Blackburn Museum

16/10/2026

14/10/2026

Thanks for visiting! We're so glad you enjoyed. 😊

12/10/2026

The world renowned Japanese ukiyo-e artist, Utagawa Hiroshige was born 1797 and died in 1858. He dedicated his life to creating wonderful art, even after ‘retiring from the world’ in 1856 when he became a Buddhist monk.

Before his death he wrote a farewell poem –
'I leave my brush in the East,
And set forth on my journey.
I shall see the famous places in the Western Land.'

We are lucky enough to have the full set of his series The 53 Stations of the Tokaido Road, here are some images for you to enjoy.

10/10/2026

Free Dementia Friendly Craft Sessions!

Join us on the: 13th October, 10th November, 8th December, between 10am - 12pm.

Sessions ranging from Handling Boxes, to Crafts, to Bingo and more!

These are free sessions with no booking required. Refreshments provided.

Discover Blackburn Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

10/10/2026

What's On today at Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery! 🏛⭐

✂️ 10th October | Drop-In Japanese Print themed Workshop | 12-3PM
Join Print, paint and pixel for a free printing workshop on our 152 year old Columbian Printing Press!

🌊 10th October | Family Friendly Gallery Talk | 1-1:30PM
Japanese Prints, what are they and why are they here? With former Curator Mike Millward. Free, no booking required.

🎨 Self-led Family Art Trails
6th–10th October | Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery
Whether you’re making, exploring or getting hands-on with collections, there are plenty of ways for families to experience art history together.

As part of the 2026 Art History Festival 🎨
🔗 Explore the full programme festival.forarthistory.org.uk

08/10/2026

We’re taking part in the 2026 Art History Festival!

Here’s what’s on for the rest of the week:

🎨 9th October | Stories Behind Portraits in the Victorian Gallery with Ken Ford | 2:00-3:00PM
Join Ken for a fascinating dive into the Victorian Gallery! Discover the stories behind portraits such as Hillary Coddington, Sana and Mr Kersey. No booking required.

🌊 10th October | Family Friendly Gallery Talk | 1-1:30PM
Japanese Prints, what are they and why are they here? With former Curator Mike Millward. Free, no booking required.

✂️ 10th October | Drop-In Japanese Print themed Workshop | 12-3PM
Join Print, Paint, Pixel for a free printing workshop on our 152 year old Columbian Printing Press!

🎨 Self-led Family Art Trails
6th–10th October | Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery
Whether you’re making, exploring or getting hands-on with collections, there are plenty of ways for families to experience art history together.

🔗 Explore the full programme festival.forarthistory.org.uk

08/10/2026

Sir Alfred Munnings was born in 1878. The English Impressionistic painter and occasional sculptor was known as one of England's finest painters of horses. 🐎

He grew up surrounded by the activity of a busy working mill with horses and horse-drawn carts arriving daily.

His career began as an apprentice lithographer in Norwich before rising through the ranks of the Royal Academy to become its President in 1944, the same year he was knighted. During this time, he caused a furore criticising abstraction and other aspects of modern art in one of his speeches. 🏛

🖼 'Solario' c.1926 by Sir Alfred James Munnings
Bequeathed by Colonel Sir John Rutherford Bart, 1932
Art UK
https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/solario-153905

07/10/2026

What's On This Week!

🏛️ 8th October | Curator Lunch Time Talk | 12:30-1:00PM
Join Anthea, Curator of Art at Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, for a short 30 minute lunch time talk and tour of the museum’s art gallery as part of Art History Festival 2026. No booking required

🎨 9th October | Stories Behind Portraits in the Victorian Gallery with Ken Ford | 2:00-3:00PM
Join Ken for a fascinating dive into the Victorian Gallery! Discover the stories behind portraits such as Hillary Coddington, Sana and Mr Kersey. No booking required.

🌊 10th October | Family Friendly Gallery Talk | 1-1:30PM
Japanese Prints, what are they and why are they here? With former Curator Mike Millward. Free, no booking required.

✂️ 10th October | Drop-In Japanese Print themed Workshop | 12-3PM
Join Print, Paint, Pixel for a free printing workshop on our 152 year old Columbian Printing Press!

🎨 Self-led Family Art Trails
6th–10th October | Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery
Whether you’re making, exploring or getting hands-on with collections, there are plenty of ways for families to experience art history together.

As part of the 2026 Art History Festival.

🔗 Explore the full programme festival.forarthistory.org.uk

07/10/2026

Hi please come join us tomorrow night 6-8 for the opening of our textiles open call exhibition! It’ll be great to see everyone showing some support for all the artists who’ve put their time and energy into making all these fantastic pieces and we look forward to seeing you all tomorrow night!

02/10/2026

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 We're taking part in the 2026 Art History Festival!

Looking for something the whole family can enjoy this October? Art History Festival includes a range of free activities for families, with opportunities to explore exhibitions, make art and discover fascinating stories from the past.

Here's what we will have on! 👀

🖼️ 7th October | A History of Printmaking Workshop with Julia Swarbrick | 6:00-8:30PM
Free event but booking is essential: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-history-of-printmaking-with-julia-swarbrick-tickets-2002120561495?aff=oddtdtcreator

🏛️ 8th October | Curator Lunch Time Talk | 12:30-1:00PM
Join Anthea, Curator of Art at Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery, for a short 30 minute lunch time talk and tour of the museum’s art gallery as part of Art History Festival 2026. No booking required

🎨 9th October | Stories Behind Portraits in the Victorian Gallery with Ken Ford | 2:00-3:00PM
Join Ken for a fascinating dive into the Victorian Gallery! Discover the stories behind portraits such as Hillary Coddington, Sana and Mr Kersey. No booking required.

🌊 10th October | Family Friendly Gallery Talk | 1-1:30PM
Japanese Prints, what are they and why are they here? With former Curator Mike Millward. Free, no booking required.

✂️ 10th October | Drop-In Japanese Print themed Workshop | 12-3PM
Join Print, Paint, Pixel for a free printing workshop on our 152 year old Columbian Printing Press!

🎨 Self-led Family Art Trails
6th–10th October | Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery

Whether you’re making, exploring or getting hands-on with collections, there are plenty of ways for families to experience art history together.

🔗 Explore the full programme festival.forarthistory.org.uk


Association for Art History Discover Blackburn Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council