Blog article Articles
Art - Aug 2026
Gillian Ayres: An introduction to infinity
Artist Gillian Ayres once said: ‘Painting is a visual thing, and that’s it. People like to understand, and I wish they wouldn’t! I wish they’d just look’. Over the course of 70 years, she explored many styles and techniques, but she never wavered from her pursuit of painting. Discover more about this enduring commitment as we celebrate her career and legacy with our ‘A Life in Colour’ exhibition.
Press Release - Aug 2026
Sounds of Plymouth’s past to be heard again
The Box, 2026 Art Fund Museum of The Year, is partnering with heritage organisations across the region on a new ambitious project called ‘Sounds of the South West’, which aims to preserve and unlock our rich audio heritage.
Press Release - Aug 2026
The Box celebrates National Archive Service Accreditation success
The Box Plymouth is celebrating after successfully retaining Archive Service Accreditation – the UK-wide quality standard that recognises the high standards of care, preservation and public access provided by its archives team. Archive Service Accreditation is awarded against nationally agreed standards and acknowledges excellence in archive management, from governance and collections care to public engagement and accessibility.
Press Release - Jul 2026
Collections Insight: Art in 'Echoes of Us'
The 'Echoes of Us' exhibition, which is on display throughout the summer, features an amazing selection of works from the Government Art Collection. It also includes five works from The Box's permanent art collection, all of which tie in with the exhibition's themes of 'Belonging', 'Memory' and 'Connection'. Discover more about them here.
Press Release - Jul 2026
New film commission by Jordan Baseman explores the full spectrum of human emotion at The Box this summer
The Box Plymouth is presenting a new film commission by artist and filmmaker Jordan Baseman as part of its ‘Summer of Expression’ – a programme of exhibitions and events that’s exploring the power of thoughts, feelings and emotions through art over the next few months.
Press Release - Jul 2026
Emerging photography commission winners revealed
We're delighted to announce the winners of the Emerging Photographers Commission for our forthcoming exhibition 'The Way We Live'. In our recent call-out we were seeking three emerging photographers or photography-based artists to create small-scale commissions that explore the meaning of 'home' and which will be shown at The Box from October 2026-February 2027 as part of our Autumn/Winter season.
Press Release - Jul 2026
‘Where’s Your Head At?’ display celebrates children and young people’s creativity
Imaginative artworks by 172 children and young people from across the Southwest are now on display at The Box as part of ‘Where’s Your Head At?’.
Art - Jul 2026
Gillian Ayres: Feasting on beauty
Gillian Ayres (1930-2018) once said: ‘To me, art – colour in art – is wonderfully indulging. I don’t see why you shouldn’t be filling yourself up, making yourself happy. Enjoying yourself. Feasting on beauty. I want an art that’s going to make me feel heady, in a high-flown way.’ Presented across three galleries, 'A Life in Colour' is a timely exploration of her phenomenal legacy through paintings made over the course of seven decades – highlighting the power of painting as a means of nonverbal expression. Here’s an insight into five of the works in the show.
Family - Jul 2026
Great British Summer Savings: cheaper things for families to do!
It's that time of year again! We're heading towards the summer holidays and little ones are nearly out of school for the summer. If you're organising things to do for you and your kids over the summer break that won't break the bank, we've put together a blog on enjoying our activities that will help you and your family save some pennies.
Press Release - Jul 2026
Enjoy a 'Summer of Expression' filled with major exhibitions and celebrations of young creativity
We're inviting audiences from across the Southwest to enjoy a vibrant ‘Summer of Expression’ here at The Box, featuring new exhibitions, family-friendly activities and inspiring displays showcasing the region’s creative talent. At the heart of the season are two major shows: 'Echoes of Us' (20 June-20 September) and 'Gillian Ayres: A Life in Colour' (4 July-4 October). Together, they explore the power of creativity, connection and self-expression while highlighting the South West's rich artistic heritage.
Press Release - Jun 2026
The Box Plymouth wins £120,000 Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026 Award
The Box Plymouth has been announced as Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026. Victoria Pomery, CEO and members of the team were presented with the £120,000 prize – the largest museum prize in the world – by June Sarpong OBE, broadcaster and judge for Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026, at a ceremony aboard Cutty Sark in Greenwich.
Art - Jun 2026
125 years of art, diplomacy and identity: Why the Government Art Collection matters
For 125 years, the Government Art Collection has quietly played a remarkable role in representing Britain to the world. This summer, visitors to 'Echoes of Us' at The Box have a rare opportunity to see works from this extraordinary national collection outside their usual diplomatic settings.