Every February the National Maritime Museum runs Out at Sea, a family festival celebrating LGBTQ+ histories from the maritime world.

The festival is developed in collaboration with the LGBTQ+ community and we are offering a family or families from the LGBTQ+ Family Network the opportunity to work closely with an artist to have an output at the festival. 

Family participating in a craft activity.

 

2024 LGBTQ+ Family in Residence

This year we are excited to announce that the Families in Residence programme will be focused on cartoons and comics, working with artists Lizzie and Khadija.

Over three Saturday mornings at the Museum, families will be able to explore storytelling and creating comics together. Your creations will then be distributed and or displayed at the Museum as part of the Out at Sea family festival on Saturday 17th February 2024. 

This programme is for the LGBTQ+ Family Network and we are now looking for a few families to take part this year. The dates are:

  • 13 Jan

  • 27 Jan

  • 10 Feb

10am-12pm each week (although if you need to come a little late, or leave a little early that is absolutely fine).

If this sounds interesting to your family, and you'd be able to attend all of the sessions, do get in touch via families@rmg.co.uk and let us know who in your family will be attending and the ages of any children. 

2022 LGBTQ+ Family in Residence

In 2022, Aden, Dylan, Julia and Laura became the Museum's first Family in Residence. 

During their residency, they worked with artist Jenny Staff to create a family-friendly workshop for Out at Sea, our annual LGBTQ+ family festival.

Find out more about their experience in their blog.

2023 LGBTQ+ Family in Residence

In 2023, a group of families from the LGBTQ+ Family Network came together to create an animation to be premiered at the Out at Sea family festival. Families worked with animator Lily Ash Sakula to create a short animated film, exploring storytelling, storyboarding, animation and editing over three sessions at the Museum.

Watch the film and learn more about the project here.

When is the next project?

The programme runs in January and February each year. We are now recruiting for the 2024 residency!

To join the LGBTQ+ Family Network mailing list, please email Dylan at families@rmg.co.uk 

What’s On

Meet the characters of Cutty Sark
Family fun

Meet the characters of Cutty Sark

Meet colourful characters from Cutty Sark’s past and hear astonishing stories about life at sea in the age of sail
Weekends and Fri-Mon in school holidays | 11am, 12pm, 2pm, 3pm
Included with entry to Cutty Sark
Cutty Sark
Play Tuesdays
Family fun

Play Tuesdays

Bring your under 5 on a different adventure every week! Explore the Museum together through song, dance and stories
Term time Tuesdays | 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.00pm, 2.00pm
£4 per child and accompanying adult | Under 6 months free
National Maritime Museum
Ship Mates
Family fun

Ship Mates

Hop aboard Cutty Sark for sensory sessions for under 5s!
Term-time Wednesdays | 10.30am, 12.00pm & 1.30pm
£5 per child, accompanying adults free
Cutty Sark
SENsory Social Club
Family fun | Identity

SENsory Social Club

Join the weekly online club for adults and young people with SEND
Friday during term time| 11am (Online session) or 1pm (Onsite session)
Pay what you can
Prince Philip Maritime Collections Centre
SENsory Sailors
Family fun

SENsory Sailors

Come along and enjoy this brand new sensory play session for children with special educational needs
Once a month on Saturdays | 11am-12.30pm
Free | Pre-booking required
National Maritime Museum
LGBTQ+ Family Network
Family fun | Identity

LGBTQ+ Family Network

A safe space for local LGBTQ+ families to meet one another, get involved in creative activities for all ages and explore the stories within the collection
16 March 2024 | 10am-12pm
Free
National Maritime Museum
Cutty Sark figurehead storytelling
Family fun | Member events

Cutty Sark figurehead storytelling

Discover the fascinating history behind some of our resident figureheads before inventing your own
Saturday 18 May | 1.30pm-2.30pm, 2.45pm-3.45pm and 4pm-5pm
Free for Members – booking required
Cutty Sark
Safe Harbour
Family fun

Safe Harbour

Safe Harbour is a series of free workshops created to provide a safe space for foster and adoptive families with children under 13 years
Monthly: Next date 27 April 2024 | 12.30pm - 2.30pm
Ticketed | Free
National Maritime Museum
Out Of This World: Moons
Family fun

Out Of This World: Moons

Explore the moons of our solar system in this family workshop
28 May 2024 | 10.30am - 12 noon
£5 per child
Royal Observatory
Members' crafting
Family fun | Member events

Members' crafting

Join us for exclusive craft workshops, just for Members.
Every other month | 11am-11.45am, 12.15pm-1pm, 1.30pm-2.15pm, 2.45pm-3.30pm
Free for Members – booking required
Other