FREE arts and heritage events are being held at venues all over Swindon this weekend.

The Celebrate Swindon arts and culture weekend will see organizations across the town throwing open their doors, offering inclusive workshops and hosting exhibitions.

Activities for all ages and abilities have been organised to give Swindonians the chance to try their hand at playing musical instruments, animation, arts and crafts, drama, dancing, and more.

Saturday will include drama workshops, papercraft activities and a treasure hunt at the Wyvern Theatre while animation and craft drop in sessions will be held at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery.

On Saturday morning, musicians at the Brunel Shopping Centre will encourage shoppers to try various instruments including the guitar, violin and flute.

Throughout the day, Drove Primary School will host a number of dance and British Sign Language-interpreted art activities as well as a range of music and performance from the South Asian Performing Arts Centre, with Swindon’s famous Alfred Beaney historic photo collection on display in the school foyer.

The Railway Cottage Museum will be open on Sunday with young performers in Victorian costume and there’ll be family art activities at the Central Library.

On the same day, children under 16 will have special free access to STEAM railway museum and Lydiard House will throw open its doors for guided tours of the house and St Mary’s Church. The tours will also be BSL-interpreted.

The Richard Jefferies Museum will host a traditional Apple Day on Saturday and Sunday.

Prime Theatre’s 20-year-old Young Artist Carli Green had the daunting job of organising this packed weekend.

He said: “It’s been really scary but really fun organising something this big, it’s a chance for everybody to get involved in all of the arts.

“There’s something for everybody and I hope people enjoy it.

“I don’t think the town has ever seen anything like this, it’s a really nice inclusive event to be happening in Swindon and I think it’s what Swindon deserves.

“My favourite event is probably the ‘Try a Musical Instrument’ event in the Brunel.

“I think it’s a lovely idea to have instruments laid around that people can just pick up and have a go, everyone there knows they’ll be bad at it so there’s no pressure and it could be their initial step into playing music as a hobby.

“I play the piano but I’ve always wanted to play the violin so I’ll be there giving that a try and jumping around to all the other events over the weekend.

Celebrate Swindon is funded by the Big Lottery Fund with support from the Arts Council and Swindon Borough Council.

Carli added: “A year ago, Prime Theatre applied for £10,000 of funding to put this together.

“Since then, I’ve been trying to get a little bit of everything in, not just one or two art forms which arts festivals usually are.

“If you’re interested in trying something new, come and join in with your friends, family, or on your own.”

Leaflets and posters for the event are available in all Swindon schools and other local venues.

For more information contact Visitor Information in the Central Library or call 01793 466454, or visit lydiardtrust.org.uk to see the full Celebrate Swindon schedule.