Wixamtree and Connections Gallery
Free Entry
This exhibition, the first of its kind, will tell the story of unsung hero Noel Carrington (1895–1989), one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century in the commissioning, editing and publishing of children’s picture books. Eric Ravilious' High Street, Kathleen Hale's Orlando books, Mervyn Peake's Captain Slaughterboard, were all commissioned by Carrington. For these three alone Carrington merits attention, yet he also edited and commissioned the groundbreaking Puffin Picture Book series. Curated by writer and publisher Joe Pearson (Design for Today), the exhibition will bring together well-known classics of children’s publishing as well as Carrington’s commissions by artists such as Eric Ravilious and Edward Bawden.
Pantomime Stories, 1943 by Hilary Stebbing © Hilary Stebbing Estate
Stanny’s Stus: Images of Bedford Physical Training College
6 November 2025 - 31 May 2026
Sir William Harpur Gallery – Free Entry
Known as ‘Stanny’s Stus’ around town, the students and staff of Bedford Physical Training College were often keen photographers who extensively documented their lives after pioneer Margaret Stansfeld founded her all female college in Lansdowne Road, in 1903. Recent digitisation of the photographs reveals their day-to-day engagement with sport, leisure and teaching in Bedfordshire, providing us with a glimpse of women’s social and sporting history. The digitised images from the Bedford Physical Education Archive are being exhibited for the first time outside their usual home at the University of Bedfordshire.
The Harpur Trust Art Competition
An exhibition of Children's Work
18 June - 27 September 2026
Sir William Harpur Gallery - Free Entry
The Schools’ Art Competition funded by The Harpur Trust, featuring more than 100 pieces of artwork created by pupils from schools across the borough, will run throughout the summer. The children aged 4 to 18, will be creating their artwork during the Autumn and Spring terms at workshops from professional visiting artists in their schools, organised by The Trust. The theme for the 2026 exhibition is Aspire: Nurturing Potential, based on their aspirations, goals, dreams, hopes and what they want to be or do in life. This may be looking ahead to the year, before they go to secondary school, when they leave school, or even later in life.
Further information please see Art Competition - Harpur Trust.
Rhyme and Reason
11 July 2026 - February 2027
Wixamtree and Connections Gallery - Free Entry
Discover the influence of stories on artists in this new exhibition drawn from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection. Greek myths and Shakespearian stories, Arthurian legends and poetry will all be explored in the works of artists such as Thomas Gainsborough, Paula Rego, Henry Moore, Ceri Richards and Henri Matisse.
A full colour catalogue by curators Professor Christiana Payne and Dr Mary O’Neill will be available from The Higgins Bedford shop.