Bedfordshire Police: A history
Opens 19 July - April 2026
Somewhere in England Foyer, First Floor - Free Entry
Come and discover the history of our local Bedfordshire Police forces curated by the Bedfordshire Police Historical and Museum Society. The society is run by volunteers who carry out research and maintain a display at Bedfordshire Police Headquarters. The bulk of the collection is housed at the former Police Station at Kempston, visits by appointment only. The display at The Higgins will highlight objects and their stories collected over the decades.
Camera in the Community Exhibition
19 July – 28 September
Sir William Harpur Gallery – Free Entry
In partnership with Bedford Camera Club
This exhibition shares the story of Bedford Camera Club, founded in 1906, showcasing highlights of their community projects. Come and enjoy a rich selection of photographs capturing our local communities including Bedford street photography, Indian Nritham dancers, Ampthill Festival, Rush farming and cottage industry, Pubtraits (portraits captured in local pubs), and members artwork past to present.
Noel Carrington
Opening 15 November 2025
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.
Noel Carrington, about 1912 by Dora Carrington
© Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
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 - October 2026
Sir William Harpur Gallery
Free Entry