St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery

Here's our calendar of events.
You can also download our brochure HERE

• Five sessions developed exclusively for St Barbe, this course will build your skills of drawing and painting in ink and watercolour under the expert tuition of Kim Whitby. Participants to bring their own materials (a comprehensive list will be provided). Additional items can be purchased on the day.
  17, 24 Sept, 1, 8, 15 Oct
  Price £250: Limited places available
  (with one hour break for lunch – not included)
  Call 01590 676969 to book or drop in to the museum

• On Tuesday 18th September 2018 from 6pm-8pm the Friends will be hosting a Reception in the beautiful grounds of Pylewell Park. This is not only a fundraising event for St Barbe but also an opportunity for Friends to meet the new Director, Maria Ragan, and the Team managing the Museum and Art Gallery.

  Tickets for this exclusive Friends event are on sale at the Welcome Desk £10 each or £17.50 for two.

  Not a Friend? There are many reasons why you should join us please take look here https://bit.ly/2IYHYN2

• This exhibition explores the work of two of the greatest exponents of colour woodblock prints, Allen William Seaby (1867-1953) and John Edgar Platt (1886-1967).

  Japanese colour woodcut prints had a big influence on European art from the end of the 19th century.

  Seaby and Platt’s work married English landscape and wildlife subjects with a Japanese aesthetic. Delicately coloured and very evocative of their time, these prints are now once again fashionable and highly sought after.

  This is a unique exhibition of both printmakers’ work in partnership with the artists’ families. The exhibition also looks at the paintings of Platt’s son Michael and the prints of Seaby’s grandson Robert Gillmor, as well as featuring prints and drawings made by Seaby during regular camping trips to the New Forest.

  Read a review by print expert, Hilary Chapman

• Sarah Newman, Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum Manager and former St Barbe Community and Exhibitions Officer

  An illustrated talk about this unique Victorian villa, built by hoteliers Sir Merton and Annie Russell-Cotes on the cliff top of Bournemouth in 1901. East Cliff Hall was both a lavishly decorated home and a showcase for their eclectic collection of fine and decorative arts and natural history and ethnography gathered on their travels around the world.

  Friends of St Barbe talks are held at Lymington Baptist Church, opposite St Barbe Museum, in New Street, Lymington.
  Doors open at 7pm and talks start at 7.30pm.
  The talks are free for Friends and £5 for non-members

• Help us create knitted or crocheted farmyard animals for a soft play area in the museum on the following dates: 10 July, 7 August, 11 September, 9 October, 6 November, 4 December.

• An introduction to wood engraving, with a day will looking at tools and the marks they can make, and how to use them to create tones, and a second day engraving your own image onto wood. Suitable for those with some drawing experience; no need to have prior knowledge of printmaking. All materials provided
  Thurs 11 and Fri 12 October
  (lunch not included)
  Price: £100. Limited places available

  “On the first day, we will look at the specialist engraving tools and the variety of marks they make; the second day will be spent engraving your own image onto wood. At the end of each day, you will print your block by hand-burnishing. Every step of the process will be explained and there will be many demonstrations, as well as guidance on composition, the use of contrast and printing papers. The teaching will involve both group instruction and one-to-one guidance. This course will be suitable for those who have some drawing experience and would like to print; however, there is no need to have any prior knowledge of printmaking.
  Of all artists’ printing methods, wood engraving has the advantage of needing the least equipment. It does not require a press but may be printed by hand. The cost of the basic tools and materials needed to produce a print is small, as is the space required to engrave and print a block. It requires minimal ink and small quantities of solvent, so there is little mess. Together these qualities make it very suitable for the keen amateur and it may be practised happily at home. It is a quiet, contemplative process, yet one that often results in characteristically strong images and has a deep tradition in Britain.”

• St Barbe Museum and Art gallery hosts regular events for older local residents to share their experiences of days gone by. These discussions are held every couple of months around a theme, this month on Wednesday 17 October the topic is ‘Wellworthy’.

  In 1912 John Howlett started Wellworthy in Lymington, they manufactured shells during the war and were a key producer of piston rings. Howlett developed a method of producing pistons that were more reliable than his rivals which put them in great demand. At its peak, nearly every family in and around Lymington had some connection with the firm. They provided housing for many employees, established a social club, arranging dances, a sports club and had a prize-winning brass band.

  Jim Insole worked on the Ampress factory in 1967: “My job was very social. In the course of my rounds I could chat briefly to the operatives and I made many friends. Some were originally from Pakistan, who commuted daily from Southampton; we had some very interesting discussions on all manner of subjects.”

  We would love more stories of those who worked at Wellworthy or who’s family worked there would join us at St Barbe on Wednesday 17 October, in the McCarthy Room between 2-4pm to share their memories and pass on their knowledge. Tea and biscuits provided!

• Using the art materials scattered around the gallery, be inspired by our current exhibition and unleash your inner artist – including chalking on the terrace!

  Included with admission. No booking necessary

• OCTOBER SPEAKER: Julian Sheppard, Wildlife Ranger – Hampshire Countryside Services
  A fun hands-on activity morning with New Forest Ranger Julian
  Sheppard. Learn about how rare birds are looked after in the National Park and along the Solent coast, then make your own bug hotel and bird finger puppet to take home.

  MY Museum Children’s Club (MC2) is a project designed by St Barbe Museum specifically to inspire children to be involved in the cultural shaping of our community. Using the museum as a platform, child-friendly – suitable for 6-11 years old – talks are hosted in the museum on the third Sunday of every month from 11.00am-12.00pm.

  Further information on MC2 here

• From October hArt will be running a ‘Creative Cafe’ group at St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery!

  Beginning on Tuesday 23rd October, the sessions will run every 4th Tuesday of the month, in the McCarthy Room. All materials are provided for a small donation and refreshments are available to purchase from the gallery cafe.

  For more information, please contact fran@hart.works or call 01590 435045

• Natural Selection Learning will be helping us discover more about the natural world with hands-on activities in this Halloween inspired workshop.

  Get the chance to examine real animal bones, construct a full-size skeleton, discover creepy crawlies that glow in the dark, and gather body bits for a witch’s spell. Note: No live animals used

  £3 per child (does not include admission to the museum)
  One adult free of charge per child.

• Drop-in 11am to 12:30 and 13:30-15:00 (no booking necessary)
  A mash-up of Halloween and Bonfire Night crafts, such as spooky window pumpkins and sparkling cardboard fireworks, to keep the kids amused and your house decorated for the coming festivals.

• Make your own Halloween lantern, then stay late at the museum to hear spooky lantern-lit, ghost stories by master story teller, Michael O’Leary.

  Suitable for 5+ (please note the scary stories may not be suitable for our youngest visitors).

  £5 per child. One adult free.

• Rev E. L. Berthon and the folding boats that he designed
  By Phoebe Merrick, Chairman Romsey Local History Society

  When, on the 18 June 1850, the SS Orion was wrecked off Portpatrick, Revd Clark, a survivor, wrote to Revd Berthon: “Can not you think of a way in which boats, enough for all on board, be stowed on a passenger steamer without inconvenience?” This led to Berthon’s development of the Berthon Collapsible Lifeboat.

  Friends of St Barbe talks are held at Lymington Baptist Church, opposite St Barbe Museum, in New Street, Lymington.
  Doors open at 7pm and talks start at 7.30pm.
  The talks are free for Friends and £5 for non-members

• Become a Mini Curator of St Barbe Museum for the day. Learn how to care for your toy collection, go on a bug hunt to discover what beasts are a danger to the museum, and create your own mini exhibition using real museum objects. Included with admission. No booking necessary.

• Get a ‘behind the scenes’ look at our archive, learn how to care for your family treasures and pick up some research tips.
  Free of charge (entrance to King Research Room only)

• Join Sarah Wilkins of Corbins Florist, Brockenhurst to create your own beautiful wreath for Christmas. All flowers and materials provided.

  The workshop starts at 3pm and costs £45.
  Book your place now by calling us on 01590 676969, emailing rosalyn.goulding@stbarbe-museum.org.uk or dropping into the museum

• The first of a series of invited artist exhibitions in which we bring together leading contemporary artists working in a range of media to explore their responses to a common theme. Coast: its atmosphere, landscapes, wildlife, activities and communities are all examined in this first exhibition which includes work by Richard Bawden, Alison Bolton, Jeremy Gardiner, Angie Lewin, Ffiona Lewis, Howard Phipps, Pine Feroda, and Michael Porter. The exhibition will explore how aspects of the British coastline have inspired each artist’s practice and its incredibly varied character will be reflected in an eclectic celebration of the shoreline. This will be a selling exhibition.

  Gallery 3 will host a local history exhibition exploring how the coastline has changed over time.

• An oil painting workshop with Kim Whitby.
  Create a still life oil painting for that special someone this Christmas. Bring along items which are significant or evoke memories of the recipient (or maybe things that will remind the recipient of you), and you’ll end up with the perfect gift for the person who has everything!
  Price: £35. Limited places available
  (with 1 hour break for lunch – not included)

• Please join us at St Barbe for Mulled Wine and Mince Pies to celebrate this festive season.

  This is John Ward’s last event as Chair of the Friends after 10 years of dedicated service to the Museum. John and his wife Sheila (who until recently organised our Volunteers) have been a real mainstay of St. Barbe and we encourage you to come along and share your thanks with them and all our best wishes as they move on to pastures new.

  We will also have a review of 2018 showing how much money we raised and how the funds have been used. Alongside this will be a look at 2019 and how we are planning for the future.

• Explore the museum, spot all the hidden Christmas crackers and collect a prize from our front desk.
  (please see our Christmas opening times for specific days)

• Wonderful winter themed crafts for all the family.
  Included with admission or £3 per child without admission.
  Children must be accompanied. No booking necessary.

• The British Wildlife Photography Awards celebrate the beauty and diversity of British wildlife as captured by amateur and professional photographers. This exhibition presents the winning pictures chosen from thousands of entries and is a showcase for the country’s leading photographers.

  This stunning collection comprises around 90 photographs chosen across fifteen categories including coast and marine life, animal behaviour, plants, habitats, the seasons and urban wildlife. There are also categories for film and junior photographers. Each image is accompanied by the photographer’s personal insights into the circumstances and inspiration behind the shot.

  These incredible photographs give us a chance to marvel at the wonders of British wildlife from the spectacular to the everyday, all presented in thought-provoking and eye-catching compositions.

  Image: Bug Eyed by Keith Trueman 2018 winner – 2019 winners yet to be revealed!

• In 2018 the St Barbe 19th Open made a very successful transition to the new gallery spaces and a new online entry method with the largest ever submission and just under a hundred works exhibited. The resulting exhibition was the best yet and we hope that this year’s exhibition will prove even more popular. Since it was established in 2000 the Open has become one the highlights of the local arts calendar, drawing artists from Hampshire, Dorset and beyond.

  The exhibition is open to paintings, prints, drawings and three-dimensional works and is selected by a panel of professional artists and curators. A host of prizes and a chance to exhibit in the new galleries are drawing more and more entries. The stiff competition for selection means that the standard gets higher every year, providing a treat for our visitors and a chance to buy high quality affordable art. This is a selling exhibition.

  This year’s prizes include:

  Specsavers, Lymington People’s Choice Award (£250)

  The Blake Morgan Award for best painting (£250)

  The Mary and John Symons Memorial Award for best print (£250)

  The Coastal Gallery Award for best contemporary abstract work (£100)

  The Ted Marsh Award for best work by an artist aged 18-21 (£100)

  The Beaulieu Fine Arts Award for best work by a non-professional artist (£50 of framing)

  Image: Deep Winter by Maureen Davies entry from 2018

  WATCH THIS SPACE FOR ONLINE ENTRY AND T&Cs!

• 2018 saw the inaugural Young Artist’s Open exhibition to encourage budding artists to take part in the Open exhibition. It got off to a flying start with 89 entries, all of which were shown in a vibrant display alongside the main Open exhibition.

  So we are delighted to announce the second Young Artist’s Open for 2019. Artists aged up to 17 can submit a two-dimensional artwork on a standard- sized board provided by the museum using whatever materials they wish.

  This year’s prizes include:

  Ted Marsh Memorial Award for Under 7s (artist’s materials worth £25)
  Ted Marsh Memorial Award for 7 – 11s (artist’s materials worth £50)
  Ted Marsh Memorial Award for 12-17 (£75 cash prize)

  WATCH THIS SPACE FOR ONLINE ENTRY & T&Cs