The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

02/06/2026

These earthenware figures are the Oompah Band, made to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Bunnykins nursery ware. Royal Doulton, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, 1984.

Currently on display in our ‘Our Favourite Things’ exhibition in our café area they were picked by Les Roberts, Visitor Experience Assistant, Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

“I have chosen the Royal Doulton Bunnykins Oompah Band as my favourite piece from the museums fabulous collection. I feel I have a personal connection with the Drum-Major Bobby the bunny who leads the band. I did a voice over for Bobby's character in an animation called Ozzy and Friends made by the museum. Ozzy the owl meets lots of friends in the short film and it was great fun to do.”

Please note that access to the museum will be via the café entrance by the Spitfire Gallery.

01/06/2026

Our next Stoke Cult Film Club evening is on Friday 12 June when we will be screening the 1998 film The Big Lebowski, Cert 18. Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski, mistaken for a millionaire of the same name, seeks restitution for his ruined rug and enlists his bowling buddies to help get it. In a world of energetic go-getters, thankfully there are fat, indolent, scruffy, pot smoking, beer drinking bums out there taking it easy...

Refreshments from 6pm and during the interval, we will kick off the evening at 7pm with some fun facts about the film that you may not know. Tickets £5, please call 01782 232323 or email: [email protected] to book or pay on the door.

Also see our Instagram page: instagram.com/StokeCultFilmClub

Please note that access to the museum will be via the café entrance by the Spitfire Gallery.

29/05/2026

Join historian Matt Lewis on Sunday 7 June as he offers an examination of what we really know about Richard III, from his childhood during the eruption of the Wars of the Roses, through his time in the north as England's most significant nobleman, to his accession to the throne and fall at Bosworth. Por-trayed as a villain almost from the moment of his death at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, is history right about Richard III, or has he been unfairly maligned?

This talk aims to equip you to decide. Talk at 1pm, tickets £12 and includes a Cream Tea. Please book in advance by calling 01782 232323 or email [email protected]

Please note that access to the museum will be via the café entrance by the Spitfire Gallery.

Our museum uses exciting and varied displays to tell the story of The Potteries.

28/05/2026

We’ve secured a rare Bronze Age Treasure for the city.

The 3,000-year-old solid gold dress fastener was found near Ellastone and is one of the finest ever discovered.

Now it will stay in the county thanks to a successful fundraising campaign and your donations.

The money has been raised through support from the Art Fund, the Arts Council England/V&A Purchase Grant, National Lottery players and the Friends of PMAG.

It will go on public display at the museum when it reopens in spring 2027 following its multi-million-pound transformation.

In the meantime, the museum team will deliver outreach activities supported by National Lottery players to help people explore the dress fastener and Staffordshire’s Bronze Age past.

27/05/2026

We still have spaces available on our Flight School: Family Spitfire Simulator session on 29 May. These sessions are for young people under the age of 16 years. £6 per 15 minute session. It is available to book online via the link below:
https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/spitfire-simulator/family-experiences/

26/05/2026

This is a vitrified porcelain plate, decorated with thirteen separate transfer printed logos / crests of hospitality businesses and other organisations. It is a sample plate made by the company to advertise their wares to potential new clients. John Maddock & Sons Ltd., Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. c.1955. Currently on show in our ‘Our Favourite Things’ display in our café area it was chosen by Ben Miller, Interim Head of Museums, Stoke-on-Trent Museums.

“I think this plate showcases, perfectly, the success of Stoke-on-Trent’s pottery industry in the mid-twentieth century. The fact that a company like John Maddock & Sons Ltd produced ceramics that were exporting their wares all over the world, and companies like Steelite and Churchill still do to this day, makes me proud to be from Stoke-on-Trent.”

Please note that access to the museum will be via the café entrance by the Spitfire Gallery.

25/05/2026

Let your imagination go wild and have a go at making a sea creature from shells and clay this Weds 27 and Fri 29 May. Drop in 10.30am – 12pm and 1 – 3pm. £3.60 a go.

Please note that access to the museum will be via the café entrance by the Spitfire Gallery.

23/05/2026

We were proud to be part of last year’s Centenary celebrations and Stoke-on-Trent Day continues that celebration of the city’s culture, creativity and heritage.

22/05/2026

New outdoor exhibition coming soon this summer to Bethesda Gardens 🌿🎨

After the success of our outdoor exhibitions with The National Gallery as part of the Art on Your Doorstep touring project, and our current exhibition celebrating the work of Charles William Brown — the renowned miner and local artist of the Potteries — we are delighted to announce a new exhibition at Bethesda Gardens this summer: Past Times.

Celebrating everyday life through art, Past Times explores the rhythms of work, leisure and family. Featuring scenes from home, town, countryside and coast, the exhibition brings together works by both local and internationally recognised artists. Highlights include paintings by John Currie, June Burnett, Roderic O’Conor and Ethel Gabain, in addition to a monumental portrait of Josiah Spode II - a member of one of Stoke-on-Trent’s most celebrated pottery dynasties.

Dates will be announced soon.

Image Credit: Josiah Spode II (1755-1827) in Hunting Costume, Unknown Artist, PMAG Collections

20/05/2026

We have spaces available on our Flight School: Family Spitfire Simulator session on 29 May. These sessions are for young people under the age of 16 years. £6 per 15 minute session. It is available to book online via the link below:

https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/spitfire-simulator/family-experiences/