Our poetry evenings return, with a reading featuring Jonathan Davidson, Adam Horovitz and Caroline Shaw, introduced by the wonderful Philip Rush of Yew Tree Press.

Adam, local poet, and well known not only for his writing but also for his skilful delivery, has a new pamphlet, Prayer Songs for Flesh and Future.

Jonathan is a poet, writer and ‘literature activist’. He lives in the Midlands but works internationally. His most recent book places short and deceptively simple poems against images by painter Anna Dillon of the Berkshire Downs where Jonathan grew up and where the poems are largely set. He will also read from earlier collections.

Caroline Shaw holds regular Stroud poetry meet-ups at Woodruff’s Cafe. Her debut pamphlet Brute Swan was published by Yew Tree Press in 2019; she has contributed poems to Stroud’s Wool and Water Festival, Amethyst Review and various anthologies. 
With support from Juliette Morton (Dialect), she recently co-created the Stroud Poetry Course 2024 with Katie Lloyd-Nunn. 

Doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start.

No need to book, join us for new poetry and good company.

Books and drinks for sale, all welcome.

This event takes place in the Walled Garden Pavilion. Access is via Museum Reception (this is where the toilets are situated) then by walking up into the Garden via a sloping pathway. The lights for the garden steps have failed, so steps cannot be used at night for safety reasons. If you have any questions about access or require accessible parking, please call the Museum team on 01453 763394.

This event is FREE but donations are always welcome. Donations help fund our programme of events and exhibitions and also essential repairs and equipment … for example new garden step lights! Please donate if you possibly can.

From the Boneshaker to the BMX, don’t miss this fabulous celebration of bikes and cycling! Come along to the Museum to see a fantastic display of vintage and replica bicycles, enjoy live e-bike demos, and meet Mr Pedersen, inventor of the world-famous Pedersen cycle - there’s one on display upstairs in the Museum. If you can, dress up your own bike with festive, colourful decorations and pedal your way here. Or cycle in and make decorations when you arrive.

Children and young people can have a go a making music with special guest Rinky Dink, the legendary pedal-powered sound system. Miss Daisy’s Pop Up Cafe will be serving delicious drinks and homemade goodies in the Walled Garden Pavilion.

This free, fun, family-friendly event celebrates Sustainable September and cycling as a sustainable mode of transport. Everyone welcome, drop in and enjoy!

Join us for an evening for Pete Hoida, who lived and worked near Stroud from 1974 until his death in 2023. The evening will begin with a short film about Pete, and then there will be readings from three poets who have chosen poems which harmonise in different ways with the paintings on display in the Black Severn Angel exhibition: Ric Hool, JLM Morton and Philip Rush.

The evening will finish, around 9.30pm, with some recordings of Pete reading his own work. This event takes place in Gallery Two, next door to the Art Gallery where Pete’s painting are on display.

Doors open at 7.30pm for 8pm start.

Free entry, no need to book, drinks and books available to buy.

Event orrganised by Yew Tree Press.

The Cotswold Woolgatherers will shear a live sheep and attempt to spin the fleece and knit a sweater … all in one day! Drop in and cheer them on, join in with free family activities, try our ‘Woolly Wonders’ museum explorer trail, bring your knitting and a picnic and relax and have fun. Museum open 11am until 4.30pm. Stalls and fundraising in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Organised with Stroudwater Textile Trust and a wonderful team of volunteers.

Please save the date! Come and join us on our last open weekend of 2023 and sing traditional carols to mark Advent time and the start of the festive season. All ages welcome, song sheets and warming drinks provided, this informal community event is all about coming to together to sing and add some brightness to the dark time of year. This year we’ll be in the Garden Pavilion with the door open for fresh air, so please bring warm layers. This is an informal standing event, but there will be some chairs for those who need to sit down. With Eleanor Holliday and Rob Kempner.

Join us for an evening of readings and good company, with books and drinks available to buy.

Bloom Town, the new pamphlet by Mark Bardsley, explores the back-lanes of Shropshire, bringing to life the county's distinctiveness in landscape and characters.
The book is enriched by Mark's own drawings.

Kate Potts' book, Feral, was published by Bloodaxe Books and was a Poetry Book Society Recommendation. "These poems are luminous despatches from the charged, porous boundary between ‘animal’ and ‘human’."

Philip Rush has a new book of poems and photographs from Garlic Press, Camera Obscura. The poems in various ways trace the progress of a year from Samhain to Samhain.

Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm start.

Free entry. Refreshments. Books for sale (cash preferred). All welcome, no need to book but please call ahead if you require accessible parking (01453 763394).

Please join us for an evening of poetry inspired by the current exhibition. Adam Horovitz, JLM Morton and Dominic James will be sharing poems inspired by the spirit and themes of the Activist Alphabet exhibition by Christine Felce. There will also be an open mic on the theme of climate change (sign up on the night).

Free event, no need to book, drinks available to buy, donations welcome. Please bring a torch to light up your way across the park to the Museum.

Drop in and join us, meet the artist Christine Felce and celebrate the opening of ‘Activist Alphabet’. This thought-provoking exhibition of prints and poems was motivated by the climate crisis and what we can all do to help. Hot and cold drinks will be available, all welcome, free but donations appreciated. Please bring a torch with you to light your way through the park to the Museum.

Sunday 7 May is International Dawn Chorus Day - a worldwide celebration of nature’s greatest symphony. Rise early and venture out to the beautiful walled garden at the heart of Stratford Park and experience this special place in the magical early hours. All welcome, but please respect nature and other guests by moving slowly and quietly as you stroll along the pathways, or sit peacefully in the glass-fronted Pavilion.

Coffee & croissants will be served from 6am (donations welcome).

• If you are unable to walk or cycle to this event and require accessible parking, please contact us by 4pm Friday 5th April so we can help you.

• Please be aware that only access dogs are permitted inside the Museum premises and Garden. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the courtyard and the wider park grounds outside the Museum.

Join Yew Tree Press and friends for an evening of poetry, conversation and conviviality in the Walled Garden Pavilion. Doors open at 7.30pm, readings start at 8pm. Entry free, books and drinks available to buy, donations very welcome.

This time, we’ll be hearing poetry from recent Dialect workshops and walks. We look forward to seeing you!

Please call ahead if you require directions for accessible parking: 01453 763394

Come along to The Museum in the Park and join Stroud Valleys Project and friends for a fun-filled Earth Day celebration. See the community Wild Escape installation in Gallery Two, enjoy a park treasure hunt or make a lark or butterfly. Wood-fired pizza and drinks for sale, and a chance to find out about SVP’s new Landscape of the Lark and Garden Guardians projects. Everyone welcome - do drop in and join us!

Free family drop-in activities, donations welcome, pizza and drinks available to buy.

Butterfly photograph: Theo Deproost

Would you like to have a go at simple crochet? Or perhaps you have a craft project on the go, but fancy a change of scene and some friendly company and crafting tips? Come along to The Museum in the Park between 10.30am - 12.30pm and join textile enthusiast and make-do-and-mend maestro Sue McNamara. Enjoy learning simple crochet techniques, or bring your knitting or sewing project to work on. Free, all abilities welcome, teas and coffees available to buy. Do call in and say hello!

We are delighted to welcome back Yew Tree Press and friends for an evening of poetry, conversation and conviviality in the Walled Garden Pavilion. Doors open at 7.30pm, readings start at 8pm. Entry free, books and drinks available to buy, donations welcome, We look forward to seeing you!

Come and meet Stroud Buzz Club and find out what’s happening in the Walled Garden right now as Spring slowly arrives. All ages welcome, a chance to find out more about nature, pollinators and how we can all do our bit to help nature. You can also enjoy delicious cakes and homemade soup at Miss Daisy’s Pop Up Café. For further details and to join the Buzz Club mailing list contact Peter Lead. Admission free, donations welcome, refreshments for sale … we hope you can join us!