John Hansard Gallery

John Hansard Gallery Internationally recognised contemporary art gallery, part of the University of Southampton

Visit our curious, connected and inclusive world, inspired by art.
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Open Tuesday to Saturday, 11am–5pm. Free Entry

29/05/2026

2 WEEKS TO GO 🗓️

Community Takeover is back this June, and it's turning Gallery 1 into a creative area for exploration, listening, and rest!

This annual exhibition is co-curated with our Ambassadors, and is a celebration of the ideas and talents of local people in Southampton. Together through exhibitions, activities and workshops, we'll explore this year's theme of care: self-care, care for one another, and our surroundings.

Visit our website to get the full programme!

Fancy joining us for the preview on Thursday 11? RSVP to [email protected] by Weds 10! ⏳

21/05/2026

Our website has had a glow-up ✨

As a contemporary gallery, you might think our 'About' page would be the last place people go, and you'd be...

Wrong! 
It's a very important page for the curious!

This portion of our team spends a lot of time tucked away in our office, when they're not visiting studios, schools and other creative spaces across the UK!

Not only does this area demystify who these people are, but it's where we might start to connect and have an impact. Some might discover how to get in touch, while others start to see possibilities for their own future, as a Curator, a Marketer, or even a Technician.

With the creative direction of our dynamic Comms duo, we ditched the typical gallery white cube and introduced glimpses of our entire building.

AND of course, we called on local legend , who patiently captured each and every one!

What do we think? 👀

We're so excited for Urban Wild next week ✨🌳Returning for its second year from 23 – 31 May, this is a community festival...
20/05/2026

We're so excited for Urban Wild next week ✨🌳

Returning for its second year from 23 – 31 May, this is a community festival celebrating Southampton’s green and blue spaces through a programme of creative workshops, talks, guided cycle rides, food tasting experiences and more!

Led by Southampton National Park City as part of the global National Park Cities movement, the festival brings together local organisations and community groups — including University of Southampton — with many events free to attend.

You'll find us there on Wednesday 27 May, from 10am - 3pm!

Something creative is coming to Totton… 👀Not a class. Not a workshop. Something a little bigger.This half term, Scribble...
20/05/2026

Something creative is coming to Totton… 👀

Not a class. Not a workshop. Something a little bigger.

This half term, ScribbleFest is taking over Totton Shopping Precinct with free drop-in creativity, giant doodles, colourful activities, and plenty of surprises! 🎨

🗓 25–29 May
⏰ 10am-4pm
📍 Totton Shopping Precinct

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Exciting times ahead ✨👇⁠⁠Red barriers and closed doors mean good things around here; two brand-new shows are coming your...
15/05/2026

Exciting times ahead ✨👇⁠
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Red barriers and closed doors mean good things around here; two brand-new shows are coming your way!⁠
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While some of our spaces are temporarily closed, you can still enjoy all this before Simeon Barclay's ‘Farewell Sweet Innocence’ opens on 6 June:⁠
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🛒 Check out books, stationery, gifts and much more in our shop
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🚸 Join us for Space to Create! Drop in any Saturday 11am - 1pm⁠
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🎨 ‘Wuhan Punk’ is still on in our Foyer, as well as the new 'Fake Love & Institutional Longing (BTS)' by JHG Poet-In-Residence ⁠Mandy Merzaban on our Mezzanine⁠
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We'll be sharing more about our upcoming exhibitions very soon, or head to our bio for spoilers!

** EXTENDED **Chris Zhongtian Yuan's 'Wuhan Punk' has been extended until 6 June; aka you've got an extra 4 weeks to cat...
09/05/2026

** EXTENDED **

Chris Zhongtian Yuan's 'Wuhan Punk' has been extended until 6 June; aka you've got an extra 4 weeks to catch it!

Originally commissioned by Film and Video Umbrella in 2020, the artist uses archival material and atmospheric digital animation to shine a light from the city's relation to the infamous COVID-19 pandemic.

As 'Wuhan Punk' suggests, rampant pollution and constant, deafening din, (not to mention its air of alienated ‘outsiderdom’), may well have helped create the conditions for something else Wuhan became well known for – its vibrant punk rock scene!

Catch this while you still can 💨

Ch-ch-ch-changes ⚠📣If you or someone you know is planning to pop to JHG soon, please help us make sure they don't miss t...
08/05/2026

Ch-ch-ch-changes ⚠📣

If you or someone you know is planning to pop to JHG soon, please help us make sure they don't miss these updates!

1) This Saturday's tour with Philip is postponed due to him having lost his voice

2) We'll be in changeover from Tuesday 12 May, so only two exhibitions will be open while our fantastic Tech Team take down 'In Darkness and Light' as well as 'SO THIS IS REAL LIFE'

3) On 13 May we're closed for the whole day - the Civic Agreement Celebrations are being held in our space!

4) We'll be at St Denys Carnival on 23 May, but don't worry, there will still be an activity in our Foyer (you'll be helping us prepare for the upcoming 'Community Takeover')

Curious what's coming? Sign up to our mailing list to stay in touch 💛

06/05/2026

📣 Last chance 📣⁠
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Experience 'SO THIS IS REAL LIFE; Punk-post-punk, Imagining 1975-85' at John Hansard Gallery before it ends this Saturday!⁠
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Fancy taking a deeper dive? Join the show's curator, Philip H***e, for a tour on May 9 from 3pm. No need to book, just drop in!⁠
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06/05/2026

3 DAYS LEFT ⏳

Melanie Manchot's 'In Darkness and Light' ends this Saturday!

Spanning all upstairs galleries at JHG, this plethora of photography, film and installation collectively represents the artist's range. Both 'Golden Girls' and 'Liquid Skin' (2023) reference the role women play across different "nighttime economies"; revealing intimate portraits of hidden worlds where female labour continues not only to play a crucial role, but how women occupy space and assert themselves within these environments.

With many of Manchot's works making their UK debut, this is not an exhibition to be missed!

P.S. Don't forget to pop a pair of headphones on in Gallery 2 for the full experience of 'Golden Girls (2023)' 🎧

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Images: Melanie Manchot, Golden Girls (2023), film still. Photographer: Reece Straw.

OPEN CALL! 🚨We are seeking Expressions of Interest from disabled artists living and working within a 40-mile distance to...
01/05/2026

OPEN CALL! 🚨

We are seeking Expressions of Interest from disabled artists living and working within a 40-mile distance to John Hansard Gallery who are interested in collaborating with Occupational Therapy and Engineering students from University of Southampton.

This is an opportunity for one artist to make or adapt tools to support their artistic practice. The creations will be displayed in an exhibition with us, curated by Jessica Starns as part of the Future Curators Programme. Future Curators is a residency programme for Disabled curators working within mainstream visual arts institutions. Grounded in disability justice, the programme was founded by DASH.

Artist fee: £2,000 (including up to four meetings with students), plus travel expenses, access costs and materials budget to be defined.

Artists are invited to attend an Information Session on Monday 11 May in person or online to find out more about the opportunity before applying. Booking links below, or call 023 8059 2158.

Online: https://lnkd.in/efga3zra
In person: https://lnkd.in/eWtpAt2k

Deadline for Expressions of Interest: Monday 25 May 2026

>>> https://lnkd.in/eUxH8_w5

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Image: Outlandish, installation view, John Hansard Gallery, 2025. Photo: Reece Straw

Alt-text: An image of two people holding a sign saying 'Shhh...! We are not really disabled', mounted on a piece of plywood.

Address

John Hansard Gallery, 142-144 Above Bar Street
Southampton
SO147DU

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5pm
Wednesday 11am - 5pm
Thursday 11am - 5pm
Friday 11am - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm

Telephone

+442380592158

Website

https://linktr.ee/johnhansardgallery

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