Interested in art and alchemy? Fancy discovering the secrets of one of the world’s most curious minerals? Come along for a hands-on exploration of graphite at Keswick Museum in the heart of the Lake District. Learn about the special connection between graphite and the region’s geological and industrial past, and experiment with this precious substance. Following the ideas of Victorian art critic and geologist John Ruskin, we’ll use close-looking to reveal the mysterious qualities in graphite. Compare natural graphite with its modern industrial counterparts, make your own pencils and use these to draw, following the easy steps of Ruskin’s guidance assisted by expert artists Sarah Casey and Gerry Davies. This accompanies interactive experiments, led by historian Chris Donaldson, revealing the properties of graphite that wowed early scientists, including electrifying our drawings to light a bulb!

Introduction and demonstrations will begin on the hour (every hour between 11:00 and 15:00) in the Crosthwaite Room at Keswick Museum. For additional information, please contact the organiser.

Suitable for family audiences of all ages.