Barry Roberts: Glimpses through the Archive
78 Derngate Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1UHPhotography from around the world; including a prize drawer to win a framed print of your choice! Ends May
13 events found.
Events for May 21, 2026
Architectural Heads/Flower Heads
78 Derngate Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1UHWe are delighted to host two much-travelled contemporary artists, Piero Serra & Simington who will be displaying their work in the Barwell Room from Tuesday March 10 th to the end of May. With very different styles and techniques, the two friends chose to collaborate on this exhibition entitled ‘Architectural Heads/Flower Heads’. Serra, who trained as an architect, was born in Northampton. He shows us his extraordinary drawings which were partially inspired by architectural forms soon after he moved to Berlin, where he still lives. Serra who trained as an architect, was born in Northampton. Simington’s work shows us constructed composite images, which can be made up of multiple layers, to create worlds which take on a life of their own. Liam was born in Scotland, has lived in both Japan and Egypt and now resides in Northamptonshire. House and Galleries are open Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 4.30pm. A small entrance fee applies for visits to the heritage house but entry to all exhibitions is free.
Carboniferous Monsters: 100 million years before the Dinosaurs
Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, NorthamptonStep back to the Carboniferous period, 100 million years before the dinosaurs. Northampton Museum & Art Gallery Saturday 21 February - Sunday 7 June 2026 Visit tropical forests and swamps teeming with bizarre and ferocious ancient monsters, some of which had larger teeth than T. rex. Meet the dinosaurs' distant ancestors, the very first reptiles, the largest creepy-crawlies ever to live, and prehistoric animals unlike anything you've ever seen before! A must-see for prehistoric monster fans of all ages!
From the Collection: Drawings
Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, NorthamptonAn exhibition of drawings from the Northampton Museums & Art Gallery collection. This exhibition explores drawing as a fundamental artistic language, presenting preparatory sketches and finished works that reveal how ideas take shape on paper. Through the delicate studies of Henry Moore, the atmospheric sketches of Walter Sickert, the imaginative designs of Sir Edward Burne Jones, and the expressive drawings of Clare Abbatt, amongst others, visitors are invited to consider drawing not merely as a preliminary step but as an art form in its own right. The works on display highlight how artists across different periods and practices use line, tone, and observation to experiment, problem solve, and refine their vision. Together, they celebrate drawing’s enduring role as a tool for exploration, invention, and creative thinking.
Art and Comics Unwrapped: Exploring the Line Between Comics and Fine Art
Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, NorthamptonThis Exhibition explores the similarities between fine art and comics and how they are produced. It will explain the process of how comics are created and examine the common elements from fine art; the drawing, the painting and the poetry. It will also exhibit a story of epic proportions without superheroes, just ordinary people.
Rose Finn Kelcey: House Rules
NN Contemporary Vulcan Works, northamptonArts Collective launches its new gallery programme with an exhibition revisiting the pioneering work of British conceptual artist Rose Finn-Kelcey, curated by Emer Grant. This marks the first presentation of the artist’s work in her hometown of Northampton. Featuring photographic, installation and video works loaned from national collections and archives, the exhibition recontextualises Finn-Kelcey’s groundbreaking practice through architectural space and coded forms. It considers how formal systems and power structures shape experience through architecture, language, ritual and atmosphere. Exhibited publicly for the first time since its original installation, Bar Doors (1991) captures architectural thresholds, foregrounding moments of passage between spaces. The photographic documentation of Finn-Kelcey’s site-specific installation—seven saloon-style doors installed in a Houston city park—invites viewers to reconsider familiar architectural features as markers of access and permission. The exhibition also explores Finn-Kelcey’s fascination with spirituality and its connections to the commercial and domestic structures of contemporary life, featuring works such as It Pays to Pray (1990), God Kennel – A Tabernacle (1992) and Jolly God (1997). Her iconic flag works are also presented, including documentation of Power for the People (1972), in which a collective political declaration was placed directly onto the monumental architecture of Battersea Power Station while it remained operational. Throughout the exhibition, architecture, movement and attention shape...
Thursday Morning Talks: April – July 2026
Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, NorthamptonCost: £3.50 per talk or £21 for a series ticket Includes tea, coffee and biscuits Booking Essential Join us for the Summer series of these seven engaging talks covering a wide range of topics, including local history, cultural heritage, notable figures, and the evolution of our communities. Whether you’re curious about the past, passionate about storytelling, or simply enjoy learning something new, these talks offer something for everyone. Delivered by knowledgeable speakers in a friendly and welcoming setting, each talk invites you to explore stories that have shaped our local identity and continue to inspire us today. Thursday 16 April The Roles of a Supporting Artiste Speaker: Robert Brewer Discover the behind-the-scenes world of a TV and film extra. Robert shares stories from his work on Hollywood blockbusters, TV dramas, soaps, comedies, and even a few adverts. Thursday 30 April Northampton Saints & the Second World War Speaker: Graham McKechnie BBC Radio Northampton sports editor and Saints club historian Graham McKechnie explores the remarkable wartime experiences of Saints players who served around the world — in the air, at sea, in North Africa, the Far East, and Normandy. Thursday 14 May The Surprise of My Life Speaker: Rosie Rushton An...
Curator Talk with Afternoon Tea: Footwear Stories
Join us for a fascinating afternoon as Rebecca Shawcross, Curator, delves into the powerful and often surprising meanings hidden within the museum’s world‑renowned footwear collection. In Footwear Stories, Rebecca invites you to explore how shoes have served as far more than practical objects for thousands of years. Each pair can reveal our occupations, origins, identities and the communities we belong to—often before we say a single word. From signals of status and wealth to expressions of cultural heritage, sexuality and personal style, shoes hold extraordinary stories about who we are and how we choose to be seen. After the talk, continue the experience with a relaxing afternoon tea in the museum café, included in the ticket price. Event Includes Curator talk in the Central Hall Exclusive insights into the museum’s shoe collection Afternoon tea in the Museum Café Q&A opportunity with Rebecca Shawcross Booking essential. Treat yourself—or bring a friend—for an afternoon of culture, conversation and cake. Book online for Curator Talk and Afternoon Tea Tickets are also available to purchase direct from the museum either in person or by calling 01604 526322, Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 5pm and Sundays 12-5pm Dietary requirements: we’ll do our best to accommodate...
£30
BIKE NIGHTS
The King Billy Music Bar 2 Commercial Street, NorthamptonAll are welcome, show off your ride.
NMPAT: Big Sing
Join Northamptonshire Music and Performing Arts Trust (NMPAT) for a musical celebration inspired by the 200-year anniversary of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) – featuring additional performances from NMPAT County Choirs. The annual Big Sing brings schools from across Northamptonshire together in a massed choir performance, blending voices, creativity, and enthusiasm for an unforgettable experience. As the lead partner for the Northamptonshire and Rutland Music Hub, NMPAT provides lessons, ensembles, and performance opportunities, nurturing the next generation of talented musicians across the counties. Performing on Wed 20 May: InMAT schools: Falconer’s Hill Infant School, Little Harrowden Community Primary School, Hall Meadow Primary School, St. James Infant and Pre-School, Wollaston Primary School, Ashby Fields Primary School, Standens Barn Primary School, The Abbey Primary School, Kettering Park Infant Academy, Kingsley Primary School, Rothwell Junior School, Kettering Park Junior Academy and Rothwell Victoria Infant School. Performing on Thu 21 May: Barry Primary School, E-ACT The Grange School, Hopping Hill Primary School, Millway Primary School, Newnham Primary School, All Saints CEVA Primary School and Nursery Unit, Broughton Primary School, Ecton Brook Primary School, Ecton Village Primary Academy, Hayfield Cross C of E School, Irthlingborough Junior School, Montsaye Academy, Nassington School, Oakway Academy, Our Lady of Walsingham Catholic Primary...
UNUSUAL GRAPES
Bored of boring booze? We’re all familiar with Sauvignon and we’ve all memorised merlot. For this tasting, we’ll be stepping out of our comfort zone, and exploring some lesser know grape varieties. Come and try some new wines that you won’t have before. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your new favourite!
Phil Ellis: Bath Mat
Multi-award winning ‘comic genius’ (The Scotsman) and the new star of Taskmaster (Ch4), Phil Ellis is going on his first full national stand-up tour. Following his three big award wins at the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, Phil, the very definition of funny bones, presents his brand-new show Bath Mat. Jam-packed with laugh-out-loud profound silliness, superbly crafted gags and constant surprises, Phil is bringing his Bath Mat to a city near you.
KARAOKE NIGHT PARTY.
The Optimist 23-25 St. Giles Street, Northampton,Every Thursday 8pm - Close, Karaoke is back! Come and sing your favourite songs with your friends or family, Students come and enjoy your Student deal drinks, cheaper then anywhere in town! Make a night of it Live At The Optimist!
Free Entry