St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery

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

• EVERY WEDNESDAY IN AUGUST | Two sessions 11am-12.30pm & 1pm-2.30pm | Drop In | FREE

  A selection of craft and interactive activities (different each day) inspired by our summer exhibition to keep the kids entertained throughout the summer break.

  28 August

• Is your child apprehensive about moving up to a new year group or school? If so this will be a really nurturing and fun session to support them in learning to manage their anxiety and boost their confidence and self-esteem. Children will learn through games, breathing, massage, affirmations and mindfulness/visualisation and more. Relax Kids New Forest wants every child to feel ready and this is a great way to feel calmer and more confident ready for the new school year head.

  Please feel free to bring a snuggly blanket for the last past of the session and wear comfy clothes to move in.

  Suitable for children aged 5-10.

  Book direct with info@relaxkids.com

• Neo-Romantic art flourished in Britain from the 1920s to the 1950s. It was inspired by a particularly British strain of Romantic art that looked back to Turner, Blake and Samuel Palmer.

  This exhibition is drawn from a remarkable private collection developed by Nicolas and Frances McDowall since the 1950s. It will feature around 60 works by artists associated with the movement including Paul Nash, John Piper, Graham Sutherland and Henry Moore.

  Image: Rigby Graham, Figures with Boat, Brittany. Courtesy of Goldmark Gallery.

• One hundred years ago, John Howlett changed the name of his engineering company to Wellworthy Ltd. By the 1970s, Wellworthy employed 1,800 people in Lymington and had 5,000 employees overall working in factories in Lymington, Ringwood, Salisbury, Weymouth and Bridgwater. 

  This exhibition celebrates that anniversary, exploring the history and impact of the company through objects, photographs and oral history interviews collected from past employees.

• General Pringle Taylor, KH, (1796-1884) was a British Army officer.  His career spanned more than sixty years and included service in India, Africa, Great Britain and the West Indies.  He also engaged in a long-running dispute with the military authorities.  After his marriage, the family home was in Pennington, and he is buried in St Mark’s churchyard.

  Talks are held at Lymington Baptist Church, opposite St Barbe Museum. Doors opens at 7pm and talk starts at 7.30pm. Everyone is welcome. Members free, guests £5

• Patrons and Friends of St Barbe are invited to a private evening Reception 6:30-8:00 pm in Palace House, Beaulieu. Refreshments will be served from the Palace House kitchen. The House and Gardens will be open to view, including an exhibition of the art and craft work of Lord Montagu’s mother, Belinda, Lady Montagu.

  Tickets are available to Patrons and Friends of St Barbe at £15.00 per person.
  Additional tickets can be purchased for up to two guests per Patron or Friend.
  This event is not open to members of the public.

• St Barbe Museum and Art Gallery is hosting an open weekend INSPIRE Weekend to coincide with Heritage Open Days (which is a National initiative) where the museum and galleries will be FREE ENTRY all weekend for visitors to come in, explore, engage and find out more.

  Click for full programme of activities over the two days including:

  • Live music, acoustic/jazz
  • Hand on arts and crafts sessions
  • Family & childrens activities
  • Costumed characters from the museum
  • Gallery tours with our curator
  • Museum insights with our director
  • Plus a few surprises!
  • Click here for full details

  Come and enjoy all St Barbe has to offer, a thriving cultural hub with heritage talks, artist workshops, the old school café and a delightful giftshop.

  Sat 10am to 5pm | Sun 10am to 4pm

   

• Speaker: Rick Stafford, Bournemouth University:

  What can I do to help the planet?

  You have heard of climate change and may know that we are losing more and more species of plants and animals every day. You have also probably seen rubbish left on the beach or on nature reserves and know the effects this can have on animals.

  Can you help save the planet? This will help you learn how you CAN make a difference. 

  Drop-in | FREE as part of the Inspire Weekend

  Inspirational talks for children by speakers passionate about their subjects

• Take your child on a magical sensory journey, inspired by the objects on display, through stories, songs, puppetry, baby sign, dance and creative play.

  Weekly fun at the Museum for under 5s | Fridays 10-11am | 4 October to 29 November (excluding 1 November)

  Pre-booking essential | Limited spaces PLEASE NOTE 4 OCTOBER IS NOW FULLY BOOKED | Bookings open for 11 October on 4 October phone 01590 676969 or via our volunteers at reception.

  Attendance by donation - whatever you can afford.

   

   

• Highlights from the Oral History Project

  When he chose the name Wellworthy in 1919, John Howlett had little idea his company would play such a major part in local 20th century history.

  By the 1970s, Wellworthy employed 1,800 people in Lymington and had 5,000 employees overall working in Southern England. Yet by 1989 the company had left Lymington for good.

  Come along to hear some fascinating stories from our oral history interviews, illustrated by images for the St Barbe collection.

  Talks are held at the Lymington Baptist Church, New Street, Lymington SO41 9BH. Opposite St Barbe. Doors open at 7pm and talks start at 7.30pm. All welcome. Members free, Guests £5

   

• Entries to reception 12.30-1pm | Winner announced at 3pm | FREE

  Take part in the sweetest competition by creating ‘historic’ Gingerbread Biscuits. Bring your creation to the Front Desk of the msuem between 12.30-1pm. In order to participant you must fill an entry form.

• 10.30am-4pm  | £75 per workshop | Limited places

  Using merino wool tops, silks and other interesting fibres, you will have the opportunity to create two wet-felted artworks. You will also have the chance of working on needle felting embellishments. Intermediate level, for those with some experience of making felt. 

  All materials supplied | To book a place or find out more, please call 01425 617651 or email feltable@yahoo.com (1 hour lunch break - lunch not included)

• 11.00-12.00 | Drop-In | £2.50

  Speaker: Cathy Cook, Project Coordinator, The Schools Energy Project. Do you want to be an energy detective? This session, led by Cathy Cook, will take you through a journey to find out how we can literally see where energy is used and where it is being wasted.  Cathy runs The Schools Energy Project and helps schools and families to be greener by saving energy.

  More information about the MC2 Club HERE

• 2-4pm | Drop-in | FREE

  This time our subject is: Cinemas and local Amateur Dramatic societies - a fabulous collection of images to see!

  Featuring the Lyric Theatre cinema in Lymington which ran for 50 years between 1913 and 1963, The Waverley 1929–1972 in New Milton and its precursor The Scala. There will also be information on Lymington’s theatres. Then a wealth of records of amateur dramatics in the area, with pictures and programmes for The Lymington Players, The Lymington Musical and Dramatic Society and the New Forest Amateur Dramatic Players who performed in New Milton.

  IMAGE - Children outside The Lyric Cinema for the last Saturday matinee film performance before closure, St Thomas Street, Lymington, 1 June 1963

  A chance for older residents to look at photographs and objects and share their memories of times gone by. Bring your friends and join us for a cup of tea and a chat

• Two sessions: 10.30am-12.00pm & 1.30-2.30pm | Drop-In | FREE 

  BUZZ DAY: Learn some interesting and quirky facts about bats, such as how do bats see in the dark, what vampire bats feed on and much more. The take home your own research project to impress your Science Teacher!

  Please note, in order for the children to get the best from our activity places are limited to 10 children plus one adult per child - allocated on a first come first served basis. If all spaces are taken in the morning you will have the opportunity reserve a place for the afternoon session - however we will always keep some spaces available for drop-in.

   

• Entries at Reception 12.30-1pm | Winner announced at 1.45pm | FREE

  The first, scariest and yummiest St Barbe Bake Off Competition with a Halloween theme! We challenge all children to bring in their scariest culinary creations. In order to participate one adult responsible for you must fill in the Registration Form, available HERE.

• BUZZ DAY: Artistic and creative challenges to test your creative talents.. about BATS. Create masks and bat decorations for your home.
  
  Two sessions: 10-11.30am & 12-1.30pm | Drop-In | FREE
  
  Please note, in order for the children to get the best from our activity places are limited to 10 children plus one adult per child - allocated on a first come first served basis. If all spaces are taken in the morning you will have the opportunity reserve a place for the afternoon session - however we will always keep some spaces available for drop-in.

• A History and New Discoveries

  Speaker: Damain Grady, Historic England Aerial Reconnaissance Manager

  Aerial reconnaissance is a very effective method of discovering and recording archaeological sites and involves archaeologists flying in a light aircraft, searching for and photographing archaeological sites and landscape.

  Speaking from a national perspective but with plenty of local examples, Damian will take a fascinating look at England’s history and archaeology as seen from the air.

  Talks are held at the Lymington Baptist Church (opposite St Barbe) New Street, Lymington SO41 9BH. Doors Open at 7pm and talks start at 7.30pm. All welcome. Members are free, Guests £5

   

• Thursdays 7, 14 & 21 November | 10.15-11.45am | £35 for all 3 sessions | Limited spaces

  Through-out this three week course, you will be free to use your own creative ideas based around a theme of you own choice. The aim of this group is primarily to get together with like-minded people and share ideas, whilst working on your own project. Although Kirsty will be around to offer advice, support and demonstrations, it is not a tutor-led group.

  Materials not provided. To book a place or find out more please email kirstyeustace@outlook.com or call 07703 002950

• Second Tuesday each month 2-4pm | Drop-in | FREE

  For anyone interested in knitting or crochet, come along with your own work or join us as we make blankets for Linden House, dedicated to dementia care.

  Next one: 10 December

• Following on from our Neo-Romantic show this exhibition explores what Romantic art might look like at the beginning of the 21st century. 

  We have invited a diverse group of artists who see themselves as continuing this great tradition in British art.

  This includes: Graham Arnold, Mary Anne Aytoun-Ellis, Chirs Bucklow, Julian Cooper, Alex Faulkner, Alice Kettle, Christopher Le Brun, Ffiona Lewis, Fiona McIntyre, Annie Overden, Julian Perry, Alan Rankle, George Rowlett and David Tress.

  Image: Julian Opie, River 4. 2017. Inkjet face mounted on acrylic. 

• 1-4pm | £40 | Limited spaces

  Learn to paint with wool: using merino wool tops, silks and other interesting fibres, you will have the opportunity to create wet-felt artworks. Other techniques will also be demonstrated, such as needle felting embellishment.

  All materials provided | To book a place or find out more please call 01425 617651 or email feltable@yahoo.com

• 11.00-12.00 | Drop-In | £2.50

  Speaker: Chris Marshall, Coastal Ranger NFPA. Creating a wave of change - without blue there is no green, Dr Sylvia Earle.

  Looking up what really washes up on our local beaches, the shocking truth about what is lurking beneath the surface of our oceans and highlighting the impacts on our environment. Join Chris to explore ways we can make a wave of change to our global throwaway lifestyles.

  For more information on our MC2 Club, click here

• Thursdays 28 November, 5 and 12 December | 10.15-11.45am | £35 for all 3 sessions | Limited spaces

  Through-out this three week course, you will be free to use your own creative ideas based around a theme of you own choice. The aim of this group is primarily to get together with like-minded people and share ideas, whilst working on your own project. Although Kirsty will be around to offer advice, support and demonstrations, it is not a tutor-led group.

  Materials not provided. To book a place or find out more please email kirstyeustace@outlook.com or call 07703 002950

• Get ready for Christmas by making your own beautiful Christmas decorations.

  Part of Lymington Late Night Shopping

• Book for Monday and Tuesday if you are a beginner, Tuesday and Wednesday if your a returning student or all 3 if you are really keen!

  On day one you will look at tools and the marks they can make and how to use them to create tones. The next two days will give you ample time to engrave your own image onto wood.

  All materials provided | Suitable for those with some drawing experience | £100 (2 days) | £150 (3 days)

  Please call into St Barbe or call 01590 676969 to book your place.

  Peter contributes a beautiful weekly engraving to The Times for their Feather Report

• 1-4pm | £40 | Limited spaces

  Learn to paint with wool: using merino wool tops, silks and other interesting fibres, you will have the opportunity to create wet-felt artworks. Other techniques will also be demonstrated, such as needle felting embellishment.

  All materials provided | To book a place or find out more please call 01425 617651 or email feltable@yahoo.com

• 11am-12pm | Drop-in | £2.50

  Speaker: Joe Doherty, Explorer. My South Pole In 2018-19 Joe became the first Scout in the world to ski to the South Pole and kite ski back to the edge of Antarctica. Over 2,000km across 66 days, in the harshest environment on the planet. Joe’s story is one of extreme determination and hard work.

  For more information of our MC2 Club click here

• 10.30am-12.00pm and 12.30-2.00pm | Pre Book | FREE | BUZZ DAY!

  Come and learn how to make your own personalised and unique New Year’s Resolution calendar. You will have lots of new things to try and learning in following 12 months. We will invite you back at Christmas 2020 to see how you got on!