The Wilson, Cheltenham's art gallery and museum

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The Wilson, Cheltenham's art gallery and museum

Official page for the Wilson Art Gallery and Museum and Wilson Kitchen arts café.
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01/06/2026

I’m Narna, new Digital Storyteller at The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum.

☆ Here is a little bit about me. Im a videographer and artist from Stroud who loves all things analogue and archival.

☆What also brings me JOY: dancing, rollerskating and going on long itinerary-filled day trips on foot.

I think things are worth keeping when they lead to new ideas, creations and connections.

30/05/2026

June at The Wilson ☀️

Events, Exhibitions, courses and more taking place throughout the month.

Discover everything happening this June on our website, or simply pop in and explore.

📍The Wilson, Cheltenham

VisitCheltenham

29/05/2026

The Art of Looking: from Dutch Masters to Modern Britain at Wilson Art Gallery & Museum 🎨

Open from 29th MAY 26 - 3rd JAN 27

This painting, Seated Figure, by Edward Wolfe will be part of the exhibition. Edward Wolfe worked at the bohemian Omega Workshops, and the bold yellow palette and stylised forms of this painting channel the avant-garde energy of that era.

This new exhibition invites visitors to explore how art, identity, and creative ambition evolved across centuries of social and cultural change.

Featuring works from the de Ferrières Collection alongside major British and international 20th century artists.

Through carefully designed displays and spaces for reflection, The Art of Looking encourages a slower, deeper engagement with art.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Image: Edward Wolfe, Seated Figure, c. 1962. The Estate of Edward Wolfe. All rights reserved, 2026 DACS

27/05/2026

Dǎ máo yī (‘Knit a Sweater’) Workshop 🖇️

As part of June’s edition of Wilson Nights, Dǎ máo yī (‘Knit a Sweater’) is a participatory workshop and live making session hosted by artist Jing BAI () 🌟

Using aluminium wire in place of soft yarn, you are invited to explore knitting, knotting and related textile techniques using unusual industrial materials.

🌜Throughout the evening, the space will function as both workshop and temporary studio - a place for making, conversation, experimentation and shared activity.

Visitors are welcome to observe, take part, contribute small fragments, or simply spend time in the space while the work continues to grow throughout the evening!

No experience needed. All materials provided.

🌀 Wednesday 3rd June | 6pm - 8.30pm in the Café

26/05/2026

Just a few days left to experience Whispers on the Walls 🌀

Visit and draw directly onto fabric with graphite, creating a collaborative artwork that grows with every mark made!

Inspired by storytelling traditions and the expressive narrative worlds of Paula Rego, the exhibition features fragments of a contemporary retelling of Baba Yaga by artist and printmaker Dougal Kirkland ()🌿🖋️

Layered with echoes of folklore, ecology and landscape, Whispers on the Wall invites you to slow down, respond, and become part of the story.

🐦‍⬛ Closing Sunday 31st May

25/05/2026

Coffee With a Curator: Drawn to Nature 🌳🌞

Join us in The Wilson café lounge for June’s lunchtime curator talk!

This session explores the lasting influence of the natural world on artists connected to Gloucestershire.

🌷Through works by Freda Derrick, Phyllis Barron and Dorothy Larcher, we’ll look at how the local landscape and its resources inspired creativity, craft and design!

🌱 Wednesday 3 June | 1.30pm - 2pm
🎟️ £3 including a hot drink - book online!

24/05/2026

🎨 First Table at Wilson Nights 🎨

We’re launching a new makers market for local artists, creatives, and makers who haven’t had the chance to sell their work before - or who’ve never felt at home in traditional arts & crafts markets!

✨ Free table
✨ Supportive environment

We’re especially welcoming:
💛 Disabled & neurodivergent artists
💛 Artists facing mental health or financial barriers
💛 Anyone just starting out or building confidence!

You don’t need to be polished or established - just bring your ideas, your work, and yourself!

👉 First dates: Wednesday 1st July & Wednesday 2nd December

Interested? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at: [email protected]

23/05/2026

🌷 The Art of Looking: from Dutch Masters to Modern Britain
Opening Friday 29 May 2026 | On until January 2027

Discover a major new exhibition at The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum, bringing together Dutch and Belgian masters from the de Ferrières Collection alongside striking 20th-century British works.

From Gerrit Dou and Jan Steen to Stanley Spencer and Vanessa Bell, the exhibition invites visitors to slow down, look closely and uncover stories that reveal themselves over time.

In a world of constant speed and distraction, the exhibition creates space for sustained attention, through an environment designed for discovery, the display encourages a deeper engagement with the works, revealing layers of meaning that unfold through time.

Rachel Ruysch (attributed to), Flowers in a Glass Vase, c. 1705-1715.

Edward Wolfe, Seated Figure, c. 1962. The Estate of Edward Wolfe. All rights reserved, 2026 DACS

21/05/2026

Cheltenham’s BIG Museum Project: Spotlight 🌟

🏛️ One thing that’s mentioned when people talk about Cheltenham is its architecture.

Famous for its Regency heritage, the town grew rapidly in the late 1700s and early 1800s following the discovery of its Spa Waters - shaping the Cheltenham we know today.

Cheltenham’s buildings hold so many layers - from the GCHQ (Government Communications Headquarters) - known locally as “the Donut” - to the red brick terraces of Victorian and Edwardian streets, to Cheltenham Minster, with parts dating back to the 13th century.

Together, they form a townscape that is multi-layered and always shifting - what building stands out to you most?

📍Cheltenham’s BIG Museum Project is made possible thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with support from National Lottery players.

20/05/2026

✨ WILSON NIGHTS ✨

Wednesday 3rd June | 6pm - 9pm

Join us for an evening of creativity, sound, making and immersive performance at The Wilson’s monthly artist-led late night.

🎭 The Story of Seven Sisters
8.30pm - 9pm | The Foyle
Resident artist Atul Bhunkal () presents a live philosophical performance blending poetry, sound, silence and mythology into a dreamlike immersive experience.

🧵 Running (Stitch) With It: Creative Sewing
6pm - 8.30pm | The Courtyard
Relax through stitch with resident artist Jennifer Hughes using vibrant fabrics and inspiration from objects in The Wilson’s Handling Collection. Suitable for beginners and experienced sewers alike.

🧶 Knit a Sweater
6pm - 8.30pm | Café
Artist Jing BAI invites visitors to experiment with knitting and knotting using aluminium wire instead of yarn in this participatory live making session. No experience needed!

🎶 Cheltenham Improvisers Orchestra
6pm - 8pm | Arts & Crafts
Explore improvised music in a welcoming session open to all abilities. Bring an instrument or use one provided.

Free to attend - all materials provided, see you there! 🌟

Address

60 Clarence Street
Cheltenham
GL503JT

Website

http://www.cheltenhammuseum.org.uk/whats-on/

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