Bristol Museums

21/10/2026

🌈 From Pop Art to Pointillism, some of the world's most celebrated artists are coming to Bristol this Saturday in The Secret Life of Colour.

Pre-book online now: Adult ticket £8 | Family Saver ticket £18 | 16-24 year old ticket £5

This touring exhibition was jointly created by Sheffield Museums Trust, Tullie museum, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, and Bristol Museums.

Photo credit: Colour exhibition at the Millennium Gallery © Andy Brown

19/10/2026

💙 Why does blue feel calm? 🟢 Can green lower our heart rate? There is so much to know about colour.

Featuring work by Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley, Hokusai and Kandinsky, The Secret Life of Colour opens at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday 24 October 2026. It explores how colour affects our emotions, culture, creativity and connection to the world around us.

Book ahead online to secure your preferred date: family saver tickets £18 | adult tickets £8 | 16-24 year olds tickets £5

This touring exhibition was jointly created by Sheffield Museums Trust, Tullie museum, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, and Bristol Museums.

Photo credit: Colour exhibition at the Millennium Gallery, © Andy Brown

18/10/2026

ROAR! The Dinosaur expert Dr Dean Lomax is coming to M Shed 🦕🦕

Focusing on the insights shown in some of the world’s most extraordinary fossils, Dr Dean Lomax will provide a fascinating glimpse into the world of dinosaurs in his talk, followed by a Q&A and a book signing. Dr Dean Lomax will be joined by Bob Nicholls, a world-renowned natural history artist who specializes in the reconstruction of prehistoric animals, plants, and environments.

The talk will be followed by a Q&A and a book signing with the author and illustrator. This talk is aimed at older children and adults.

The Secret Life Of Dinosaurs | Talk with Q&A and book signing | Saturday 21 November 2026 | 10.30am till 12.30pm | M Shed | 100 early bird tickets available at £15

16/10/2026

Dream about the beautiful light in Cornwall? Artists do! 🐚🐟 Our next winter lecture is all about the colours of Cornwall.

In this talk, Alison Bevan - known in Bristol for her 11 years as Director of the RWA - will explore the way that artists have captured the colour of Cornwall over the past 150 years. This talk is part of the event series for The Secret Life of Colour exhibition at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery 🟠🟡🟢

The Colour of Cornwall | 12 November 2026 | 7.30pm till 9pm | M Shed | Tickets are ‘pay what you can’

Thanks to the generous sponsorship from the Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives that make these events possible. Image credit: Walter Langley (1852-1922), Breadwinners, The Bowerman Collection

15/10/2026

Free family celebration day at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday 24 October for Black History Month ❤️

Get creative at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and celebrate the traditions of Adire - tie-dye from the Yoruba people of Nigeria. Make fabric bracelets, earrings, brooches, hair accessories, keyrings, bag charms or book covers.

As we create together, we’ll celebrate the skill and creativity behind Yoruba textile traditions and their continuing place within contemporary Black art, fashion and identity. No previous craft experience is needed, just come along, get creative and make something that celebrates heritage while expressing your own style.

Saturday 24 October 2026 | 11am - 3pm | Bristol Museum & Art Gallery | Free admission, donations welcome

14/10/2026

Opening today at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery 👀

As part of Bristol Photo Festival 2026, we're proud to present two powerful exhibitions exploring memory, place, belonging and our relationship with the world around us.

📸 People of Clay by Akshay Mahajan reveals hidden histories along the Brahmaputra River, weaving together memory, myth and place.

📸 Persistence Studies by Sheida Soleimani explores migration, belonging and changing landscapes through the lens of bird ecology.

Both exhibitions form part of Time Machine, Bristol Photo Festival's 2026 theme exploring the layered nature of time. Visit from today and discover the stories waiting to be uncovered.

This display is supported by Art Fund, the Friends of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives and the Brigstow Institute at the University of Bristol.

13/10/2026

Just two weeks until The Secret Life of Colour opens at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Saturday 24 October 2026.

Featuring works by Andy Warhol, Bridget Riley, Hokusai, Kandinsky, Peter Blake and more. Discover how colour shapes the natural world, inspires artists, and influences the way we see and understand our surroundings.

🎟️ Pre-book now: Adult ticket £8 | Family Saver ticket £18

This touring exhibition was jointly created by Sheffield Museums Trust, Tullie museum, Hampshire Cultural Trust, Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, and Bristol Museums.

Photo credit: Colour exhibition at the Millennium Gallery, © Andy Brown

12/10/2026

There is a big splash of colour coming soon to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and with it a new colourful collection in our online and physical shop!

The Secret Life of Colour exhibition opens on the 24 October 2026, prebook now for opening weekend 🎨 🌈

From Pop Art to Pointillism, The Secret Life of Colour includes work from global blockbuster artists such as Andy Warhol, Wassily Kandinsky, Georges Seurat, Bridget Riley, Peter Blake and Katsushika Hokusai.

Alongside these famous masterpieces, the exhibition shows a range of colourful treasures including Delftware ceramics, seabird eggs, carnival costumes, tribal outfits, taxidermy Kingfishers and Hummingbirds, historic poison bottles, as well as stained glass and rare colourful rocks and minerals, including native copper from The Lizard, Cornwall.

So there really is something for everyone ❤️

10/10/2026

Make the most of autumn with Bristol Museums! 🍂🎨👻 We're packed with low-cost and free family fun this season:

- There are just a few tickets left for the transport-themed under 4s Toddler Takeover at M Shed on Monday 12 October 2026

- Remember to drop in at Blaise Museum for free Family Storytelling time on Saturday 17 October 2026

- Get creative at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and celebrate the traditions of Adire (tie-dye) from the Yoruba people of Nigeria on 24 October 2026. Make fabric bracelets, earrings, brooches, hair accessories, keyrings, bag charms or book covers!

- Spooky Week at The Red Lodge Museum and Autumn Week at Blaise Museum both begin on Saturday 24 October, with a range of activities throughout the week: face painting, crafts and dress up! These events are perfect for families with children aged 6 to 9 years old.

Find out more about all family events at: https://orlo.uk/VTpTJ

07/10/2026

Dust off those cobwebs it's time to dance! 🕺 💃 Book now at feverup.com/m/770359

A massive silent disco is taking over the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery this Halloween. 🎧👻

This spooky takeover inside one of the city's most historic buildings is setting the scene for a truly unique Halloween party in Bristol. Three different DJs will be spinning classic anthems across multiple channels while the entire museum is spectacularly illuminated for the night. ✨🏛

You will receive state-of-the-art wireless LED headphones upon arrival, letting you easily switch between soundtracks as you dance through the halls. General admission is £21, and VIP tickets are available for £26.50, which include priority entry and an LED foam baton. 🪩🥳

Hit the link in our comments for all the details and to grab your tickets.
Who are you taking to the silent disco? 👇

📍 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RL