St Barbe Museum & Art Gallery

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

• 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.

  THIS IS OUR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER so there is a charge on £3 for Members and £5 for Guests

  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 £3, Guests £5

   

• 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 the Neo-Romantic Art, Romantics opens on Friday 15 November exploring 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. The exhibition weaves together themes of nature, expressive landscape, sprit of place, the human figure, drama and angst. Romantic art has always been broad-brush in its approach and embraces a range of subject and treatment and this exhibition will demonstrate that the Romantic sensibility is still a vital and relevant force in today’s dangerous world where anxiety and uncertainty dominate our lives.

  We are delighted that the artists include Christopher Le Brun who is the current president of the Royal Academy, he will be exhibiting at St Barbe for the first time. George Shaw is a Turner Prize nominee known for painting in Humbrol enamel paints and has recently completed a spell as artist in residence at the National Gallery. Greg Gilbert is a Southampton based artist who also found fame as a member of the band The Delays. Julian Opie’s instantly recognisable style is in much demand and reached a huge audience through his album cover ‘The Best of Blur’ album. Alice Kettle is one of the most sought-after textile artists working in the UK, known in Hampshire for the massive commissioned piece at Winchester Discovery Centre Looking Forwards to the Past.

  Other artists taking part will be: Peter Archer, Graham Arnold, Mary Anne Aytoun-Ellis, Chris Bucklow, Jeffery Camp, Julian Cooper, Alex Faulkner, Sarah Harding, David Inshaw, Ffiona Lewis, Fiona McIntyre, Annie Ovenden, Julian Perry, Alan Rankle, George Rowlett, and David Tress.

  It promises to be a thought-provoking exhibition, challenging the visitor to think about their own ideas of Romantic art.

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

  Banner image: Greg Gilbert (detail)

• 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

• 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

• Volunteers, Staff, Friends and Patrons all join together at St Barbe to celebrate the festive season.

• 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!

• Coastal Landscapes

  Jeremy Gardiner has spent the last five years exploring locations on Britain’s south coast. This seaside odyssey has resulted in a new body of work that captures coastal landscapes from Kent to Cornwall. Gardiner has taken his inspiration not only from the natural world but from popular views of the coastal landscape in travel posters, guide books, postcards and ViewMaster reels which will also be featured in the exhibition.

  Gardiner’s work reflects a deep interest in the geology of landscape and how it is shaped by the forces of nature. His working method involves creating distinct layers of colour by building accretions of paint, collaging, scouring and sanding down in an attempt to emulate on the surface of the paintings, the effects of geological time on the terrain.

  Image: Jeremy Gardiner - South Foreland Lighthouse, Kent (detail)

• The Famous and Infamous Guests at the Royal Bath Hotel (Bournemouth) Visitor Book 1882-1896 

  More details to follow…..

  Talks are held at Lymington Baptist Church, opposite St Barbe Museum. Doors open at 7pm and the talk starts at 7.30pm. The talks are free to members and £5 for non-members

• Conversations: People, Places, Materials, Objects

  The 62 Group aim to incorporate and challenge the boundaries of textile practice through an ambitious and innovative annual programme of exhibitions. We are delighted to welcome them to Lymington for the first time. Since its establishment, the 62 Group has been able to count some of the most highly regarded British textile artists as its members.

  This exhibition will be built around a series created especially for us by Emily Jo Gibbs called Making Time to Talk, portraits of apprentices working at the Berthon Boat Company. This will be accompanied by member’s work exploring the working relationship that artists have with the world around them and in particular artwork that investigates the creative dialogue that takes place between the artist/maker and the themes: people, place, materials, objects.

  Image: Richard Mcvetis ‘Grid Series’ 2019. Photo: Yeshen Venema.

• The St Barbe Open returns for its 20th year. This year we will be accepting textile work for the first time as well as paintings, prints, drawings and three-dimensional works.

  If you are interested in taking part, here are a few key dates:

  • Website open for submissions from 6 March – 29 March
  • Successful entries published on website on 9 April.
  • Handing-in days for successful submissions are 21 and 22 April.

  The Young Artist’s Open will also return in gallery 3 for the duration of the exhibition.

  Please check our website for full details which will be posted mid-January 2020.

  Image: Gillian Connor, Starlight - from St Barbe Open 2019

• Wild : 6 June - 6 September

  A celebration of the natural history of the British Isles. A hands-on family friendly exhibition.

  The Seasons : 12 September - 9 January 2021

  Our major art exhibition celebrates the joys of seasonal cycle as captured by some of our leading artists over the last 100 years.