Airship Dreams: Escaping Gravity
10 July 2021-20 March 2022
Connections Gallery, Free Entry
Bedford Creative Arts, The Higgins Bedford, the Airship Heritage Trust and artist Mike Stubbs, have joined forces to launch this exhibition which celebrates Bedford’s airship heritage. It brings together exciting new community sourced displays, presenting the pioneering vision of airship development over the decades.
Find out more about the exhibition here >
Going to Town – 200 Years of Bedford’s Art
10 July 2021 - 20 March 2022
Wixamtree Gallery, Free Entry
Celebrate artists views of Bedford and the surrounding area with a number of watercolours, oils and prints from the past two centuries, some of which haven’t been seen by the public eye in several decades. The exhibition includes artworks by JMW Turner, Dora Carrington, Thomas Fisher and Stanley Orchart, highlighting their fascination of the town and River Great Ouse.
Find out more about the exhibition here >
Edward Bawden: Artist Plantsman
29 January 2022 - 15 January 2023
Edward Bawden Gallery, Free Entry
Explore Edward Bawden’s love of plants and gardens in this exhibition of all things botanical. Drawn exclusively from the Edward Bawden archive, view early wallpaper designs, advertising commissions and iconic linocuts.
Find out more about the exhibition here >
19 October 2021 - October 2022
Outside Settlement Gallery, Free Entry
Research by the Old Warden History and Heritage Society alongside the results of the geophysical survey by MOLA (Northampton) have revealed the grandeur of the medieval Cistercian abbey. The reconstruction illustration by Peter Dunn based on this work will be on display with a selection of archaeological artefacts recovered from excavation at Warden Abbey.
Find out more about the display here >
11 November 2021 – 30 October 2022
The Higgins House – Free Entry
In 2013, artist Arabel Lebrusan received several crates of confiscated knives and weapons from Bedfordshire Police. Through photography, drawings, sculpture, jewellery and audio, this display curated by Arabel explores our complex relationship with knives, and whether the meaning of an object can be re-established and transformed to evoke different emotions.
Find out more about the display here >
UK Disability History Month
18 November 2021 - Early January 2022
Foyer - Free Entry
For UK Disability History Month (UKDHM), explore the personal experiences of people living with disabilities through the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Find out more about the display here >
Innovation and Tradition: 40 years of Morris
3rd November 2020 - Early 2023
Outside Somewhere in England Gallery, Free Entry
The last forty or so years have seen great shifts in what most people think of as a fixed and unchanging English tradition.This display traces the impact of innovation and change on tradition through the story of two local Morris teams: Redbornstoke Morris and Bedfordshire Lace Morris. See original costumes, archive photographs and objects connected with these teams over the years.
Find out more about the display here >
Let's Be Open About Mental Health to Break the Stigma
May - December 2021
Castle Lane Cases Outside The Higgins Bedford, Free Entry
The Higgins Bedford has worked with the Let's Be Open About Mental Health campaign to showcase this display of poems, artwork and messages made by local people, to give encouragment to people who may be struggling with their mental health at this current time.
Find out more about the display here >
Poland: in Bedford
Continues until Autumn 2022
Great Bedfordians Gallery, Free Entry
Explore the stories of Bedford's Polish community in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Polish Independence. Follow their experiences of early life in Poland, memories of migration, journeys to Britain and life after settling in Bedford.
Find out more about the exhibition here >
Spotlight on the Collections
Spotlight Gallery, Free Entry
The Spotlight Gallery currently hosts a display of Greek coins from our collections. Future displays will explore a wide range of themes, including objects and their stories from our stores, recent archaeological finds from around Bedford and the Portable Antiquities Scheme.
Find out more about the display here >
'Paved with Gold': Bedford's Windrush Generation
Online Exhibition
Explore the stories of the people that settled in Bedford, and the contributions they have made to the community in this online exhibition.
Find out more about the exhibition here >
International Women's Day - Pearl Thomson
Online Display
Celebrate the life of one of our Great Bedfordians; Pearl Thomson. Born in Jamaica, Pearl arrived in Bedford in 1956 and became the town's first female teacher from the Caribbean.
Find out more about the display here >