Display: My Father, Soli Kaikushroo Doctor - The First Indian in Stroud?
Jan
25
to May 11

Display: My Father, Soli Kaikushroo Doctor - The First Indian in Stroud?

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Soli Kaikushroo Doctor came to Stroud from India in 1959 to take up an apprenticeship with engineering company Newman Hender. He married, set up his own business and made his life here. His daughter Pilar Bevan tells her family’s story in objects and photographs.

The Space community gallery

FREE, donations welcome

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Display: Stroud's War - Victory, Service & Friendship
Apr
29
to Aug 31

Display: Stroud's War - Victory, Service & Friendship

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On 8 May 1945, Stroud celebrated VE Day with jazz bands and dancing in the streets. But it would be a while before family members were demobbed, and some would never return home. This display remembers those from Stroud District who served in World War Two, from soldiers to spies, ATS girls to intrepid airmen.

From acts of service to acts of friendship, we reveal gifts from German prisoners of war to new-found English friends, as well as objects which tell the story of Stroud’s solidarity with fellow Europeans across the water.

Foyer

FREE, donations welcome

Stroud’s War continues in the Collectors’ Room with The Civil Defence of Area Eight - the story of Stroud on the Home Front (29 April - 31 August).

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Display: Stroud's War - The Civil Defence of Area Eight
Apr
29
to Aug 31

Display: Stroud's War - The Civil Defence of Area Eight

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In 1945 the Stroud and Nailsworth Defence Committee published an extraordinary book called Area Eight in the War Against Hitlerism, recounting the efforts of local people to keep the District safe during World War Two. This display explores all aspects of life on the Home Front in Stroud, from fire watching to fundraising, preparing for invasion to dealing with enemy bombs.

Collectors’ Room

FREE, donations welcome

Stroud’s War continues in the Foyer with Victory, Service & Friendship - remembering VE Day, those who served in World War Two and some extraordinary acts of friendship (29 April - 31 August).

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Sonic Woodland - Walled Garden Sound Installation
May
10
to Jun 29

Sonic Woodland - Walled Garden Sound Installation

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
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Come and immerse yourself in ‘Sonic Woodland’, an enchanting soundscape by Hidden Orchestra (composer/producer Joe Acheson) and Tim Southorn (spatial audio engineer) with cello performed by Rebecca Knight.

Composer Joe Acheson (aka Hidden Orchestra) and spatial audio engineer Tim Southorn are bringing their music and sound installation 'Sonic Woodland' down from the high trees and into the walled garden of The Museum in the Park in Stroud as part of this year's Stroud Arts Festival.

Originally commissioned by Kew Gardens for their botanical forest at Wakehurst in Sussex, this installation has since been appearing in different woodland settings including over a creek in an ancient glen on the grounds of Kelburn Castle on the West Coast of Scotland, and most recently six months in the woods above Hawkwood CFT as part of last year's Hidden Notes Festival.

Though set here in the Walled Garden, this living composition reflects the unseen natural systems of a woodland glade - particularly the underground fungal networks that link trees and plants in slow, symbiotic conversation.

Underground, fungi form vast mycorrhizal webs that connect trees and plants, allowing them to share nutrients, water, and even information. These slow, silent exchanges are mirrored in the music: a generative cello canon, shaped by carefully programmed randomness, unfolds in real time. Together, these layers of melodies form shifting harmonies that echo the subterranean flow of life through the mycorrhizal networks that connect plants beneath the soil.

Scattered throughout the soundscape are brief, unexpected bursts of sound - log drums, percussive knocks, piano tones, woodpeckers tapping morse code, arpeggiated synths. These represent the release of Volatile Organic Compounds, not just by trees but by all kinds of plants. In settings like this one, even grasses and herbs can use these airborne signals to share warnings, call for microbial allies, or influence neighbouring growth.

This piece never repeats. Like the garden itself, it is always responding, recombining, and alive - an invitation to listen more deeply to the hidden intelligence of plants.

With many thanks to Stroud Arts Festival for bringing this unique installation to The Museum in the Park’s Walled Garden.

Please note: Bands will be playing in the park bandstand on Sunday afternoons, and all day on Sunday 1st June. Please avoid visiting at these times if you are looking for a meditative and calming experience.

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Exhibition Opening Talk & Gallery Tour: Tim Parry-Williams & Franz Petter Schmidt
May
10
11:00 AM11:00

Exhibition Opening Talk & Gallery Tour: Tim Parry-Williams & Franz Petter Schmidt

Join textile artists Tim Parry-Williams and Franz Petter Schmidt for a talk about their work and research and a tour of their new exhibition, ‘At The Margins’. The exhibition grew out of the artistic research project Beyond Heritage: Material Making Meaning. Tim Parry-Williams’ research explores the apparent use of English ‘saved list' cloths including Stroud scarlet, in pre-1900 Norwegian folk dress. Franz Petter Schmidt has been exploring the history of the weaving workshop at Prinds Christian Augusts Minde, a former workhouse in central Oslo, established in 1819.

Free but booking recommended as places are limited.

Book online or call 01453 763394.

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Exhibition: At the Margins
May
10
to Jun 15

Exhibition: At the Margins

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
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At the Margins emerges from the artistic research project Beyond Heritage: Material Making Meaning and focuses on the reading of established and speculative histories in two specific textile making contexts.

The first part draws on original research by Tim Parry-Williams, into the apparent use of English ‘saved list' cloths, in pre-1900 Norwegian folk dress, revealing sophisticated systems of transfer in textile materials, dyestuffs and minerals. The presented artefacts and textile works propose new stories behind the patterning and colouring of cloth, including the famous Stroud scarlet, as a part of broader global trade and exchange. 

The second, Til Prinds Christian Augusts Minde, by Franz Petter Schmidt, explores the history of the weaving workshop at Prinds Christian Augusts Minde - a former penal institution in central Oslo - where there has been some form of textile production since 1833. Through a series of hand-woven fabrics, photographs and texts, Schmidt’s work addresses the history of the institution, the development of social care in Norway, and textile craft as part of forced labour and punishment.

These expositions offer artistic interpretation of the ‘immaterial’ concepts situated in the objects and sites of cloth making, questioning and materialising multiple perspectives of textiles as part of a wider ‘social fabric.’

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Bird Nerd and the Red List with Marie-Louise Flexen
May
11
11:30 AM11:30

Bird Nerd and the Red List with Marie-Louise Flexen

Stroud Arts Festival presents an exciting, new dance theatre performance piece, focusing on popular UK birds on the endangered species ‘red list’. Take a journey with the birdwatcher as they embody four different birds; Lark, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Swift and Nightingale. A fascinating exploration through dance, music, sound and spoken word. Performed and created by Marie-Louise Flexen with a sound track by Steven Skinley.

Funded by Arts Council England and supported by Prema Arts, Swindon Dance and Guildhall, Gloucester. Research & Development funded by The Francis W Reckitt Arts Trust at Hawkwood College. 

Suitable for all ages. Running time 30-minutes.

Performances at 11.30am and 2pm in the Walled Garden.

Tickets: £8.50 / under-18s £5

Book online - click here

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Stroud Arts Festival: Family Art Workshop
May
11
12:00 PM12:00

Stroud Arts Festival: Family Art Workshop

Join the team from Create with Brandywine for an exciting art workshop inspired by Birds & Nature.

Create your own Bird Puppet, Shadow Lantern or Bird Mobile.

Taught by prop makers and artists this is a fun workshop to learn new skills and create a celebration of the birds around you at the beautiful Museum in the Park.

This workshop is for all ages and abilities – drop in anytime between 12 – 2pm - booking in advance is essential so get your tickets now - click here to book!
Tickets £10, under-12s £5, all materials supplied

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All Night Under the Moon – The Dave Ayre Ensemble
May
11
7:00 PM19:00

All Night Under the Moon – The Dave Ayre Ensemble

Stroud Arts Festival presents an enchanting evening of music in the Walled Garden Pavilion.

Look at the moon, what a beautiful, powerful thing it is!

All night under the moon, by Gloucestershire’s Ivor Gurney, is the centre piece for a nature-inspired concert by Dave Ayre and his unique ensemble of flute, clarinet, marimba, double bass and voice

Pieces by Purcell and Couperin take us back 400 years but link seamlessly with much more recent works, including Monk’s ‘Round Midnight and Jonathan Trim’s wonderful depiction of the many local streams and rivers The Heart of the Five Valleys.

Set under the moonlight this concert is an experience to bring us closer to nature and the power of the moon. Not to be missed!

Tickets: £18.00 / under 18s £5

Book online - click here

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Family Workshop with Jenny Bower: Cut Out/Dress Up!
May
17
1:00 PM13:00

Family Workshop with Jenny Bower: Cut Out/Dress Up!

Meet local illustrator Jenny Bower and have fun exploring themes from the At The Margins exhibition. Come and collage an outfit on to your friends and family. Using a projector and a pair of scissors, you can create a new colourful, snippy set of clothes, considering national costumes, workwear identity, colour and shape. All materials provided. Suitable for ages 6+, for parents/carers and children to enjoy together. Free, donations welcome, no need to book - just drop in and enjoy.

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Glorious Gloucestershire: Jo Durrant with Mark Cummings
May
22
7:30 PM19:30

Glorious Gloucestershire: Jo Durrant with Mark Cummings

How did Gladys’ Leap in Cranham get its name? What was the real Rosie from ‘Cider With Rosie’ like? And why did George Holloway have a huge impact on Stroud?

Find out with travel writer, broadcaster, and author of ‘Glorious Gloucestershire’, Mark Cummings. His book takes you on a journey around the county, exploring literary links, world-changing innovations, quirky place names and much more.

Mark will be in conversation with Jo Durrant, to talk about the book, his love of Gloucestershire and will have plenty of Stroud stories for you too.

This event is part of the new ‘Our Beautiful Universe’ series - special guests in conversation with Jo Durrant. The Museum, Gallery and Walled Garden will be open from 7pm to 9pm giving you a chance to enjoy exploring in the peaceful after-hours.

Tickets £7 (£5 for Museum in the Park members - free to join) Drinks included

Booking recommended - book online here or call 01453 763394

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Museum Explorers: Free trails for all ages
May
24
to Jun 1

Museum Explorers: Free trails for all ages

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Looking for something fun and free to enjoy during the half term holiday? We have a variety of trails for families to enjoy together, exploring different themes and artefacts in the fascinating museum collections. From Amazing Animals to the Musical Museum, Woolly Wonders and more, these trails are always available from museum reception. Why not come and try them out? New trails are being added all the time and we’d love to hear your feedback.

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Natural Yarn Dyeing with British Wool with Ria Burns
May
24
1:00 PM13:00

Natural Yarn Dyeing with British Wool with Ria Burns

Explore the world of natural dyes in this half day workshop with textile designer and natural dyer Ria Burns. In this three hour workshop, you’ll learn how to dye a selection of British wool yarns a range of vibrant natural shades, using homegrown and foraged plants, and food waste. Ria particularly focuses on using local, sustainable materials, and will share their wide knowledge of natural dyeing with you throughout the session. You'll leave with eight mini skeins of your own hand dyed yarn for crafting, as well as the skills to go on to naturally dye yarn and other materials at home.

For adults. Tickets £50 (concs/MiP Members £40)

Book online or call 01453 763394

This workshop accompanies 'At The Margins', the exhibition of woven textiles by Tim Parry-Williams and Franz Petter Schmidt (10 May to 15 June).

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Dots &  Stripes! Print & Pattern! Family Drop-in Workshop
May
24
1:00 PM13:00

Dots & Stripes! Print & Pattern! Family Drop-in Workshop

Join artist Jenny Bowers for a fun-filled creative session inspired by our gallery exhibition ‘At The Margins’. Using stencils and stamps, paint and pencils come and add your own patterned selvedge marks to a collaboratively made, long length of Stroud red paper 'cloth'. Explore making a repeat pattern paper 'cloth' inspired by the rules and regularity and the collaborative work of the Prindsen workhouse in Oslo. All materials provided. Suitable for ages 6+, for children and adults to enjoy together, FREE but donations welcome. Drop in and enjoy!

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Woolly Wonders - Museum Inspired Drop-in Family Activity
May
27
11:00 AM11:00

Woolly Wonders - Museum Inspired Drop-in Family Activity

Make a sheep headband to wear and try your hand at some simple weaving. Help wind the bobbin up and try brushing some wool like people did in the past. Investigate some of the things people used to make cloth in Stroud in the past and try printing with wool. Add a mini fluffy sheep to our mini hillside and vote for your favourite sheep before exploring the museum with our Woolly Wonders Family Explorer Trail.

We invite you to discover and explore together through this range of family-friendly activities designed to help bring the theme of weaving alive.

Designed for families with children over 5 years old to explore together. Drop in between 11am and 1pm. £1 per child. Please pay on the day.

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Woolly Wonders: Museum Inspired Relaxed Family Session
May
27
2:00 PM14:00

Woolly Wonders: Museum Inspired Relaxed Family Session

We are trialling pre-bookable sessions aimed at families with neurodivergent children who need a relaxed environment to enjoy these activities.

Make a sheep headband to wear and try your hand at some simple weaving. Help wind the bobbin up and try brushing some wool like people did in the past. Investigate some of the things people used to make cloth in Stroud in the past and try printing with wool. Add a mini fluffy sheep to our mini hillside and vote for your favourite sheep before exploring the museum with our Woolly Wonders Family Explorer Trail.

We invite you to discover and explore together through this range of family-friendly activities designed to help bring the theme of weaving alive.

Designed for families with children over 5 years old who need a more relaxed experience. We ask other visitors to please understand that tickets for this session are reserved for families with children with this need.

The session will run between 2pm and 3pm in the Pavilion at Museum in the Park. All activities are optional, and we will support families taking part in the activities as much or as little as they choose. To support a relaxed environment, there are 10 child tickets available to pre-book. Children must be accompanied, although accompanying adults do not need a ticket.

£1 per child. Please prebook - book online or call 01453 763394.

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Family Friendly Object Handling - Cloth Making in Stroud
May
28
11:00 AM11:00

Family Friendly Object Handling - Cloth Making in Stroud

Get hands on and discover some of the things used by people who made cloth in Stroud in the past. A chance to look closely, touch and hold some amazing objects to find out about the different jobs that people did including shearing sheep, weaving, and dyeing the cloth to explore more the people who worked in this industry in the past. 

Drop in between 11am and 3pm. Free, donations welcome. Family friendly. 

If you are a teacher looking for resources relating to this topic, please see our Learning Resources and Facilitated School Visits.

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Paper Weaving: Family Drop-in Craft Activity
May
29
11:00 AM11:00

Paper Weaving: Family Drop-in Craft Activity

Be inspired by the history of making cloth in Stroud and try weaving with paper. Learn the basics of weaving and create your own colourful design to take home with you.

Designed for families with children over 5 years old to join in together.

Drop in between 11am and 3pm. £1 per child. Please pay on the day.

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Weaving & Spinning: Drop-in Family Activities
May
30
11:00 AM11:00

Weaving & Spinning: Drop-in Family Activities

Try your hand at weaving, watch a spinning wheel in action, and plan your Open Mill Day visits to learn more about our local textile heritage. Free, family friendly drop-in activities with Gaynor Veal from Stroudwater Textile Trust. All ages welcome.

For more information about when you an visit local mills and the work of Stroudwater Textile Trust please visit their website.

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Talk: Wool Tradecloth in Exeter’s World Cultures Collection                     
May
31
11:30 AM11:30

Talk: Wool Tradecloth in Exeter’s World Cultures Collection                     

This talk is part of the At The Margins exhibition programme. Join Morwena Stephens, Textiles & World Costume Conservator, to examine the use of wool tradecloth in creations by indigenous makers from around the world, especially North America, Polynesia and Asia. The presentation identifies examples in Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum World Cultures collection where the selvedge has been incorporated as part of the design of the garment, in sacred, decorative and functional objects, as well as how the tradecloth has been used.

Free but booking recommended.

Book online or call 01453 763394.

Image: Detail from the ‘View of Wallbridge’ painting on display at The Museum in the Park (c. 1790), showing locally produced and finished wool cloth drying in the fields near Stroud town.

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Talk with Dr Lucy Gundry: Identities and dress - Wearing Lives
May
31
2:00 PM14:00

Talk with Dr Lucy Gundry: Identities and dress - Wearing Lives

Dr Lucy Gundry is a curator, lecturer and researcher living in Somerset. In this talk, Gundry invites the audience to take a step back in time and into someone else’s shoes. To metaphorically dress up in items of clothing from At the Margins exhibition. This will not be a physical act but an imaginative one. By ‘imaginatively inhabiting’ a past life through examining the ‘worn’ and ‘unworn characteristics’ (Gundry 2020) in dress exhibits we can glimpse into how lives were worn out through clothes. What might it have felt like to be the wearer of these items or indeed to wear these items out in the world today?

Free but booking recommended as places are limited.

Book online or call 01453 763394.

This talk will be followed by Dr Jo Turney’s talk ‘In the Wrong Clothes’ at 3pm, with a break for tea and coffee in between.

Image: TP-W 1 - NF.2000-0559 Women’s folk dress (open front detail) T.Parry-Williams © Norsk Folkemuseet

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Talk with Dr Jo Turney: Identities and dress - In the Wrong Clothes
May
31
3:00 PM15:00

Talk with Dr Jo Turney: Identities and dress - In the Wrong Clothes

Part of the At The Margins exhibition programme, this talk will focus on the ways in which identity is formed, established, attributed and manifested through textiles and dress objects and practices. It will centre on the personal, the political, the geographical, and the social, addressing issues that articulate notions of belonging and alienation, whether we stand out or fit in. Underpinning this argument, and drawing from the themes of this exhibition, the discussion will consider those considered 'outside' of society, such as the residents of the workhouse at Prindsen, whilst also considering those for whom identity is constructed through national identity and collective belonging. 

Free but booking recommended as places are limited.

Book online or call 01453 763394.

Image: Prinds Christian Augusts Minde exterior © Fin Serck-Hanssen

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Talks & Discussion: Exploring the Margins - Anglo-Norwegian Textile and Dress
Jun
1
11:00 AM11:00

Talks & Discussion: Exploring the Margins - Anglo-Norwegian Textile and Dress

With Tim Parry-Williams, Professor of Art: Textiles, Faculty of Fine Art, Music and Design, University of Bergen and Kari-Anne Pedersen, Curator of Textiles and Dress (Retired), Norsk Folkemuseum.

Emerging from the research project Beyond Heritage: Material Making Meaning, this session will explore the apparent use of imported British woollen cloth in pre-1900 Norwegian raudtrøyer folk dress. Whilst ornamental detailing and colour shaped identity within Norwegian Romantic Nationalism, they also point to a largely unknown global movement of materials. Unfolding tantalising links to the textile histories of Stroud, the session will reveal how local cloth making traditions and trade may have influenced the distinct visual language of this Scandinavian dress culture. 

There will be a break for tea and coffee. This session will be followed by Morwena Stephens’ talk on Wool Tradecloth at 2pm. Why not make a study day of it and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy in the courtyard. Sandwiches, snacks and drinks available to buy from Museum reception.

Free but booking recommended.

Book online or call 01453 763394.

Image: TP-W 2 - NF.1992-1581 Women’s folk dress (inside-outside detail) T.Parry-Williams © Norsk Folkemuseet

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History Detectives! FREE Family Friendly Stratford Park Trail
Jun
1
11:00 AM11:00

History Detectives! FREE Family Friendly Stratford Park Trail

Explore and discover the hidden history of Stratford Park with our NEW free outdoor heritage trail. Families with children of all ages are invited to come along and enjoy finding out about the story of this special place. And if indoor exploring is more your thing, choose from one of our fabulous museum trails. We look forward to seeing you!

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The Rivals - Outdoor Theatre Show by Rain or Shine
Jun
7
5:30 PM17:30

The Rivals - Outdoor Theatre Show by Rain or Shine

An al fresco farce for all the family!

When fashionable 18th century London society comes to take the waters in the spa-town of Bath, comic confusion, daring duels and romantic entanglements abound. At the centre of it all is heiress Lydia Languish, who is determined to elope with the penniless Ensign Beverly rather than marry the eligible Jack Absolute.

Come and sample the sparkling wit and whirlwind plot of ‘The Rivals’, a Restoration Comedy which has delighted audiences for over 250 years with its collection of comic characters, including the formidable Mrs Malaprop, a creation so famous for the way she mangles the English language that her name is now immortalised in the dictionary.

This brand new adaptation combines Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s masterpiece with Rain or Shine’s fast and furious comic flair.

Outdoor performance in the Walled Garden. Please bring rugs or camping chairs to sit on and warm layers and clothing to suit the weather. Gates open at 5pm for picnics. Teas, coffees and ice creams available to buy from the Museum’s foyer café.

Tickets £16 / £8 children aged 5 to 15 (booking fees apply)

Book online if you possibly can, if not call us on 01453 763394

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Talk: Prison Work - Fine Cell Work with Liz Taylor
Jun
14
2:00 PM14:00

Talk: Prison Work - Fine Cell Work with Liz Taylor

Join Liz Taylor, Volunteer Facilitator and Embroiderer at Fine Cell Work, to hear about the work of this ground-breaking UK charity. Established in 1997, it focuses on rehabilitation through stitch. The mission is to enable people in prisons to redefine themselves through the power of creativity and craftsmanship. Through high-quality, paid needlework projects, Fine Cell Work provides incarcerated individuals a chance to build new identities—offering not only skills and income, but a renewed sense of purpose and hope for the future.

This talk is part of the At The Margins exhibition programme. It will be followed at 3pm by a talk (live online) with Jessica Hemmings, Professor, HDK-Valand, Academy of Art and Design, University of Gothenburg.

 Free but booking recommended. Book online or call 01453 763394.

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Talk (live online): Prison Work - Carceral Craft with Jessica Hemmings
Jun
14
3:00 PM15:00

Talk (live online): Prison Work - Carceral Craft with Jessica Hemmings

Breakin rocks in the hot sun... I fought the law and the law won”, the opening lines of Sonny Curtis’ 1958 hit song, epitomize the hard manual labour historically associated with incarceration. But softer forms of penal labour also occur inside prisons. When undertaken in contexts of such sensory extremes, carceral craft has the potential to act as a tool of further oppression, or offer an outlet for expression. Through colonial and contemporary examples such as needlework in South African prisons and batik production in Indonesia, this lecture attempts to offer a reminder of the fundamental ambiguity that underpins the labour of textile craft.

A live online zoom talk with Professor Jessica Hemmings, HDK-Valand, Academy of Art and Design, University of Gothenburg. Join us in person at The Museum in the Park, or join the session online from your own home.

Booking required - book online or call 01453 763394.

Image: Prinds Christian Augusts Minde exterior © Fin Serck-Hanssen

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Talks & Discussion: Prison Work II with  Caroline Juterud & Dr Franz Petter Schmidt
Jun
15
11:00 AM11:00

Talks & Discussion: Prison Work II with Caroline Juterud & Dr Franz Petter Schmidt

Explore the history of former workhouse Prindsen, Oslo, through two very different perspectives. This session offers moving and thought provoking insights into workhouse history, and how contemporary artists respond to this history with compassion and respect.

Part of the At The Margins exhibition programme. There will be a break with tea and coffee provided.

Session 1: ‘The Norwegian workhouse Prindsen: history from an inmate’s perspective’ with Caroline Juterud, Historian, Oslo City Archives

The history of the workhouse Prindsen located in Oslo, Norway, is complex and powerful. In this talk historian Caroline Juterud will explore the space between the formal and legal part of Prindsens history and the practical daily life of the inmates of this institution. Juterud is a historian at the Oslo City Archives, where she works as a photo and video archivist. Her Master’s degree thesis was based on research into the poor relief system in Oslo in the mid-19th century and she has published widely on the history of the Prindsen workhouse. She has conducted extensive work cataloguing the institution’s archive.

Session 2: ‘Prindsen - Approaching a workhouse history through weaving’ with Dr Franz Petter Schmidt, Prof. Oslo National Academy of the Arts

In this talk textile artist Franz Petter Schmidt will explore the varying degrees of connection with the history of the workhouse which has been ongoing negotiation and unfolding since he first began working with the history of the weaving workshop at Prindsen nearly ten years ago. His entry point is a search for resonance between the workshop and aspects of his own story, as a weaver and tailor, but also in relation to mental health and queer perspectives. Schmidt is a textile artist, a men’s tailor and a weaver. For 20 years, he has worked with the archives and the historic production facilities at Sjølingstad Woollen Mill in Lindesnes and Prindsen workhouse in Oslo as his main sources. 

Free but booking recommended. Book online or call 01453 763394.

Image: Prinds Christian Augusts Minde exterior © Fin Serck-Hanssen

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Exhibition: Future Forecasts - Cheltenham Illustration Awards
Jun
21
to Aug 31

Exhibition: Future Forecasts - Cheltenham Illustration Awards

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Cheltenham Illustration Awards have been running since 2007 and each year, we are fortunate to see illustration entries from across the world. This exhibition showcases the selected work from the entrants of 2024. Each piece of narrative art interprets the theme of the year in a thoughtful and insightful way. The theme of 2024 was ‘future forecasts’ and judges were particularly impressed with the range of materials and image-making processes used this year including printed objects, diaoramas, and knitting!

We hope that you enjoy this selection of work that speculates on what the future may hold. What do you imagine you might see in the future? What is your future forecast?

The exhibition will be accompanied by family workshops during the school holidays - details to be announced nearer the time.

Illustration: ‘The Last Pearl’ by Julia Morris

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The Waiting Game: Dr Nicola Clark in conversation with Jo Durrant
Jun
21
2:30 PM14:30

The Waiting Game: Dr Nicola Clark in conversation with Jo Durrant

Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour – just three of the six wives of Henry VIII. But behind every Tudor Queen were her ladies-in-waiting.

They were her confidantes and her chaperones. They had the right to enter her most private chambers, dressing and undressing her and listening to her secrets. But they had unique power too – and political agency.

In her book ‘The Waiting Game: The Untold Story of the Women Who Served the Tudor Queens’ lecturer and author Dr Nicola Clark explores their daily lives and why they had to make choices about loyalty that simply didn’t exist before.

Nicola will be sharing some of the stories of these remarkable women when she joins Jo Durrant in conversation. Dr Nicola Clark is a Senior Lecturer in Early Modern History at the University of Chichester and writes about women in the Tudor period. Her first book, Gender, Family, and Politics: The Howard Women, 1485-1558, was published by Oxford University Press in 2018. She also writes for public audiences, with work featured in History Today and History Extra, and has appeared on television as part of the BBC's The Boleyns: A Scandalous Family, and More4's Royal Scandals. 

This event is part of Jo Durrant’s ‘Our Beautiful Universe’ series and takes place in the Pavilion in the Museum's beautiful Walled Garden. Tea and coffee included and there will be a chance to ask questions or share ideas after the talk if you so wish. 

Tickets £7 / £5 including tea and coffee. Museum Members can bring a guest for free - look out for our ‘2 for 1’ ticket offer. Book online or call 01453 763394.

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History Lessons: Shalina Patel in conversation with Jo Durrant
Jul
5
2:30 PM14:30

History Lessons: Shalina Patel in conversation with Jo Durrant

Fancy a whistle stop history tour, taking in all the big moments from the Romans to the two World Wars? But featuring individuals you might not have met before?

Award-winning history teacher, writer and historian Shalina Patel is the creator of the sensational Instagram account @thehistorycorridor, which posts bite sized history lessons. In her book ‘The History Lessons’ she invites you to reclaim your history education, by celebrating stories and people that are less familiar but no less fascinating.

Shalina Patel has over 15 years of experience in the classroom and is Head of Teaching and Learning at Claremont High School Academy in London. In 2018 she won the Silver Pearson Teaching Award for Outstanding Teacher of the Year. She has been featured in publications from the Guardian to The Times and on programmes like BBC Woman’s Hour, BBC’s Teach Me a Lesson and Newscast. Shalina’s first book ‘The History Lessons’ was released in May 2024 and was heralded by the Guardian as aiming to ‘show adults their historical blind spots’ by ‘highlighting stories traditionally left out of the textbooks.

Tickets £7 / £5 including tea and coffee. Museum Members can bring a guest for free - look out for our ‘2 for 1’ ticket offer. Book online or call 01453 763394.

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Operation Beach Hut: Outdoor Theatre Show by Mikron
Jul
18
7:00 PM19:00

Operation Beach Hut: Outdoor Theatre Show by Mikron

Join Mikron on their latest musical adventure to the Great British Seaside! 

Wouldn’t you trade anything for a trip to the beach? A centuries old tradition, full to the brim with nostalgia and escapism! But as history ticks on, some places get left behind…

When Holly arrives in the quaint seaside town of Fiddling-On-Sea, she expects a quiet break from the din of the big city. However, she soon finds herself plunged into a whole new world of coastal chaos. ‘Fiddling-On-Sea’s Best Beach Hut Competition’ is in full swing, and the summer heat is rising…

As the competition deadline draws closer, the deep history of the seaside floats to the surface, washing up a host of characters and stories from centuries gone by. It doesn’t take Holly long to realise there is far more at stake than just a prize for best beach hut.

Outdoor performance in the Walled Garden. Please bring rugs or chairs to sit on and clothing to suit the weather. Gates open at 6.30pm for picnics.

Tickets £16 (£14 concs), family ticket £45. Book online or call 01453 763394.

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Cinderella: Outdoor Theatre Shows by IKP Productions
Jul
26
1:00 PM13:00

Cinderella: Outdoor Theatre Shows by IKP Productions

From the fabulous company who brought you The Little Mermaid, Hercules, Beauty and the Beast and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the classic fairytale of magic, true love and custom-made shoes is brought to life in this brand new show for all ages.

Embark on the most magical adventure as Cinderella comes to the Museum in the Park’s Walled Garden this Summer. Expect magic, madness and plenty of silliness for all the family to enjoy!

There will be two outdoor performances in the Walled Garden, starting at 1pm and 4.30pm, gates open at 12.30pm and 4pm. Booking required.

Please bring rugs or picnic chairs to sit on and clothing to suit the weather - sunhats and suncream, or warm layers and waterproofs! Refreshments and ice creams on sale in the Museum’s foyer café.

Tickets £13, £11, family ticket £44 - for full details and to book online click here

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As You Like It: Outdoor Theatre Show by the Festival Players
Aug
1
7:00 PM19:00

As You Like It: Outdoor Theatre Show by the Festival Players

‘As You Like It’ is probably Shakespeare’s most entrancing romantic comedy. Rosalind, the daughter of a displaced Duke, is banished from the court by her Father’s brother. Along with her cousin Celia, she escapes to the Forest of Arden and disguises herself as a man. She teases Orlando, a young man, who does not recognise her as the girl he loved at a distance. The pastoral world of the Forest is inhabited with a colourful array of folk, looking for love, and woven into this delightful tale, full of comedy and music.

An outdoor performance in the Museum’s beautiful Walled Garden. Please bring warm layers and weather-appropriate clothing, and rugs or low-backed camping chairs to sit on. Gates open at 6pm for picnics, show starts at 7pm.

Advance booking highly recommended to secure your tickets!

Tickets £16, Concs & children (5 - 17 year olds) £15 (under 5s free)

Book online or call 01453 763394

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Young Elizabeth: Dr Nicola Tallis in conversation with Jo Durrant
Aug
2
2:30 PM14:30

Young Elizabeth: Dr Nicola Tallis in conversation with Jo Durrant

She’s one of England’s most famous monarchs, but queenship was by no means certain for Elizabeth I. Before she was three years old she had been a princess and then declared illegitimate following the brutal execution of her mother, Anne Boleyn. Many dangers and tragedies plagued her early life and by the time she did succeed to the throne in November 1558, she’d experienced more drama than most at the age of just 25.

Dr Nicola Tallis explores all of this turbulence and more in her book ‘Young Elizabeth’. Nicola is a historian and author who has also written about the lives of Lady Jane Grey and Margaret Beaufort. She joins Jo Durrant to talk about the longest reigning Tudor and some other incredible women from history.

Dr Nicola Tallis is an independent author and historian, and a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. She has worked as a curator, researcher, and lecturer, and specialises in the use of jewels in late medieval and Tudor England. Nicola has spoken at many prestigious events and venues including the Emirates Festival of Literature, the Tower of London, Hampton Court, and the National Archives. She has made numerous television and radio appearances, including on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are?, Channel 5’s The Vikings and The Gunpowder Plot, and Channel 4’s Frankie Boyle’s Farewell to the Monarchy. Nicola is the author of five books, and her latest, Young Elizabeth: Princess. Prisoner. Queen. was Book of the Week in The Times.

This event is part of Jo Durrant’s ‘Our Beautiful Universe’ series and takes place in the Pavilion in the Museum's beautiful Walled Garden. Tea and coffee included and there will be a chance to ask questions or share ideas after the talk if you so wish. 

Tickets £7 / £5 including tea and coffee. Museum Members can bring a guest for free - look out for our ‘2 for 1’ ticket offer. Book online or call 01453 763394.

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Treasure Island: Outdoor Theatre Show by Jenny Wren Productions
Aug
23
6:00 PM18:00

Treasure Island: Outdoor Theatre Show by Jenny Wren Productions

Jenny Wren Productions presents Robert Louis Stevenson's 'Treasure Island’, adapted by Matthew Bassington and Aidan Mosby …

Looking for adventure? Join Jenny Wren Productions as we sail the seven seas in search of buried treasure! There’s never a dull moment on board ship – the grog flows, we love a sea shanty, and Long John Silver and his parrot are always game for a laugh.

But it won’t all be plain sailing as murder and mutiny abound, not to mention the dreaded “Black Spot”; surrounded by all those brawling buccaneers, who can you trust?

Anchors away as our small but perfectly capable crew take you on a journey to Treasure Island.

In the open-air in the Walled Garden – please bring a chair or blanket to sit on. Suitable for older children as well as adults. Show starts at 6pm, grounds open at 5pm for picnics.

Booking details to follow soon!

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Maths & Meteorology: How Do You Forecast The Weather? with Dee Atkins-Greig  
Aug
29
2:30 PM14:30

Maths & Meteorology: How Do You Forecast The Weather? with Dee Atkins-Greig  

It’s a subject many of us love to talk about – the weather! But how do forecasters make their predictions? And what role do mathematical equations play in forecasting models?

Dee Atkins-Greig is a maths and meteorology tutor and a certified coach. Her early meteorological career was as a forecaster with the Royal Navy before she later became a weather presenter for BBC South on TV and local radio.

Dee joins interviewer Jo Durrant to share her passion for this subject, discussing everything from how storms are named to what constitutes a heatwave, and her favourite clouds. Plus, she’ll reveal some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of TV weather presenting.

Dee is a maths tutor, meteorology enthusiast, and ICF-trained coach. She began her career as a Royal Navy forecaster before moving into BBC local TV and radio as a weather presenter. She later became an instructor at the Met Office College and was partly responsible for the training of Tom Schafernaker and Chris Fawkes among other BBC weather presenters. After retraining as a secondary maths teacher and a short stint as a classroom teacher, Dee moved to Warsash Maritime Academy where she taught GCSE level maths and meteorology to Merchant Navy deck cadets. Now, as a dedicated maths and meteorology tutor, Dee helps students build confidence and develop independent learning skills. 

She is passionate about weather and clouds and is on a one woman mission to educate the world on how to get the best from their weather app!

This event is part of Jo Durrant’s ‘Our Beautiful Universe’ series and takes place in the Pavilion in the Museum's beautiful Walled Garden. Tea and coffee included and there will be a chance to ask questions or share ideas after the talk if you so wish. 

Tickets £7 / £5 including tea and coffee. Museum Members can bring a guest for free - look out for our ‘2 for 1’ ticket offer. Book online or call 01453 763394.

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Family Friendly Object Handling: World War II
May
5
11:00 AM11:00

Family Friendly Object Handling: World War II

We are open from 11am until 4.30pm on Bank Holiday Monday!

Come and discover WW2 history with our Learning Officer, Ruth, who will be sharing her collection of WW2 related handling artefacts and replica artefacts.

Get hands on and discover some of the things used by people living and working at home and those on active service during World War II. A chance to look closely, touch and hold some amazing objects to find out more about rationing, the role of civilians working to keep people in Britain safe during the war, and some of the kit that people serving away from home used during World War II.

Drop in between 11am and 3pm. Free, donations welcome. Family friendly but all ages welcome.  

2025 marks the 80th anniversary of World War II. You might also be interested in our collections displays to find out more about the Stroud District during World War II.

If you are a teacher looking for resources relating to this topic, please see see our Learning Resources and feel free to get in touch.

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Buzz Club
Apr
27
11:30 AM11:30

Buzz Club

Come along and see what’s buzzing and blooming in the Walled Garden, meet the Buzz Club team and find out more about how we can all encourage wildlife, bees and other vitally important pollinators in our gardens and neighbourhoods. For adults and children, come and join in and become a Bee Guardian. Free, donations welcome.

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Spring Sketchbooks - Outdoor Drop in Family Activity
Apr
24
11:00 AM11:00

Spring Sketchbooks - Outdoor Drop in Family Activity

Come and get your very own mini sketchbook from our table in the courtyard and enjoy sketching in the park or walled garden. Bring your own portable art kit with you, or borrow some of our pencils and crayons. Outdoor art activity for all ages, FREE but donations welcome.

With thanks to bookbinder Ursula Jeakins for making and donating sketchbooks made from bookbinding offcuts.

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Shakespeare's Borrowed Feathers: Jo Durrant with Dr Darren Freebury-Jones
Apr
23
2:30 PM14:30

Shakespeare's Borrowed Feathers: Jo Durrant with Dr Darren Freebury-Jones

“He was not for age, but for all time” is what Ben Jonson famously said of William Shakespeare. But how did Shakespeare’s contemporaries, such as Jonson, Christopher Marlowe and John Fletcher influence him?

In his book ‘Shakespeare’s Borrowed Feathers’ author and lecturer Dr Darren Freebury-Jones uses the latest techniques in textual analysis to provide a fresh look at the community of playwrights that shaped Shakespeare’s work.

On the Bard’s birthday, join Darren in conversation with Jo Durrant as he talks about his passion for early modern drama and why over 400 years on from his death, there are still new stories to uncover about the person many consider to be the greatest playwright of all time.

Tickets cost £7 or £5 for Museum in the Park Members - Membership is free to join.

Booking required. Book online here or call 01453 763394.

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Fantastic Farmyards - Museum Inspired Relaxed Family Session
Apr
22
2:00 PM14:00

Fantastic Farmyards - Museum Inspired Relaxed Family Session

We are trialling pre-bookable sessions aimed at families with neurodivergent children who need a relaxed environment to enjoy these activities.

 Make a chicken or duck headband to wear and wash the muddy farm animal toys. Explore some seeds and try painting with toy tractors. Match the tails to the farm animals and build a barn for some toy animals. Create a paper fruit or vegetable to our wheelbarrow and tell us your favourite farm animal. We invite you to discover and explore together through this range of family-friendly activities designed to help bring the theme of farmyards alive.

Designed for families with children over 5 years old who need a more relaxed experience. We ask other visitors to please understand that tickets for this session are reserved for families with children with this need.

The session will run between 2pm and 3pm in the Pavilion at Museum in the Park. All activities are optional, and we will support families taking part in the activities as much or as little as they choose. To support a relaxed environment, there are 10 child tickets available to pre-book. Children must be accompanied, although accompanying adults do not need a ticket.

£1 per child. Please prebook. Book online here or call 01453 763394.

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Fantastic Farmyards - Museum Inspired Drop-in Family Activity
Apr
22
11:00 AM11:00

Fantastic Farmyards - Museum Inspired Drop-in Family Activity

Make a chicken or duck headband to wear and wash the muddy farm animal toys. Explore some seeds and try painting with toy tractors. Match the tails to the farm animals and build a barn for some toy animals. Create a paper fruit or vegetable to our wheelbarrow and tell us your favourite farm animal. We invite you to discover and explore together through this range of family-friendly activities designed to help bring the theme of farmyards alive. In the Museum, spot objects from local farms of the past … can you find the cow name plates and the miniature toy farm?

Designed for families with children over 5 years old to explore together. Drop in between 11am and 1pm. £1 per child, please pay on the day. In the Garden Pavilion.

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Easter Bunny ‘I Spy’ Hunt
Apr
18
to Apr 21

Easter Bunny ‘I Spy’ Hunt

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Can you spot all the Easter Bunnies who are hiding inside the Museum? This I Spy trail is back by popular demand, all ages welcome but designed for younger children to enjoy with older siblings or parents and grandparents. Each Bunny has a letter nearby … write down the letters as you spot them, then try to unscramble the letters to make a spring related word. When you’ve finished, collect your reward from reception, perhaps a sticker, or perhaps a chocolate mini egg!

Museum, gallery and walled garden open 11am to 4.30pm on Easter Monday as well as Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission free, donations welcome.

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 Spring Seed Planting - Outdoor Drop in Family Activity
Apr
17
11:00 AM11:00

Spring Seed Planting - Outdoor Drop in Family Activity

Head up to the walled garden lawn where you can plant some spring seeds to take home and grow in your garden or on a sunny windowsill. Spot signs of spring in the beautiful garden too – new leaves, shoots and blossoms, and early butterflies and bees.

Outdoor activity, all ages welcome, FREE but donations appreciated.

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Delightful Dinos - Museum Inspired Relaxed Family Session
Apr
15
2:00 PM14:00

Delightful Dinos - Museum Inspired Relaxed Family Session

We are trialling pre-bookable sessions aimed at families with neurodivergent children who need a relaxed environment to enjoy these activities. These Tuesday afternoon sessions will be inspired by different themes from the museum collection - look out for them during half term, spring and summer school holidays.

Get up close with some real fossils by trying out our mini fossil dig, find out more at our investigation station and explore our sensory exploration tray. Make a hatching dinosaur toy and a game to challenge yourself to move like a dinosaur. Add a prehistoric marine creature to our seascape and tell us what your favourite dinosaur is before exploring the museum to see the fossils of dinosaurs. We invite you to discover and explore together through this range of family-friendly activities designed to help bring the theme of dinosaurs alive.

Designed for families with children over 5 years old who need a more relaxed experience. We ask other visitors to please understand that tickets for this session are reserved for families with children with this need.

The session will run between 2pm and 3pm in the Garden Pavilion at Museum in the Park. All activities are optional, and we will support families taking part in the activities as much or as little as they choose. To support a relaxed environment, there are only 10 child tickets available to pre-book. Children must be accompanied by a parent or carer, although accompanying adults do not need a ticket.

£1 per child. Booking required - book online here - or call 01453 763394.

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Delightful Dinos -  Museum Inspired Drop-in Family Activity
Apr
15
11:00 AM11:00

Delightful Dinos - Museum Inspired Drop-in Family Activity

Get up close with some real fossils by trying out our mini fossil dig, find out more at our investigation station and explore our sensory exploration tray. Make a hatching dinosaur toy and a game to challenge yourself to move like a dinosaur. Add a prehistoric marine creature to our seascape and tell us what your favourite dinosaur is before exploring the museum to see the fossils of dinosaurs. We invite you to discover and explore together through this range of family-friendly activities designed to help bring the theme of dinosaurs alive.

Designed for families with children over 5 years old to explore together. Drop in between 11am and 1pm. £1 per child, please pay on the day.

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Eco Printing Workshop with Ruth Illingworth
Apr
13
1:30 PM13:30

Eco Printing Workshop with Ruth Illingworth

Join Artist-Gardener Ruth Illingworth for an introduction to ecoprinting on paper. Using flowers from the Museum’s Walled Garden and leaves from Stratford Park you will create and come away with an A4 ecoprint. You will also learn about which leaves and flowers produce the best prints. Ruth will supply a handout of how to repeat the process at home and useful references.

For adults, all art abilities welcome.

Tickets: £20, £15, £10 Booking required - book online here or call 01453 763394

Ticket fees and donations fund the Museum’s events and exhibitions programme. 

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Book Launch: 'Pretenders' by Kate Potts
Apr
12
2:30 PM14:30

Book Launch: 'Pretenders' by Kate Potts

What is it like, as a daily, lived experience, to feel like a fraud or a fake? And what can ‘the imposter phenomenon’ – a sense that our true abilities and achievements, and other core aspects of our identities, are unreal, undeserved or mistakenly bestowed – tell us about who we are and how we relate to one another?

In her new book Pretenders (Bloodaxe Books), poet Kate Potts weaves together interview material and original poems with essay fragments to create a multi-voice exploration of imposter feelings.  Pretenders shines a light on our value systems and hierarchies, interrogating notions of realness, self-assurance and the self.

‘As a study of imposter feelings, Pretenders is revelatory: humane in its ability to hold and make space for vulnerability, and alert to the socio-political dynamics that underpin the impulse to self-doubt.’ Sarah Howe

Join us to celebrate the launch of Pretenders, with readings from guest poets JLM Morton, Adam Horovitz and Cath Drake.

 All welcome. Tea, coffee, cake and wine will be provided (donations appreciated).
Books will be available to buy.

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A Passion for Stitching: An exhibition of carpets, needlepoints & embroideries by Helen Williams
Apr
12
to Apr 27

A Passion for Stitching: An exhibition of carpets, needlepoints & embroideries by Helen Williams

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

In the early 1900’s, carpets and rugs were not merely functional floor coverings; they were treasured art pieces laden with rich, cultural heritage and exquisite craftsmanship.  Helen Williams is the granddaughter of Polish immigrants who came to England in the first years of the twentieth century. Her work is inspired by a strong tradition of Slavic textiles, and also by her travels to the coasts and gardens of the United Kingdom.

Helen has been resident in Stroud since 1986. Her work is in collections worldwide.  This is her third exhibition at the museum, and we hope you enjoy seeing her intricate and colourful work. This is a selling exhibition and every purchase helps support The Museum in the Park.

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SOLD OUT Talk: Women Artists in Cotswold Churches
Apr
11
10:30 AM10:30

SOLD OUT Talk: Women Artists in Cotswold Churches

Exquisite Embroideries to Glittering Glass: The Work of Women Artists in Cotswold Churches

Join Kirsty Hartsiotis to explore the history of women's work in the churches of the Cotswolds. 

Women’s work has always been in our churches, but never more so than in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Sometimes we don’t know their names – but they’ve executed countless banners, vestments, and altar frontals as part of their work for their local churches. It’s not only church flowers and kneelers though! The growing emancipation of women in the latter part of the 19th century allowed them to set up in business, going into areas that men thought they couldn’t – stained glass, wood carving, metalwork. After the First and Second World Wars, women produced intricate calligraphy for rolls of honour, carved memorials and created memorial windows.

We’ll discover work by women such as Theo Moorman, Veronica Whall, Mary Lowndes, Nora Yoxall and Nan Reid, among many unsung women whose work enriches our churches right up the present day.

Tickets: £7 / £5 including tea, coffee and biscuits

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Flowers in the Park: Botanical Art Exhibition by Valerie Dugan
Apr
5
to Apr 27

Flowers in the Park: Botanical Art Exhibition by Valerie Dugan

  • The Museum in the Park (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Ever since winning an art scholarship at the age of thirteen, Valerie Dugan pursued a career in both calligraphy and botanical art. Her intricate, detailed work will delight anyone who shares a passion for flowers, gardens and the natural world. This exhibition brings together original watercolours with high quality art prints and a selection of prints and greetings cards will be for sale. We hope you enjoy this exquisite indoor collection of flowers, foliage and butterflies. We hope you can also enjoy time outside in our wonderful walled garden as spring buds and blossoms open and the first butterflies emerge.

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FREE Museum Explorer Trails
Mar
30
11:00 AM11:00

FREE Museum Explorer Trails

Are you planning a family day out for your Mum this Mother’s Day? Why not visit The Museum in the Park, enjoy looking around the displays and exhibitions and treat Mum to tea and cake - 10% off in the shop and café today. Don’t forget our FREE Family Explorer trails too - a great way for adults and children to enjoy exploring the Museum together. Please ask at reception when you visit.

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Buzz Club: Spring Seed Bomb Making
Mar
30
11:00 AM11:00

Buzz Club: Spring Seed Bomb Making

Join us for our first session of the year with Stroud Valleys Project who will be showing us how to make seed bombs! As the Walled Garden begins to wake up after winter, this is the perfect time to start thinking about which seeds to sow and what to plant in your own garden to encourage bees, pollinators and wildlife.

This session is based in the Walled Garden Pavilion and is for adults and children. Hot and cold drinks and cakes, free entry but donations much appreciated - pay what you can. Come for all or part of the time and become a Bee Guardian.

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Mother's Day
Mar
30
11:00 AM11:00

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day is March 30th … a date for the diary! We are offering 10% off in the Museum shop and Café on this special day so why not treat your Mum, Auntie or Grandma to a delicious slice of cake and hot drink too! It’s the last day of the incredible Shirley Baker Street Photography exhibition - do enjoy a last look before it closes. Barbara Manzi-fe’s slideshow showing photos of East London communities in the early 1960s can be enjoyed in the meeting room, alongside photos by young people and ‘Mother’s Day’ photos by a group of mums from the Rosary School in Stroud. With the fascinating Museum displays to explore and signs of Spring to enjoy in the Walled Garden, we hope you enjoy everything this special place has to offer.

Admission free, donations welcome.

Image: photo by Barbara Manze-fe showing a mother and baby in East London, early 1960s.

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Railways to Royalty: Jo Durrant in conversation with Jack Boskett, Photographer
Mar
29
3:00 PM15:00

Railways to Royalty: Jo Durrant in conversation with Jack Boskett, Photographer

How do you tell a story through a photograph? 
Award-winning professional photographer Jack Boskett started his Tewkesbury based business at the age of just 19 and his passion for photography coincided with his love of railways. 
 
His work has brought him much acclaim and recognition in railway publications and his skill has led him to photograph stars of stage and screen, prime ministers and especially members of the Royal Family. In fact, Jack took the only known photograph of a senior member of the Royal Family leaning out of a moving train!
 
Join Jack in conversation with Jo Durrant as he talks about his passion for photography, the different areas he’s worked in, what it’s like to capture Royalty and Railways and much more. 
 
Jo Durrant is the award-winning presenter of the independent arts & science podcast ‘Jo Durrant’s Beautiful Universe’. She’s a highly respected and accomplished interviewer and event chair, and a familiar face at literature, history, and science festivals. For over 20 years Jo was a presenter, producer & reporter with BBC radio and interviewed hundreds of people, from Melanie C to Tim Peake. She is now freelance.
After a successful summer series in 2024, Jo returns to the Museum in the Park for a new monthly series of ‘Our Beautiful Universe’ conversations. 

Tickets £7 / £5 (2 for 1 offer for MiP Members) tea and coffee included.
book online or call 01453 763394 or buy tickets on the door

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Talk: A County goes to War with Paul Barnett
Mar
27
2:00 PM14:00

Talk: A County goes to War with Paul Barnett

After his sold-out talk on the Purton Hulks, we are delighted to welcome back historian Paul Barnett, this time with a talk exploring different aspects of life and work in Gloucestershire during WW2. Digging for Victory, bomb damage in Painswick, American tents at Sharpness and much more - this fascinating talk takes a look across the county. 2025 marks 80 years since the end of the Second World War, giving us an opportunity to explore the history of that period and the changes that the war years set in motion. 

Tickets £5 including tea/coffee (2 for 1 offer for MiP Members)

Booking necessary - book online or call 01453 763394

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