New Exhibition - Edward Bawden: Home and Abroad

9th February 2019 - 26th January 2020

Free entry

This exhibition shows how Bawden's immediate surroundings and overseas travels influenced his art. Bawden was inspired by the villages, churches and country lanes of his native rural Essex. He also celebrated London's landmarks, its parks, gardens, bridges and stations.

However Bawden's world extended way beyond England. He embarked on his first trip abroad to Italy aged 22. This was an experience which he recalled, 'gave me the biggest shock of my life'. While serving as an Official War Artist, he returned to Italy as well as travelling to many parts of Africa and the Middle East. In later years he taught in Canada and visited Portugal. Each new vista added to Bawden's extensive visual repertoire and all are explored in this exhibition.

Join keeper of Fine and Decorative Art, Victoria Partridge for the Home and Abroad Gallery Tour on the 21st February 2019 from 12pm - 12:30pm.

Cost: £3 (concessions £2.50) - Booking Essential

Image credit: Edward Bawden (1903—1989) Edward Bawden in Portugal —Lisbon, Lithograph after linocut, 1962 ©The Edward Bawden Estate. Courtesy of the Trustees of the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery (The Higgins Bedford).

OUTing The Past Festival

Saturday 16th February 2019 from 11am to 4pm

The Higgins Bedford is very excited to be a hub venue for the second year for the national OUTing The Past Festival of LGBT History.

February marks the beginning of LGBT History Month and the theme this year is Peace, Reconciliation and Activism.

As part of this event, there will be stall holders with information on LGBT History, rights, support and activism. In addition, there will be speakers on themes such as trans rights, sex education, suffrage and mermaids.

For more information, please visit either: http://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/whats_on/whats_on/lgbt_history_festival_2019.aspx or www.outingthepast.org.uk

Friends of The Higgins Bedford Lecture - Martyn Downer: Nelson's Jewel

Tuesday 8th  January 2019  7.30pm 

Cost: Friends £4 and Guests £9

Presented to Nelson after his famous victory in the Battle of the Nile, the ‘Chelengk’, a fabulous diamond jewel, became one of the symbols of the great admiral’s charismatic persona and sparked a copy-cat fashion craze.

150 years later the Chelengk again hit the headlines when it was stolen from its home at the National Maritime Museum in a daring night-time raid. Martyn Downer reveals more.

For more information, please visit:

http://www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/join_in/friends.aspx