Talks, Tours and Workshops
Get more from your visit by coming along to one of our tours. Book your place online or call the Box Office on 01234 718044. Use the promotional code HIGGINS30 to remove any transaction fee.
Concession prices are offered for most events to people over 65, students, those with disabilities plus their carer, National Art Pass members and adults receiving benefits.
Colour and Light Study Day
Saturday 13 September 11am-4pm
Tickets £20 - Booking essential
Join us for a day exploring the themes of Colour & Light with the exhibition’s curators. The day will start with a tour of the exhibition by Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art, Victoria Partridge, followed by talks by Professor Christiana Payne on JMW Turner, Samuel Palmer and the painting of light. Dr Mary O’Neill will consider the impact of travelling towards southern/eastern light on some of the artists in the exhibition. Artist/producer Dr Alison Goodyear will share her journey from working with paint to working with virtual reality painting software and hardware as well as her innovative approach to collaboration.
This relaxed and informal study day is perfect for anyone wanting to learn more about the exhibition and some of the artists included.
A First Rate Taking in Stores, 1818 by JMW Turner
© Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
To book places on exhibition tours and workshops go to our Book Online page or call the Box Office on 01234 718044 (open Weds – Sat 10am – 4pm).
A Queer Inheritance - Alternative Histories in the National Trust
Tuesday 11 November 12.30pm
Tickets are Free but Booking is essential
Michael Hall will be talking about his new book ‘A Queer Inheritance - Alternative Histories in the National Trust’’. National Trust houses and landscapes might seem to embody conventional family values, but for generations some very different stories were hidden away. These belong to owners now considered queer for defying the norms of sexual orientation or gender identity – sometimes blatantly, occasionally as open secrets, but most often very discreetly.
In his book Michael explores not only the best-known examples of sexual difference, such as Lawrence of Arabia at Clouds Hill, Vita Sackville-West at Sissinghurst and the 'Dancing Marquess' at Plas Newydd; he also covers more recently unveiled stories, such as the lesbian community at Smallhythe and the homosexual scandals associated with Clumber. Then there were the quietly confirmed bachelors, keen to pass their properties and collections to the Trust for posterity.
Michael Hall is a former Architectural Editor of Country Life and Editor of Apollo, he was Editor of The Burlington Magazine from 2017-2024.