From the Collection: Drawings

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Rose Finn Kelcey: House Rules

NN Contemporary Vulcan Works, northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Arts 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...

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Mini Museum Explorers – April – July 2026

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Booking essential, includes refreshments. Embark on a magical journey with Mini Museum Explorers! Every Friday morning, our beloved hands-on sessions invite curious little adventurers aged 2.5 to 5 years—and their grown-ups—into a world bursting with creativity and discovery. Each week brings a brand-new adventure filled with captivating stories, joyful music, imaginative art, and playful crafts. Explore the museum in a warm, welcoming space where imaginations take flight and new friendships bloom. And while your little explorer enjoys a tasty treat, you can relax with a well-deserved tea or coffee. It’s the perfect way to start your Friday—with fun, learning, and a sprinkle of museum magic! 17 April – Comic Capers 24 April – Dragons and Castles 1 May – May Day 8 May – Soldiers and Warriors 15 May – Truly Scrumptious! 22 May – Gardens and Plants 5 June – All the colours of the Rainbow 12 June – Animal Adventures 19 June – Smartest Giant in Town 26 June – Doctors and Nurses 3 July – Transport 10 July – Sailing the Seas These sessions are perfect for children aged 2.5 to 5 years, accompanied by parents or carers (no ticket needed for adults). Spaces are limited, so...

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Craft and chatter

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

If you’re looking for a way to unwind after a busy week or just want to make some new crafting friends, come along with your chosen craft to these friendly informal sessions. They take place every Friday lunchtime in the Northampton Museum & Art Gallery lower café area. Drop in – no booking required but please purchase a drink or something to eat from the cafe.

THE ELECTRIX

The King Billy Music Bar 2 Commercial Street, Northampton, United Kingdom

Introducing The Electrix – a high-energy 4-piece band straight out of Northampton bringing you wall-to-wall anthems and unforgettable live shows.From indie bangers and rock legends to pop punk classics, The Electrix deliver nothing but crowd-pleasing hits that keep the dancefloor packed and the drinks flowing. Expect massive singalongs, soaring guitar riffs, driving drums, and the kind of electric atmosphere that only comes from a band who truly love what they do.If you want a night full of energy, nostalgia, and hands-in-the-air moments, The Electrix have you covered.

Recurring

Architectural Heads/Flower Heads

78 Derngate Northampton, Northamptonshire, NN1 1UH

We 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.

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Carboniferous Monsters: 100 million years before the Dinosaurs

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Step 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!

Recurring

From the Collection: Drawings

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

An 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.

Recurring

Semilong Blooms – The Semilong Garden Community Project

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

Semilong Blooms by Jack Savage is a photographic portrait series documenting some of the people behind the Semilong Garden Project, a grassroots community initiative established by Louise Troy. Louise formed a community constitution of committed volunteers to transform the derelict space. The space was originally filled with litter and graffiti tarnished the walls. The series highlights some of the residents, volunteers, and families who helped bring this project to life, transforming a neglected strip of Northampton into a thriving space for creativity, connection, and community. Each portrait celebrates the individuals whose collective effort turned overlooked land into a place of pride, joy, and shared ownership.

Recurring

Art and Comics Unwrapped: Exploring the Line Between Comics and Fine Art

Northampton Museum And Art Gallery 4-6 Guildhall Rd,, Northampton, Northamptonshire, United Kingdom

This 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.

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