Keswick Museum has been selected as one of only six museums across the country to feature in a series of new short films – part of The Wild Escape, a major new project uniting hundreds of museums and schools in a celebration of UK wildlife and creativity.

Taking place from January to July 2023, and building towards a nationwide moment on Earth Day 2023 (April 22^nd), The Wild Escape invites primary school children to find a favourite animal in their local museum and create an artwork imagining its journey to a natural habitat. Led by Art Fund and supported by Arts Council England, The Wild Escape is an opportunity for the next generation to join in the conversation about biodiversity.

The series of films have been produced about young artists taking inspiration for their art from museum collections. The first film, featuring a visit to Keswick Museum by Cumbria comic artist and illustrator Mollie Ray, focuses on badgers in the museum’s collection. In the film, Mollie explores the collection and finds a host of inspiring animals to draw, creating a brilliant comic-book work of art featuring a friendly badger.

In addition to the film, around 150 pupils from across the five ‘Keswick’ primary schools are set to take part in series of art workshops at the museum - all of which will then turn into a co-created exhibition in the museum’s Community Gallery to launch on Earth Day.

The Keswick Museum film can be seen by visiting Keswick Museum or on YouTube. 

Find out more about The Wild Escape.