of the city with fresh attention rather than working solely inside a venue.

Five free events across the district

Date and place	Creative activity
Saturday 12 September — Acorn Farm, St Columb’s Park	Art, Nature and Community, featuring drawing and mono-printing with seasonal and natural materials
Friday 18 September — Tower Museum to Acorn Farm	A Culture Night Guided Walk & Draw with observation and drawing exercises
Saturday 19 September — Strabane Library	A drop-in session creating colourful, textured rhinoceros artworks
Saturday 26 September — Newtownstewart	Reflections of Now and Then, exploring the town, the Strule River and historic surroundings through drawing
Sunday 27 September — Castle Park, Castlederg	Beneath an Open Sky, using outdoor painting to explore colour, light and landscape

The Strabane Library drop-in draws on Pietro Longhi’s Exhibition of a Rhinoceros at Venice. Children and adults can respond by making their own colourful rhinoceros pictures with an emphasis on texture.

A week later, Reflections of Now and Then invites families to observe Newtownstewart, the Strule River and the town’s historic surroundings. The district-wide series then closes at Castle Park in Castlederg, where outdoor painting activities will take inspiration from Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Vincent van Gogh.

Booking details before setting out

Every event is free, although advance booking is recommended for some workshops. The published programme does not provide event times or general transport and accessibility information, so participants are advised to check the individual meeting location, clothing guidance and booking requirements before attending.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Grace Úi Niallais said the final events were intended to bring families, friends and individuals together to explore their creativity. For further information or to reserve a place where required, contact the Tower Museum at the published contact details or call 028 7137 2411.

Source: Derry City and Strabane Council News

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Dates, locations, cost and booking guidance were taken from the Tower Museum programme notice published by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

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