News Articles
Art - Oct 2023
Meet..... Lady Jane Grey
The woman at the centre of the giant history painting that is undergoing a conservation assessment at The Box until 4 October had a fascinating but tragic life. Find out more about Lady Jane Grey – otherwise known as the ‘Nine Days’ Queen’.
Art - Sep 2023
Meet..... Solomon Hart
Solomon Hart was one of the most respected British artists of the 1800s, but how much do you know about this Plymouth-born artist who went on to become the first Jewish Royal Academician? Here's your chance to learn a little more about his life.
Art - Sep 2023
'Imogen' by Elizabeth Adela Forbes
This 1898 oil on canvas by Elizabeth Adela Stanhope Forbes (nee Armstrong) ARWS RE (1859-1912) was purchased for the city’s permanent art collections in 1904.
Art - Sep 2023
Reynolds' studio materials
Artist Sir Joshua Reynolds’ set up his first studio in Plymouth Dock (now Devonport) in the 1740s, and then established and ran a studio in the Leicester Square area of London. Thanks to archival documents and other items that still exist, we have a good insight into how they ran and how he created some of the many portraits he’s still known for today. Some of these materials are on display in our ‘Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration’ exhibition (until 29 October). Here’s a guide to what you can see!
History - Sep 2023
Archives insight: A Plymouth doctor's gallantry
The Box is currently remembering the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the NHS through telling the story of the courage and self-sacrifice of Dr Alison Jean McNairn (afterwards Jesson) in our Active Archives gallery.
Art - Sep 2023
Rana Begum in The Box
There are 11 different works in the 'Rana Begum: Dappled Light' exhibition (until 24 September), three of which can be seen in The Box's main building. As we head into the final fortnight for this visually stunning show, make sure you check them out when you visit!
Press Release - Sep 2023
The Box awarded unique grant to acquire work by Turner Prize-nominated artist Ingrid Pollard MBE
The Box, Plymouth’s award-winning museum, art gallery and archive, is one of two organisations in the UK to be awarded funding through the latest round of the Freelands Art Fund Acquisition – a unique partnership between Art Fund and Freelands Foundation. Launched in 2021, the partnership helps museums acquire work by contemporary women artists that have won the Freelands Award.
Press Release - Sep 2023
The National Gallery's 'Dutch Flowers' and Yinka Shonibare CBE RA's 'End of Empire' to open at The Box in October
A new season of exhibitions and commissions launches at The Box in Plymouth this October with a nationally touring fine art exhibition and a thought-provoking sculpture. Both elements of the programme explore empire, trade and colonisation in different ways – with the aim of encouraging visitors to think about social and historical narratives from a different perspective.
Press Release - Sep 2023
The countdown is on to this year's Plymouth Community History Festival
Plymouth’s popular annual History Festival returns later this month, with a refreshed identity and week-long programme focused on community and diversity. This year’s festival runs from 30 September to 6 October with a programme that features a great selection of history talks, guided walks and displays.
Art - Sep 2023
Rana Begum in St Luke's
Artist Rana Begum works with a wide range of colours and materials, and the eight different pieces on display in St Luke’s demonstrate this brilliantly. Although you can’t touch them there’s plenty of space for you to move around them, to appreciate them from different viewpoints and angles and see how they interact with light.
Press Release - Aug 2023
Huge rarely-seen painting to be unrolled at The Box as part of a special ‘conservation in action’ event
A giant painting which hasn’t been seen in public for decades will be rolled out at The Box on Wednesday 27 September, as part of a live ‘conservation in action’ event.
Press Release - Aug 2023
Behind the scenes: Creating exhibitions
We display up to 10 exhibitions a year at The Box - but have you ever wondered how we put them together? They can take months, sometimes years to plan and deliver. Here's an insight from some of the staff who've worked on our current shows.