Allen Gallery

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Allen Gallery Ceramics, exhibitions, cafe, garden. Part of not-for-profit organisation Hampshire Cultural Trust.
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An intimate setting for one of the South's most outstanding ceramics collection of English, continental and oriental pottery, porcelain and tiles from 1250 to the present day. Regular special exhibitions of art, crafts, photography, local and natural history, local artists and the delightful watercolours and oil paintings of W H Allen. There is the comfortable coffee lounge, and charming walled garden provides a peaceful retreat in the middle of Alton.

Beautiful reclaimed tiles all cleaned and ready for tomorrow's Heritage Open Days event with Curtis Museum and Alton Ass...
11/09/2026

Beautiful reclaimed tiles all cleaned and ready for tomorrow's Heritage Open Days event with Curtis Museum and Alton Assembly Rooms

Taking inspiration from beautiful tiles excavated from the site of the former Selborne Priory we have some fun stencils for you to paint your own!

Drop into Crown Close (by the War Memorial) from 10am on Saturday 19th September to enjoy a whole range of hands-on activities, re-enactments and real historic trades and crafts as part of our Hands that Made History event.

This activity is part of the Rediscovering the Allen Gallery Project, made possible with the support of The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to revitalise the Gallery and offer an exciting new activities programme. Our community programme is delivered with the generous additional support of East Hampshire District Council and Alton Town Council.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund East Hampshire District Council Alton Town Council Alton Events

Once a familiar sight on the counter of a Victorian to***conist, this jar held Bird’s Eye to***co - named for the tiny p...
04/09/2026

Once a familiar sight on the counter of a Victorian to***conist, this jar held Bird’s Eye to***co - named for the tiny pale dots left by the to***co stems when the leaf was sliced.

Made by J. Stiff & Sons of Lambeth, it is a small object with a surprisingly big story: from Victorian smoking habits and life at sea to the changing attitudes towards to***co that have transformed our everyday lives.

Pop into the Curtis Museum this month to see this curious ceramic up close and discover the story behind it.
 
Each month we are highlighting objects from the Allen Gallery and displaying them in the Curtis Museum. This is part of the activity programme for the Rediscovering the Allen Gallery project and is made possible thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, East Hampshire District Council, Arts Council England, and Alton Town Council.
 

🏺 STONEWARE STUDY DAY WITH NIGEL JEFFRIES Join us at the Curtis Museum for a fascinating study day exploring the history...
26/08/2026

🏺 STONEWARE STUDY DAY WITH NIGEL JEFFRIES
 
Join us at the Curtis Museum for a fascinating study day exploring the history, production and archaeology of stoneware with Nigel Jeffries, Principal Specialist, Manager and leader of MOLA’s ceramics team. Throughout the day, Nigel will explore the origins of the stoneware trade and its production in Britain, introduce the Bartmann Goes Global project, and take a closer look at the curious practice of early modern witch bottles.
 
📅 Wednesday 14 October 2026
⏰ 10:30am-3:00pm
📍 Curtis Museum, High Street, Alton, GU34 1BA
🎟️ £23 per person, including refreshments and light lunch
 
With thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, East Hampshire District Council and Alton Town Council for supporting the Allen Gallery Reimagined project.
 

11/08/2026

You may have seen our recent posts announcing two Artist Residencies as part of the Rediscovering the Allen Gallery Project.

With support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund we are delighted to be able to support practising artists develop their work, drawing on the rich heritage of the gallery and its collections.

What is an Artist Residency? A residency offers an opportunity for an artist to develop their work with the resources, support and community offered by an institution such as the Allen Gallery. Our two artists, one appointed through an open call and one nominated as a long-term supporter and mentor on our creative programme, bring fresh energy and a new angle to the work we do and the items we care for - we are super excited to share their work with you over the coming months!

Chris Horner Artist
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We are thrilled to introduce artist Chris Horner, who will build a body of work as Artist in Residence (Buildings) for t...
11/08/2026

We are thrilled to introduce artist Chris Horner, who will build a body of work as Artist in Residence (Buildings) for the Allen Gallery Project with a focus on the building itself.

An Alton-based contemporary artist who trained at University for the Creative Arts - UCA and is a member of The London Group, Chris will re-use items salvaged from the Allen Gallery's refurbishment to tell the story of its construction through a creative and exploratory investigation of the building fabric, its historic and contemporary materials and the stories they tell. This commissioned opportunity is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and will enable Chris to develop his work from his nearby studio while the gallery is closed.

"....My work moves between art and labour, shaped by my experience in the building trade. Rooted in working class culture my art reflects the tension and the harmony between the concepts of building and creating....."

The opportunity is generously supported by East Hampshire District Council Alton Town Council Hampshire Cultural Trust Arts Council England

Artwork by photograph by Jack Trowbridge

"The object remembers the landscape" We are delighted to introduce Artist in Residence, Rhiannon Rebecca Salisbury, who ...
11/08/2026

"The object remembers the landscape"

We are delighted to introduce Artist in Residence, Rhiannon Rebecca Salisbury, who will be exploring the work of WH Allen over the coming months.

Rhiannon is a London-based contemporary artist with an interest in the life of surfaces, through them considering "how objects, landscapes and inherited materials hold memory, labour and time..."

This year she has completed an MA in painting at the Royal College of Art, supported by the Basil H. Alkazzi Scholarship Award. The residency will support Rhiannon in building on her recent work in canvas and on slate - drawn to WH Allen as someone attentive to landscape, craft, industry and the natural world, Rhiannon hopes to develop a body of small painted works that build a response to his work in terms of place, material, surface and memory.

The residency is generously supported as part of the Rediscovering the Allen Gallery Project by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
East Hampshire District Council Alton Town Council Hampshire Cultural Trust Arts Council England

Artwork by Rhiannon Rebecca Salisbury

Thank you to everyone who supported our Big Give campaign.With your help, we raised over £13,000 through the campaign, u...
19/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who supported our Big Give campaign.

With your help, we raised over £13,000 through the campaign, unlocking vital match funding to help children and young people find inspiration, creativity and joy in the arts when they need it most. Since the campaign closed, further gifts and Gift Aid have taken the total to over £18,000, which is a wonderful result.

We are also grateful to the donor who provided match funding and believes deeply in this work, helping every pound given to go further. Together, this shared commitment will enhance local children and young people’s connection to their local museum or gallery and access to creative opportunities

12/05/2026

Only 3 days left to have your donation doubled in our match-funding campaign for our Children and Young People's Fund.

The more we raise, the more children and young people we can support, with opportunities and safe spaces to express themselves, explore their feelings and build confidence - like the ceramics workshops shown here.

If you can, please make a donation today, and make double the difference in the lives of children and young people.
Donations must be made before midday on 15th May to be eligible for match-funding.

Please make your donation via the Big Give platform here: https://buff.ly/0CIreUT

Thank you for your support 🙏

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to our Children and Young People’s Fund during our match funding campaign s...
08/05/2026

A huge thank you to everyone who has donated to our Children and Young People’s Fund during our match funding campaign so far.

Your generosity is directly funding creative programmes across our venues, that provide safe spaces for children to express themselves, explore their emotions and build self-confidence.

Could you help us to help even more children and young people? We’d love to reach our target and have a little way to go!

By donating what you can before midday on 15th May, your contribution will be doubled, thanks to a very generous supporter of our work.

For more information about the work of our Children and Young People’s Fund and to make your donation, head to the Big Give platform here: https://buff.ly/0CIreUT
Thank you

📢Big Give Match funding campaign - now live! 📢 Every donation made to the Hampshire Cultural Trust's Children and Young ...
27/04/2026

📢Big Give Match funding campaign - now live! 📢

Every donation made to the Hampshire Cultural Trust's Children and Young People Fund through the Big Give platform, from today until midday on 15th May will be doubled, thanks to a generous donor’s match funding of up to £10,000!

Your donation will fund creative programmes for children and young people struggling with their mental health, helping to build their confidence and emotional resilience.
Donations must be made via our page on the Big Give platform before midday on 15th May to be doubled in value.

Donate now to transform young lives through the arts.

Please donate here : https://buff.ly/EKSbxAF

Address

10-12 Church Street
Alton
GU342BW

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 10:30am - 4pm
Thursday 10:30am - 4pm
Friday 10:30am - 4pm
Saturday 10:30am - 4pm

Telephone

+44142082802

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