MK Gallery exterior by 6a architects, featuring City Club by Gareth Jones and Nils Norman.

About

MK Gallery brings world-class exhibitions and events together with pioneering learning and community programmes to Milton Keynes.

An independent café and shop, cinema from Curzon, and spectacular views over the park feature in this new building, which launched in 2019.

Three major exhibitions are presented each year across five elegant and spacious galleries, from thematic group exhibitions to in-depth solo presentations. Alongside our exhibitions, we offer music, dance, talks and conferences, mixing emerging and locally based talent with established names. We also deliver a weekly film programme featuring the best of independent cinema in partnership with Curzon. We offer schools and family activities throughout the year and our artist-designed play area is open 365 days a year.

MK Gallery works with partners locally, nationally and internationally to bring the best cultural activities into the region. The Gallery is part of the Arts Council’s National Portfolio and a member of the Plus Tate network.

Exhibitions

Three major exhibitions are presented each year across five elegant and spacious galleries, from thematic group exhibitions to in-depth solo presentations.

Learn more

Get Involved

We welcome everyone and offer an array of activities and workshops – from school visits and guided tours to weekly courses, clubs and classes for a range of age groups.

Learn more

Venue Hire

There are a range of rooms throughout the Gallery that host a variety of different events – from conferences to private receptions, weddings to Christmas parties, banqueting to BBQs, seminars to corporate team building, and everything in between. 

Learn more

Events Programme

MK Gallery’s dynamic, multi disciplinary events programme provides audiences with a range of inspiring arts and cultural experiences alongside opportunities to engage more deeply with our exhibitions and offsite projects. Developed and delivered in collaboration with local, national and international partners, the programme supports the growth of a vibrant, creative community locally whilst also channelling new work and ideas, across artistic disciplines, into Milton Keynes from around world.

Exhibitions

Three major exhibitions are presented each year across five elegant and spacious galleries, from thematic group exhibitions to in-depth solo presentations.

Talks, Conferences and Workshops

MK Gallery regularly stages talks by artists, curators and academics to deepen understanding and engagement with our exhibitions and offsite projects. Alongside this, we work closely with external partners to present associated talks, conferences and workshops on a broader range of subjects and interests, but with a specific focus on themes that connect directly to the heritage and future development of Milton Keynes.

Cinema

MK Gallery is proud to partner with Curzon Cinemas to bring the best in contemporary film to Milton Keynes. Whether this is the latest breakthrough indie, a cutting edge documentary, award winning world cinema, or a heart-warming children’s animation, we pride ourselves on carefully crafting an accessible programme that provides multiple entry points into the world of cinema beyond the mainstream.

Music

Music and sound have been an integral part of the events programme since its inception. Working with both emerging and establish artists, across genres, we have forged a reputation for presenting concerts that forefront experimentation. In 2017, we helped to establish OUTLANDS, a new national experimental music touring network with nine partners across the UK to further increase awareness of this area of artistic practice and open up opportunities for regional audiences to engage and participate.

Our Team

Directors

Anthony Spira
Director

Francis Nielsen
Deputy Director

Exhibitions

Fay Blanchard
Head of Exhibitions

Madeleine Jordan
Exhibitions Coordinator

Public Programmes

Niki Braithwaite
Head of Public Programmes

Roisin Callaghan
Producer, Public Programmes

Sophie Bennett
Producer, Public Programmes (Inclusion)

Rosie May
Inclusion Coordinator

Events and Catering

Andrew Papworth
Head of Events and Catering

Sam Lennon
Events and Catering Executive

Ben Montgomery
Head Chef

Tony Thorne
Events and Café Supervisor

Callie Ruddick
Catering Assistant

Marketing

Cherelle Cunningham
Head of Marketing and Audience Development

Angus Norton
Marketing Manager

For all press enquiries, please email press@mkgallery.org

Operations

Jamie Aylard
Facilities Manager

Annette Parmar
Volunteer Manager

Linda Wright
Finance Manager

Pallavi Ghosh
Finance Administrator

Front of House

Patrick Phillips
House Manager

Ben Charter
House Coordinator

Monika Lorincova
House Coordinator

Sonia Tsesarsky
House Coordinator

Diana Volokha
House Coordinator

Xander Webster
House Coordinator

Retail

Charlotte Baker
Box Office and Retail Manager

Judy Kendrick-Simonsen
Retail Coordinator

Julia Roach
Retail Coordinator

Governance

MK Gallery is governed by a voluntary board. Its current members are:

Liz Gifford
Chair

Neil Smith
Vice Chair

Sas Amoah, Cllr Robin Bradburn, Sue Carbert, Natalie Drought, Cllr David Hopkins, David King, Cllr Shanika Mahendran, Roz Mascarenhas, Dr. Fidéle Mutwarasibo, Sarah Westacott, Sunita Yeomans

Architecture and Expansion

MK Gallery re-opened in March 2019 following a major renovation and expansion. Inspired by the utopian history of Milton Keynes, the building was designed by 6a architects, with artists Gareth Jones and Nils Norman. In 2021, the building won the RIBA South Project Architect of the Year award.

The Observer’s ‘Building of the Year 2019’

‘an architectural gem’ – The Telegraph

‘a dream made real’ – The Financial Times

‘utterly, thrillingly Milton Keynesian’ – The Guardian

Relevant Links and Further Reading:

Since opening in 1999, MK Gallery has developed a reputation as one of the UK’s leading public art galleries, commissioning and presenting British and international contemporary art.

Programming multiple major exhibitions a year, MK Gallery is the only contemporary visual arts organisation within a 40-mile radius that commissions and showcases innovative and high-quality international contemporary and modern art.

The Gallery has an outstanding track record of presenting critically acclaimed and high-quality exhibitions, including shows by Archigram, Michael Craig-Martin, Jeremy Deller, Nasreen Mohamedi, Piranesi and Andy Warhol. Its international partnerships provide a connection between Milton Keynes and the wider world, channelling ambitious ideas and artistic excellence into the region.

Since reopening in 2019 after a major renovation and expansion, MK Gallery has been described as ‘an architectural gem’ in The Telegraph, ‘a dream made real’ in The Financial Times, and ‘utterly, thrillingly Milton Keynesian’ in The Guardian. Inspired by the unique history of this utopian New Town, the building was designed by 6a architects, with artists Gareth Jones and Nils Norman.

Sign Up