May to September 2015
Milton Earnest Hall, 1977 © John Piper Estate DACS, 2015
courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
The Higgins Bedford
EXHIBITIONS
Milton Earnest Hall, 1977 © John Piper Estate DACS, 2015 courtesy of the Trustees of the
Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
Artist Spotlight: John Piper
Saturday 13th June – Sunday 12th July 2015
Connections Gallery
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John Piper is the first in a
new series of mini-exhibitions
which cast a spotlight on
artists in the Cecil Higgins
Collection. The exhibition
will include two new additions
to the collection: prints
depicting Willington Dovecote
and Milton Ernest Hall, both
well-known local buildings.
Bawden’s Book Illustration
11th April – January 2016
Edward Bawden Gallery
Bawden produced an
astonishing number of
illustrations for books and
book jackets throughout his
career. Whilst some of the
titles themselves may not
have stood the test of time,
Bawden’s illustrations remain
as fresh and vibrant as the day
they were published. His quirky
and humorous work made
him the perfect choice for
publishers, ‘highly intelligent’
Edward Bawden (1903 – 1989) The Victim
by Saul Bellow, 1948 © The Edward Bawden Estate
courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
and ‘bursting with original
and amusing ideas’. This
exhibition will feature early
illustrations, unused designs,
original art work as well as
books written and illustrated
by Bawden himself.
David’s Pool, 1985 © Sir Howard Hodgkin, 2015
courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
The Higgins Bedford
Abstract Britain: From Hepworth to Hodgkin
Saturday 25th April to Sunday 27th September 2015
Wixam Tree Gallery
Abstract Britain charts the
journey of British art into
abstraction in the mid-20th
century. With works drawn
entirely from the Cecil Higgins
Collection, this exhibition
highlights the astounding
variety of ideas and styles
produced by British artists over
a fifty year period. Beginning
with abstraction’s early roots,
the exhibition features the
paintings, prints and sculpture
of Barbara Hepworth and Ben
Nicholson. As the decades
progressed, artists continued
to push the boundaries
and produce paintings that
had little or no reference
to the outside world. From
the monumental works of
William Scott to the distinctive
monochromes of Bridget Riley,
Abstract Britain shows some
of the best art produced by
these remarkable artists.
Related Events:
Gallery Tours: Abstract Britain
GALLERY
T OURS
1pm-1.20pm £2.60 (concessions £2.10)
Booking essential. Places limited to 15 people per tour.
Tours will be held on:
• Wednesday 17th June • Wednesday 29th July • Wednesday 19th August
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The Higgins Bedford
EXHIBITIONS COMING SOON
Artist Spotlight: J.M.W Turner
From Saturday
10th October 2015
Connections Gallery
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The Higgins Bedford’s new
series of mini-exhibitions casting
a spotlight on artists in the
collection continues this autumn
with J.M.W Turner. For the first
time all ten of the Cecil Higgins
Collection’s watercolours by the
great artist will be on display
together. Alongside this, in the
Wixamtree Gallery, there will
be an exhibition drawn from
our internationally renowned
watercolour collection including
some of the great names from
this enduring medium. A unique
opportunity not to be missed.
J.M.W Turner (1775 - 1851) The Great Falls of the Reichenbach, 1804,
courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
The Great Falls of the Reichenbach, 1804
J.M.W Turner 1775 – 1851
This work from the Cecil Higgins Collection has made a few
superstar appearances in recent years. It featured in the opening
scenes of episode three, series two of the BBC series Sherlock.
In the episode Holmes recovered the work after it was stolen,
before going on to his own ‘final showdown’ with Moriarty.
The work has recently returned from the Museum of London’s
exhibition, Sherlock Holmes – The Man Who Never Lived and
Will Never Die, where it was the final exhibit in the show.
The Higgins Bedford
The Higgins Bedford
EVENTS
Handcrafted fan made by Sandra King
FANS-iful LACE
Saturday 2nd May to Sunday 31st May
The Fan Circle International are celebrating 40 years in 2015
and are marking the occasion with a display of beautiful lace fans
here at The Higgins Bedford during May. This handcrafted fan,
made by Sandra King, has been specially created for the display
in Bedfordshire Maltese Lace and took 83 ¾ hours to make.
Come and enjoy our celebration of Fans-iful Lace!
Higgins spotlight series
Highlighting in more depth particular aspects of our exhibitions
programme and collections. Cost: £5.15 (concessions £4.10)
Booking essential.
Delving Deeper: Ceramics Through Time 3
Wednesday 10th June 11.30am -12.30pm
Join Liz Pieksma, Keeper of Archaeology
(and ceramics specialist), for the third
in a series of talks exploring ceramics
in The Higgins Bedford’s collections.
This session offers the chance to get
up close to pottery from the Dark Ages
to the Medieval period (410-1300 AD).
By examining pottery recovered from
excavations, archaeologists can learn how
and where it was made, as well as how it
was used in domestic and ritual contexts.
Saxon Burial Urn
5th – 7th century AD
Sandy, Bedfordshire
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The Higgins Bedford
Hidden History: An Archaeological Amble Around Bedford
Friday 10th July 11am (walk will last about an hour)
Booking essential. Cost: £5.15 (concession £4.10)
Meet at The Higgins Bedford.
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Join us on a walk back in time
and discover the wealth of
archaeological heritage hidden
under our feet within Bedford
town centre. We will start at The
Higgins Bedford and on our way
will explore Ice Age mammals,
Saxon churches, medieval
fortifications and Bedford Castle,
the site of an important and
bloody power struggle. We will
end up back at The Higgins
where we can get up close to
some of the archaeological
artefacts found in Bedford,
on display in the Settlement
Gallery. The walk is suitable
for most ages and abilities.
Bring a brolly just in case!
Bawden’s Book Illustration
Thursday 13th August
11.30am -12.30pm
Join Victoria Partridge, Keeper
of Fine and Decorative Arts,
for a longer look at Edward
Bawden’s book illustrations
to accompany the current
exhibition. The session will
include a chance to explore
illustrations from the archive,
including original drawings for
Bawden’s Puffin Picture Book
The Arabs, linocuts for Chronicles
of King Arthur and art work for
Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert.
Edward Bawden (1903 – 1989) illustration from
Chronicles of King Arthur, 1982
© The Edward Bawden Estate
A delicately carved block of Totternhoe stone,
probably from a tomb or altar, 14th century.
Found during the excavations at Bedford Castle.
The Higgins Bedford
FRIENDS' LECTURES
Join The Friends of The Higgins Bedford at their regular evening
lectures. Tuesdays 7.30pm. Cost: £3 (Friends), £8 (Guests)
John Constable R.A. (1776 – 1837), Coal Briggs on Brighton Beach, 1824
courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
Tuesday 12th May - John Constable R.A
Anne Lyles, author of Constable: The Great Landscapes, will talk about
the life and work of this well-known Romantic Painter, concentrating
on the remarkable landscapes he produced of Dedham Vale and its
surrounding areas.
Eric Ravilious (1903 – 1942) Observer’s Post, 1939 – 40
courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery
Tuesday 9th June - Seven Modern Artists We Should Know Better
James Russell offers a tantalising alternative vision of 20th century
British art, discussing a small group of artists who all enjoyed success
in their lifetime but are not necessarily appreciated today by the critics:
Eric Ravilious is probably the most familiar of the group, alongside
Norfolk landscape painter Edward Seago, Winifred Nicholson, Algernon
Newton, New Zealand-born painter Frances Hodgkins, flawed genius
Christopher Wood, and Richard Eurich.
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The Higgins Bedford
FRIENDS
Friends of The Higgins Bedford
Friends play an important part in the life of The Higgins Bedford and
members enjoy a range of benefits. Joining the Friends will put you at
the heart of The Higgins Bedford and will help support the work of the
art gallery and museum.
Benefits of joining the Friends
- Discounts on tickets for charging exhibitions and events
- Invitations to Friends’ Private Views and other events
- Annual programme of Friends’ lectures and visits
- Friends’ newsletter and The Higgins Bedford’s ‘What’s On’ brochure
sent to you direct
- Discounts in The Higgins Bedford shop, in The Higgins Pantry and
other local restaurants
Membership rates
- £25 annual individual membership
- £40 annual joint membership
- £10 annual student membership
Visit our website www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk for more details
and for information on how to join the Friends.
Edward Bawden (1903 – 1989) detail from Fortnum & Mason Christmas Catalogue,
1956 © The Edward Bawden Estate.
The Higgins Bedford
The Higgins Bedford
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Hour-long activities on a first come, first served, basis
Sessions start: 11am 12pm 2pm and 3pm
£2.25 per participating child.
Suitable for ages 3 and above.
All children under 8 to be
accompanied by an adult.
Wednesday 27th May
Stone Age Animal Artists
Try painting like our ancient
ancestors.
May Half Term
Friday 29th May
Castle Siege Capers
Win or survive the Great
Siege of Bedford Castle play, make and take!
Tuesday 26 May
Loopy-loop Loopers!
Make magnificent WW1-type
flying machine models.
th
18th July – 27th September 2015
The Abstract Room - Connections Gallery
This summer, help to turn a gallery into a giant abstract artwork. We
want you to cover the walls with shapes and colours inspired by the
buoys, waves and boats in Terry Frost’s joyous abstract picture Newlyn
Blue Q, on display in Abstract Britain. This is a free activity suitable
for all. Part of the Bedfordshire Museums Summer Passport Scheme.
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The Higgins Bedford
HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Summer Holidays
Friday 24th July
Sky High: The Life of a Weather
Balloon
This special family activity will
be co-led by Emily Norton, a
climate scientist. How do balloons
help us predict the weather?
Find out from a scientist, make
your own weather vane and enter
our balloon race!
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That’s not all folks!
There’s lots more to do at The
Higgins Bedford this summer!
There’ll be a programme of
creative family join-in activities.
Keep an eye on our website
and Facebook pages for updates
about what’s on.
www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk
facebook.com/TheHigginsBedford
The Higgins Bedford
WORKSHOPS
Saturday Archaeology
Workshops - SAW
Monthly sessions for children
interested in archaeology, aged
8–16. Cost: £5.55 per session.
In the meantime you can see
SAW in action at Willington
Archaeology Fair on Sunday
28th June, 1pm to 5pm at
Willington Stables, where group
members will be assisting in
the exploratory excavations.
On Saturday 25th and Sunday
26th July, as part of the Festival
of British Archaeology, SAW will
be excavating on the site of its
replica Iron Age roundhouse at
Priory Country Park.
The Higgins Art Studio
Saturday 16th May
Roman Remains
Aspects of Roman architecture.
Saturday 20th June
Depicting the Past
Archaeology, painting
and imagery.
SAW takes a break from regular
monthly sessions during the
summer, but will start again on
Saturday 19th September with a
session on Bedford Castle.
Workshops for children aged 9
- 13 years with a strong interest
in the arts. A chance to collect
evidence for Arts Award Explore.
£10.35 per session.
Saturday 16th May
To Abstraction and Beyond!
Exploring abstract painting.
Saturday 20th June
Fibre-Art
Investigating art through textiles.
For further details and to register for SAW or The Higgins Art Studio
please contact Susannah Oliver at [email protected]
All of our activities provide suitable evidence for Arts Award.
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The Higgins Bedford
EVENTS CALENDAR
Date
What’s On
Need
to
book? Audience
Page
no.
APRIL
11th April 2015– Exhibition: Bawden’s Book Illustration
January 2016
No
Everyone
2
Exhibition: Abstract Britain: From
Hepworth to Hodgkin
No
Everyone
3
Tuesday 12th
Friends lecture: John Constable R.A –
Anne Lyles, author of Constable:
The Great Landscapes talks about the
life and work of this great painter.
No
Adults
7
Saturday 16th
SAW: Roman Remains
Yes
Saturday 16th
The Higgins Art Studio: To Abstraction
and Beyond!
Yes
Tuesday 26th
Holiday Activity: Loopy-loop Loopers!
No
Families
9
Wednesday 27th Holiday Activity: Stone Age Animal Artists No
Families
9
Families
9
Adults
7
Adults
5
Everyone
2
Yes
Adults
3
11
25 April –
27th September
th
MAY
12
Holiday Activity: Castle Siege Capers
Friday 29th
No
Children
aged 8 – 16
Children
aged 9 – 13
11
11
JUNE
Friends lecture: Seven Modern Artists
We Should Know Better – James Russell
Tuesday 9
No
offers a tantalising vision of 20th century
British art.
Higgins Spotlight series: Ceramics
Yes
Wednesday 10th Through Time 3 – looking at pottery
from the Dark Ages and Medieval period.
13th June –
Artist Spotlight: John Piper
No
12th July
th
Wednesday 17 Gallery tour: Abstract Britain
th
Saturday 20
th
SAW: Depicting the Past
Yes
Saturday 20
th
The Higgins Art Studio: Fibre-Art
Yes
Children
aged 8 - 16
Children
aged 9 - 13
Yes
Everyone
6
No
Everyone
9
No
Yes
Families
Adults
10
3
Yes
Adults
2
Yes
Adults
3
JULY
Hidden History: An Archaeological
Amble Around Bedford
The Abstract Room - Help to turn
18th July –
the connections gallery into a giant
27th September
abstract artwork.
Friday 24th
Sky High: Life of a weather balloon
Wednesday 29th Gallery tour: Abstract Britain
Friday 10th
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AUGUST
Higgins Spotlight series:
Bawden’s Book Illustration curator’s talk and archive session
Wednesday 19th Gallery tour: Abstract Britain
Thursday 13th
The Higgins Bedford
ABOUT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD
The Higgins Bedford celebrates
the inspiring stories of local
people, encourages a sense
of place for Bedford and the
surrounding area, and showcases
outstanding and varied
collections.
Displays in Settlement,
Somewhere in England and The
Collectors explore how Bedford
has developed over time and the
town's relationship with the wider
world, while Great Bedfordians
features the stories of famous
and lesser-known Bedfordians
both past and present.
The Cecil Higgins Collection of
fine and decorative arts includes
world-class watercolour and print
collections and unique groups
of work by the designers William
Burges and Edward Bawden. The
watercolour collection features
works by British artists including
J.M.W Turner, John Constable, Eric
Ravilious and Henry Moore, whilst
the print collection features works
by international artists including
Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and
David Hockney. These collections
inspire a busy programme of
temporary exhibitions as well as
our active learning and events
programmes.
The Higgins Bedford is housed
in the historic buildings of Castle
Brewery and the Higgins family
home, along the riverside in the
centre of town, on the site once
occupied by Bedford Castle.
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The Higgins Bedford
BRINGING A GROUP
We welcome group bookings for talks and tours. If your group is
interested in booking, please call us on 01234 718618 or email us
at [email protected]. Please allow a minimum of two weeks’
notice for group bookings. Talks and tours are subject to availability
and minimum charges apply. Please contact us if you’d like to discuss
any special requirements. We’re looking forward to seeing you!
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Exhibition tour
Join one of our tour guides for
an in-depth look at your chosen
temporary exhibition.
Time: 30 mins Cost: £5.15 per
person (concessions £4.10).
the Cecil Higgins Collection,
we can offer this as a tour or
illustrated talk. Time: 1 hour
Cost: £5.15 per person
(concessions £4.10).
Collections in focus talk
The Higgins tour or talk:
Join one of our tour guides for
the perfect introductory tour of
the highlights of The Higgins
Bedford. This is also offered
as a seated, illustrated talk.
Time: 1 hour Cost: £5.15 per
person (concessions £4.10).
Cecil Higgins Collection
tour or talk:
Ideal for those groups who
specifically want to explore
These sessions focus on
particular areas of the collections,
with a talk and the chance to view
and sometimes handle objects
not usually on public display.
Available sessions: Watercolours
& Prints, Edward Bawden, Local
Archaeology, Local Landscapes,
and The Collectors. Contact us for
more information.
Time: 1½ hours
Cost: £10.35 per person
(concessions £8.25)
The Higgins Bedford
VENUE HIRE
The Higgins Bedford has several
new spaces available for hire.
These range from modest
meeting rooms, through to large
lecture spaces. They are ideal for
corporate functions, meetings,
groups or clubs, lectures and
workshops. If you feel that your
event would benefit from cultural
surroundings as well as state-ofthe-art facilities call us on
01234 718618 or email
[email protected]
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The Higgins Pantry
The Higgins Pantry aims to
complement your cultural
experience at The Higgins
Bedford and we warmly invite
you to drop in as part of your
visit. The Pantry is a result of
our life-long passion for food
and an ambition to create an
informal and unique menu and
setting – a place that we would
want to frequent, whether it be
for a cup of tea and fresh cake,
a light lunch or an evening meal.
We are located in the heart of the
lively Castle Quay area, alongside
the River Ouse. Our menu offers
delicious Italian cuisine using fresh
ingredients with strong southern
Italian influences (our Italian tapas
is a must try). Being family run
we are passionate about The
Pantry and hope you will share
our enthusiasm for the food and
drink we provide in a wonderful
setting for any occasion.
Phone: 01234 276340
Web: www.thehigginspantry.co.uk
Email: [email protected]
The Higgins Bedford
CONTACT US
Visit the website at
Stay in touch...
On Facebook
thehigginsbedford
www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk
Email [email protected]
or call us on 01234 718618
Opening hours
Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday and Bank
Holiday Mondays 2 - 5pm
On Twitter
higginsbedford
Closed on Mondays, Good Friday,
Christmas Day, Boxing Day
and New Year’s Day
Entrance is free
Donations are welcome
How to find us
The Higgins Bedford
Castle Lane, Bedford
MK40 3XD
To Lurke Street
Car Park
Mill Street
John Bunyan
Museum
Church
The
Lawn
ts
ran
tau
Res
Swan Hotel
Castle
Mound
Newnh
e
Entranc
am Ro
ad
ne
Castle La
eet (A6)
High Str
Parking
The nearest public car park is
at Lurke Street, just 5 minutes
walk from The Higgins Bedford.
Two hours free parking every
Saturday in all Council owned
town centre car parks. Further
information is available at
www.bedford.gov.uk/parking
There are limited parking
spaces at the entrance of the
art gallery and museum for
visitors with Accessible Parking
Permits or Blue Badges.
The Embankment
The Higgins Bedford is a Bedford Borough Council Cultural Service.
Home of the Cecil Higgins Collection.
AS065_15 [email protected]