Dreams and Nightmares

12th October 2019 - 22nd March 2020

Free Entry

Explore dreams and nightmares in art with an exhibition of incredible artworks drawn from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection.

Delve into Samuel Palmer’s dreams of the village of Shoreham and Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s visions of the flames of hell. Nightmares become reality in Pablo Picasso, Kathe Kollwitz and Francisco Goya’s depictions of war, whereas fairies and goblins run riot in the watercolours of Richard ‘Dickie’ Doyle and Arthur Rackham.

Written by co-curators Christiana Payne and Victoria Partridge, a fully illustrated catalogue, costing £12.99, will be available from the Museum Shop to accompany the exhibition, giving an in-depth view of the featured works.

There will also be a series of exciting events as part of Dreams and Nightmares, including gallery tours, lunchtime lectures, a British Sign Language tour and workshop, and a Study Day. Find out more here.

This exhibition was created in partnership with Professor Christiana Payne and sponsored by Oxford Brookes University. 

Celebrating Black History Month

Mixed Race People are ‘Cultural Negotiators’ - Panel Discussion

Sunday 13th Ocotober, 2:30pm - 4pm

Free Entry, Booking Essential

Join the disussion exploring mixed race identity in Bedford with Michelle Balach-Ali and panel members Pauline Stepney, Warren Temple and Angela Lowell.

Music Matters: African and Caribbean Heritage Day

Saturday 26th October, 11am – 4pm, Free Entry

Celebrate the music that has inspired Bedford’s African and Caribbean community. Take part in musical workshops and browse stalls. Enjoy topical talks exploring the history of different musical styles and music's impact on identity and wellbeing.

Working in partnership with Power in Discussion.

Find out more here.

Halloween Half Term

Tuesday 22nd - Friday 25th October

11am, 12:30pm & 2pm, £3 Per Child

There's fun for all the family to enjoy this Halloween inspired by Dreams and Nightmares exhibition. Shape creepy clay models, create zombie and skeleton crafts, experiment with bubbling potions and make your own mini-monsters to take home.

Working in collaboration with Art Adventurers, Little Science Lab and local ceramicist, Victoria Houghton. Sponsored by Oxford Brookes University. 

Find out more here.

Tours

Fine and Decorative Art Tour

17th October, 11:30am – 12:30pm

£5.90, £4.70 concessions, Booking Essential

Take a tour of the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection with Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art, Victoria Partridge. Highlights include furniture by William Burges, linocuts by Edward Bawden and European porcelain.

Haunted Higgins House Tour

Thursday 31st October, 6:30pm – 7:30pm and 7:30pm – 8:30pm

£10, Booking Essential

Join us this Halloween for mysterious tales of things that go bump in the museum. Over 18’s only. Dressing up encouraged!

Find out more here.

The Friends of The Higgins Bedford Lectures

Dr Anne Daye - An Exceeding Good Ball; Dancing in the Life and Novels of Jane Austen

Tuesday 15th October

Members £4, Non-Members £9

Dr Daye, who has advised the BBC on its recreation of Regency dance in adaptations such as ‘Pride and Prejudice’, will discuss dance in the era of Jane Austen. 

Barry Venning - Artists' Feuds

Tuesday 29th October

Members £4, Non-Members £9

The history of art is peppered with first rate bust ups: between the Renaissance artists, Brunelleschi and Ghiberti, between Constable and Turner, and most recently, between graffiti artists Banksy and ‘King’ Robbo. Join popular lecturer and art historian, Barry Venning to find out about the world's greatest artistic feuds.

Find out more here.