Northampton Museum & Art Gallery

01/09/2026

🎶 Join us on Sunday 6 September for Northampton Music Festival 26! 🎶

Northampton Museum & Art Gallery is delighted to host the Classical & World Fusion Stage from 12pm to 6pm. ⏰

✨ FREE ENTRY and suitable for all ages! 🤩

Enjoy an incredible day of live music as part of Northampton Music Festival, featuring nine stages across the town centre showcasing performances from some of our best-loved local artists. 🎤🎻🌍

Make sure to stop by the museum and experience an exciting line-up of classical and world fusion music throughout the day.

📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
📅 Sunday 6 September
⏰ 12pm to 6pm
🎟️ Free entry

🎶🎉

01/09/2026

🌟 Mini Museum Explorers Returns This Autumn! 🌟

Looking for a fun and creative way to spend Friday mornings with your little one? Join us at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery for Mini Museum Explorers! 🎨📚🎵

Designed for children aged 2½ to 5 years and their parents or carers, these hands-on sessions are packed with stories, music, crafts, art activities, and museum-inspired adventures. Every week brings a brand-new theme to spark curiosity and imagination in a friendly, welcoming environment.

📅 Fridays, 11 September - 23 October 2026
⏰ 10.15am - 11.45am
📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
💷 £6 per child, per session
☕ Includes refreshments for children and tea/coffee for accompanying adults.

Autumn 2026 Themes:

🏖️ 11 September – Beach Fun: Clean Up Day
🤖 18 September – Robots
📼 25 September – Back in Time: The 1980s
🚀 2 October – Space: The Final Frontier (National Space Week)
🍂 9 October – Autumn Hibernation
🌾 16 October – Food Glorious Food! (Harvest)
🎃 23 October – Halloween

These popular sessions have limited spaces, so advance booking is essential.

📞 Book online here: https://wnc.ai/Vp0JV
📞in person, or by phone on 01604 526322
(Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm | Sunday 12pm-5pm)

Come along for a morning of learning, creativity, friendship, and a little museum magic! ✨

28/08/2026

🎉 Looking for a fun and free family day out this Bank Holiday weekend? 🎉

Head to Northampton Museum & Art Gallery and explore our fantastic exhibitions!

🕹️ I Grew Up 80s
Take a nostalgic trip back to the decade of BMX bikes, Transformers, Donkey Kong and Dirty Dancing with over 200 amazing 80s treasures on display.

🎨 The Art of Art
Get hands-on and discover the secrets behind great art through interactive exhibits exploring colour, perspective, lighting and composition.

👞 Plus, don't miss our permanent galleries: ⭐ The Shoe Gallery – 7,000 years of shoe history, from ancient footwear to modern designer styles. 🏛️ History of Northampton – Journey through the town's story, from prehistoric times to the present day.

📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
💷 FREE entry
📍Open Bank Holiday Monday

Make some family memories this weekend and discover something new together! ❤️

27/08/2026

Last Chance to See: The Art of Art

📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
📅 Closes Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August 2026
🎟️ Free admission

Don't miss your final opportunity to explore The Art of Art before it closes this Bank Holiday Monday. Discover the techniques, tricks and tools of the art world, from perspective and colour to lighting and composition. Get hands-on with interactive exhibits and explore the artistic developments that changed what artists painted, how they painted, and the materials they used.

We're open on Bank Holiday Monday.

26/08/2026

📣 Thursday Morning Talks are Back! 📣

Join us at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery this September to December for a fascinating series of Thursday Morning Talks.

☕ Includes tea, coffee & biscuits
🎟️ £4 per talk or £24 for a series ticket
📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
⏰ 10.30am to 12pm
📅 Booking essential

Talk Programme: 🔹 17 September – Diary of an Agony Aunt
🔹 1 October – Crown & County: Royal Northamptonshire
🔹 15 October – Burke & Hare and the Body Snatchers
🔹 5 November – The Glider Pilot Regiment
🔹 19 November – Music, Musicals & Me
🔹 3 December – Operation Monet
🔹 17 December – Rhyme nor Reason, ‘Tis the Season

Whether you're interested in local history, true crime, wartime stories, theatre, art thefts, or festive entertainment, there's something for everyone in this popular series.

🎫 Series tickets are available online here: https://wnc.ai/erqq4

🎫 Individual talks tickets are available online here: https://wnc.ai/4X094

🎫Or directly from the museum: 📞 01604 526322
🕙 Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm
🕛 Sunday, 12pm to 5pm

26/08/2026

🎨 Art History Lecture Series: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Five Exhibitions that Changed the World 🎨

Join us at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery for a fascinating series of art history lectures exploring five landmark exhibitions that changed the way we view art, culture and heritage.

☕ Includes tea, coffee & biscuits
🎟️ £6 per lecture or £25 for the full series
📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
⏰ 10.15am to 12.15pm
📅 Fridays, 25 September to 23 October
✅ Booking essential

Lecture Programme:
🖼️ 25 September – Treasures of Tutankhamun
🖼️ 2 October – Art Treasures Exhibition, Manchester, 1857
🖼️ 9 October – Degenerate Art
🖼️ 16 October – Manet and the Post-Impressionists
🖼️ 23 October – Destruction of the Country House

Discover how these influential exhibitions captivated audiences, shaped public opinion and left a lasting impact on our understanding of art, history and cultural identity.

🎫 Series tickets are available online here: https://wnc.ai/4k97V

🎫 Individual lecture tickets are available online here: https://wnc.ai/eomAN

🎫 Tickets also available directly from the museum:
📞 01604 526322
🕙 Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm
🕛 Sunday, 12pm to 5pm

Speaker details and featured artworks are correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.

25/08/2026

🎨 Introduction to Portrait Painting in Oils with Cordell Garfield 🎨

📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
📅 Saturday 3 October 2026
⏰ 10am to 4pm
💷 £65 per person

Have you ever wanted to paint a portrait in oils? Join experienced artist Cordell Garfield for this inspiring one-day workshop, where you'll learn a step-by-step approach to creating a portrait from a photographic reference.

Throughout the day you'll explore: 🖌️ Using oil paints
📏 Understanding facial proportions
✏️ Measuring and mapping key features
🌗 Using line, tone and value to build a realistic portrait

Cordell will provide expert guidance and helpful handouts to explain techniques and demystify the technical terms involved. By the end of the workshop, you'll have completed your own portrait to take home.

✅ All equipment and materials included
☕ Teas and coffees provided
🥪 Please bring a packed lunch or purchase food from the museum café

🔞 Suitable for ages 18+

🎟️ Book online here: https://wnc.ai/eG6z4

Tickets are also available to purchase in person or by phone. If Eventbrite shows no availability, please contact our booking team on 01604 838111 or 01604 526322.

📞 Booking line hours:
Tuesday to Saturday: 10am to 5pm
Sunday: 12pm to 5pm

25/08/2026

🎨 It’s the last Pop-In Wednesday of the summer holidays at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery! 🕹️

Join us this Wednesday, 26 August, from 12pm to 4pm for free family fun inspired by the Summer of the 80s. This week’s make-and-take activity is Design and Make Pin Badges, plus there’ll be colouring, puzzles, gallery trails, games and books to enjoy.

🎟️ Free entry (donations welcome)
📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
⏰ 12pm to 4pm

No booking needed, just drop in and get creative. We’d love to see you there! 😊

#80

24/08/2026

Looking for something to occupy your little explorers for the last week of the summer holidays?

Why not take part in our Sumer at the Museum Challenge...

From the Tiger who Came to Tea to Abington Animals, the Challenge pack is full of different activities and challenges to do at both Northampton Museum & Art Gallery and Abington Park Museum, the perfect excuse to visit again and again these holidays (and why not – its free entry).

Packs costs £5 including trophy on completion and are available from the reception desk at both NMAG and APM.

Good Luck!
🌞🐯🦉🐛🐞🖍✏️

24/08/2026

🏰 Meet the Hitchhiking Historian: Medieval England! 🏰

Step back in time at Northampton Museum & Art Gallery on Tuesday 25 August, 12pm to 3pm.

Meet a character from the Middle Ages, handle real historical objects, try on period clothing, and enjoy medieval-themed crafts and activities for all ages.

📍 Northampton Museum & Art Gallery
⏰ 12pm to 3pm
🎟️ Free, drop-in

Come and discover the sights, sounds, and stories of Medieval England! ⚔️👑

This week, our time-travelling adventurer is journeying to Medieval England, bringing the past to life through hands-on activities, fascinating stories, and interactive fun. Discover what life was really like in a medieval town and meet a character straight from the Middle Ages.