The Museum of East Asian Art

The Museum of East Asian Art Connecting cultures through art - Discover over 7,000 years of art and history at the Museum of East Asian Art.

The Museum of East Asian Art is situated just off the Circus in central Bath. We are the only UK museum solely dedicated to the arts and cultures of East and South East Asia. Our collection spans over 7,000 years of artistry and craftsmanship.

ESEA Heritage Month Celebration!This weekend marks the first weekend of ESEA Heritage Month.Join us on Saturday 5 Septem...
04/09/2026

ESEA Heritage Month Celebration!

This weekend marks the first weekend of ESEA Heritage Month.

Join us on Saturday 5 September, 13:00–16:00, for a social with sake, green tea, and moon cakes, and make a print to take home.

Free with Museum Admission, no booking required.

02/09/2026

Did you know that fish symbolise perseverance, abundance and prosperity? 🐟 👀

This Longquan celadon bowl from our permanent collection features a double fish motif with subtle floral details.

According to the legend of the Chinese Dragon Gate, carps swimming upstream in the Yellow River that were brave enough to leap over the waterfall were turned into powerful rain-making dragons. This transformation represents courage, ascension and success.

Fish swimming in pairs are also associated with peace and fertility, and are a symbol for harmonious unions and healthy offspring.

🖼 Longquan celadon double fish saucer bowl, China. Song/Yuan dynasty, 13th century. BATEA 623

Visit the MEAA and discover more incredible objects (link in bio)!

September is East and South East Asian Heritage Month, and at MEAA we are celebrating once again by highlighting objects...
01/09/2026

September is East and South East Asian Heritage Month, and at MEAA we are celebrating once again by highlighting objects from across East and Southeast Asia from the Museum’s collection.

Come explore this display and discover unique treasures, including some that have never been seen by the public before, alongside a few new additions to the display this year!

Head over to our website to see which events we are holding this month, link in bio.

ESEA Cultures, Arts, and Representation in the UK: a Conversation with Monica Wat As part of our ESEA Heritage Month pro...
29/08/2026

ESEA Cultures, Arts, and Representation in the UK: a Conversation with Monica Wat

As part of our ESEA Heritage Month programming, we’re delighted to be joined by Monica Wat, a multi-arts creative, singer-songwriter and community producer, for a conversation exploring the representation of ESEA cultures and arts in the UK.

Drawing on Monica’s lived experiences and wider trends across the UK, we’ll explore how ESEA cultures are seen and understood in the UK context, from the matcha craze to the rise of Asian pop music on the global stage.

📅 Thursday 10 September 2026
🕡 18:30–19:30
💻 Online
🎟️ Free

Come along for an open conversation about culture, creativity, identity and representation, and how ESEA communities are shaping the UK’s cultural landscape.

Head to the link in our bio for full details and to book your place!

One week left to apply!⏳Have you been looking for…💭 more ESEA q***r representation in Bath's museums and cultural spaces...
24/08/2026

One week left to apply!⏳

Have you been looking for…
💭 more ESEA q***r representation in Bath's museums and cultural spaces?
🤝 an ESEA q***r community in Bath and the surrounding area?
🎨 a space to explore your identity creatively and collectively with other ESEA q***r people?

We’re looking for 8–10 self-identified LGBTQIA+ people of East and Southeast Asian heritage to take part in 'Q***rating', a free creative project led by Q***r China UK (QCU) and the Museum of East Asian Art (MEAA) in Bath.

You don't need any previous creative or curating experience to take part. We’re open to applicants at all levels, all we need is your enthusiasm and curiosity. You’ll be supported by QCU and MEAA every step of the way!

✨Together, we'll:
● Unlock our creativity through artist-led workshops
● Explore Bath’s q***r histories on a guided city walk
● Handle and respond to objects from the Museum’s collection
● Curate a museum exhibition as a collective

📅 Key workshop dates:
● Sunday 27th September 2026
● Sunday 11th October 2026 (TBC)
● Sunday 15th November 2026
● Sunday 13th December 2026
Additional meeting schedule TBC.

💸Free to take part, with financial support for travel.
Applications close at midday on Monday 31 August.

🦄 Ready to join us? Head to the LINK in our BIO for full details and how to apply.

Image credit: ***rchinauk

The Sui dynasty was short, but it made a big difference in Chinese history. It reunited China, helped build the Grand Ca...
21/08/2026

The Sui dynasty was short, but it made a big difference in Chinese history. It reunited China, helped build the Grand Canal, and supported Buddhism and the arts. Its achievements helped set the stage for the Tang dynasty.

Visit the museum to discover more!

Join us for the final miniMonday of the summer! As part of Kids Aloud , children can explore the Museum, play games, fol...
20/08/2026

Join us for the final miniMonday of the summer!

As part of Kids Aloud , children can explore the Museum, play games, follow trails, solve riddles and enjoy being as loud as they like!

📅 Mon 24 August 2026
⏰ 12:00–15:00
📍 Museum Galleries
🎟️ £4 per child | Adults free

Booking is essential — please book a ticket for every child and adult attending. National Art Pass Plus Kids members get 50% off for the whole family.

19/08/2026

Artist us about the symbolism and storytelling behind the objects made for Reimaginings. 💥 👀

To find out more and book your place on our current exhibitions and upcoming events, head to the MEAA website (link in bio).

Transcript:

EB: how will audiences experience the Reimaginings exhibition through the symbolism and storytelling of your works?

HL: For me, I think playfulness is a really important part of my practice, and for me, it’s quite an important way of communicating the meaning behind my work. I’ve tried to be quite fun and playful with the objects I’ve chosen. I think that’s also just naturally what I gravitate towards – objects and things that have a lot of character and personality. So, I think a lot of the pieces that I’ve picked for this show are objects that made me laugh, or that look slightly peculiar. And I think hopefully that will really help draw people into all these objects and encourage people to investigate them and explore them.

Celebrate ESEA Heritage Month with us!ESEA Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the cultures, histories and heritage of...
18/08/2026

Celebrate ESEA Heritage Month with us!

ESEA Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the cultures, histories and heritage of East and Southeast Asian communities.

Join us at the Museum of East Asian Art for a social with sake, green tea and moon cakes. Make a print to take home featuring symbols of good luck and fortune from across East and Southeast Asia.

📍 Museum Gallery
🎟️ Free with Museum Admission
🗓️ Sat 5 September 2026 | 13:00–16:00
✨ No booking required, just drop in!

Come along, make a print, enjoy some refreshments and celebrate ESEA heritage with us!

The Six Dynasties was a time of political division and great change in China, lasting from the fall of the Han dynasty t...
13/08/2026

The Six Dynasties was a time of political division and great change in China, lasting from the fall of the Han dynasty to the reunification of China under the Sui. Despite periods of warfare and instability, it was also an important age of cultural development, with Buddhism spreading and remarkable advances in art, poetry, and learning.

Visit the museum to discover more!

Address

12 Bennett Street
Bath
BA12QJ

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 5pm
Thursday 10:30am - 5pm
Friday 10:30am - 5pm
Saturday 10:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441225464640

Website

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