ART HISTORY FESTIVAL 2024 – South West

Join curators to explore a new display juxtaposing objects and artworks from a 19th century tiger puppet made in Myanmar to Black Water Tiger (2022), a contemporary response to historic collections by artist Zadie Xa. This thought-provoking new presentation considers how and why Plymouth’s global histories and collections are being reinterpreted and represented with artists and audiences. The city was a key departure point for journeys to the New World and the subsequent development of British colonial power: histories that are intrinsically linked to the city’s past and still impact us today. Come and hear how we’re reframing our global pasts and have your say on the future development of a new gallery display at The Box.

The purchase of Black Water Tiger (2022) by Zadie Xa was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Henry Moore Foundation.

Harold Harvey was one of the few Newlyn School artists from Cornwall.  Born in Penzance, he lived in the area for most of his life and many of his paintings showed scenes of local life.  Take elements from Harvey and other Newlyn School artists’ works to create your own collage of a Cornish scene.

Families with blind and partially sighted children are invited to join us for a touch tour of the autumn exhibition and to hear from an artist. Come and learn about how they made their artwork on display, and touch the materials they made it with!

Facilitator Rae Melody and the RWA Learning Team will support you to enjoy a special opportunity to feel the works of art in a closed-session without the general public in the building. Enjoy finding out about artists, Local to Global, who have exhibited at the RWA over the last 171 years.

Touch! Smell! Listen! Look!

SEN+D families are invited to join us for the launch of our new Sensory Trail this autumn. Come and be among the first to check it out and tell us what you think.

Drop in any time between 3:00 and 4:30pm when the RWA Learning Team will welcome you and show you our trail of special markers located around our historic building that encourage you to use your senses. As well as the trail experience, we will have an art activity for you to enjoy in connection with our art history theme: Local to Global.

Booking is essential so we know you are coming.

Deaf children and Signing families are invited to join Deaf artist Chisato Minamimura for an exhibition tour in British Sign Language. As part of the event there will also be an art activity for you to enjoy as a family, inspired by one of the artworks in the exhibition.

Using her skills and experience working in the art sector as well as art history knowledge, Chisato’s tour will be exploring our autumn exhibition, the Annual Open Exhibition (AOE). The AOEs at this gallery began in the 1850s and are still going strong. Imagine what it might have been like so long ago!

Booking is essential.