All Articles
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.
Collections - Jul 2026
Wan Bel: Papua New Guinea and The Box
The Box is partnering with organisations across the globe to mark Papua New Guinea’s 50th anniversary of independence. A new display in the 100 Journeys gallery replicates the country’s national emblem using items from the collection: a taxidermy bird-of-paradise, a spear, and a characteristic kundu drum. Together these objects form an emblem that represents the country’s unique wildlife and rich cultural heritage.
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.
Press Release - Jun 2026
The Box secures major BFI funding to transform access to Southwest film heritage
The Box has secured a funding award of £330K across three years from the British Film Institute (BFI) to support and develop its nationally significant film archive as well as help safeguard and share the Southwest's screen heritage for future generations.
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.
Press Release - Jun 2026
Beryl Cook exhibition smashes visitor target
We're delighted to announce that the hugely popular 'Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy' attracted nearly 104,000 visits during its run – exceeding its original target of 75,000 by almost 30,000. The exhibition, which celebrated the life and work of artist Beryl Cook and marked the centenary of her birth, proved to be the most successful show staged at The Box Plymouth since it opened in late September 2020.
Art - Jun 2026
A Summer for Everyone: Explore The Box Plymouth and more!
As Plymouth comes into its own in the warmer months, there’s no better time to get out and explore. Whether you’re planning family days out, looking to dive into local history, or seeking creative inspiration, The Box Plymouth and its historic sites offer something for every kind of visitor this summer
Reimagining the Film Archive: Milestones - May 2026
Artist in Conversation: Sadia Pineda Hameed
With only one month left to watch 'Anak: Where Did We Stay' in our Media Lab gallery, we caught up with Ebbw Valley-based artist and filmmaker Sadia Pineda Hameed, to discuss her process and reflections on the film.
News - May 2026
Beryl's Influences
Although artist Beryl Cook was self-taught, she didn’t create her paintings in a vacuum. She actively mined newsreels and local papers, was an avid reader who owned many books, captured hundreds of photographs and gained inspiration from a wide variety of materials and artists. There's a section in our ‘Beryl Cook: Pride and Joy’ exhibition which shows her work alongside some of these and demonstrates just how well-informed and considered her practice was. Discover more here!
History - May 2026
Tribute to June Marlow
When singer and actress June Marlow was invited to record ‘the voice’ of the Elizabethan House just a few weeks before her 90th birthday, she may not have known it would be her last professional role but she did know it was one she could perform with pinpoint accuracy, drawing from her earliest experiences and channelling the voices and dialect of her birthplace: New Street on Plymouth’s historic Barbican. June sadly passed away in late February but her legacy lives on. Here we explore her life in a wonderful article featuring her own writing and recollections and compiled by her granddaughter Lauren Vandike.