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Funding announcement: Milton Keynes Community Foundation
MK Gallery has received a Large Strategic Grant from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation, to support with the development of the 'Our Studio' programme! Our Studio offers a creative, social and supportive space for young people aged 14-25yrs, who identify as neurodivergent or as having additional support needs. Thanks to the £108,000 grant from Milton Keynes Community Foundation, we can run new, twice weekly, sessions from MK Gallery’s Project Space, which has been transformed into a dedicated studio space for the programme. With guidance from lead artist facilitators Sarah Hunt and Emily Stapleton-Jefferis, participants will explore, experiment, and develop their own unique artistic practices. This funding will also support the continuation of the Our Studio regular sessions on the third Saturday of the month, as well as enrichment opportunities including guest artist workshops and offsite trips. Jake Geelan, Philanthropy Director at MK Community Foundation stated:
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Funding Announcement: ARTIST ROOMS
MK Gallery is thrilled that our partnership with ARTIST ROOMS will enable us to extend our Inclusive Practice in the Arts programming this spring around our upcoming exhibition, Andy Warhol: Portrait of America.
ARTIST ROOMS, Tate and National Galleries of Scotland’s touring exhibition programme, gives young people across the UK the chance to get involved in creative projects, discover more about art and artists, and learn new skills. With Art Fund and Henry Moore Foundation support, ARTIST ROOMS is a catalyst for access and engagement with young people in museums and galleries. An ARTIST ROOMS bursary will support the delivery of IPA’s monthly Our Studio sessions, for neurodivergent young people aged 14-25 yrs and those with additional support needs, until June 2025.
It will also enable two exciting guest artist workshops delivered by Silly Gooze Editions, an artist-led Risograph studio and artist book makers in Northamptonshire. The young people’s creativity will culminate in a pop-up exhibition at the end of June to celebrate this specially themed series of workshops and exploration of Andy Warhol’s practice.
The bursary will also make possible two additional days of Art Together workshops during the Easter and May school holidays. Art Together provides an open and friendly space for families who have a child or children with additional or complex support needs, to make, play and explore their creativity.
ARTIST ROOMS presents the work of international artists in solo exhibitions drawn from a national touring collection jointly owned by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Its programme reaches audiences across the UK and is developed through local partnerships.
Find out more:
www.nationalgalleries.org/artistrooms
www.tate.org.uk/artist-rooms
The ARTIST ROOMS national collection and programme is managed in partnership by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland with the support of Art Fund, Henry Moore Foundation and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Creative Scotland.
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Contributors Announced for Vanessa Bell Conference
The contributors for MK Gallery's upcoming Vanessa Bell Conference have been announced. The gallery is thrilled to be joined by an exciting line up of experts and enthusiasts for this one-day conference, held in the 150-seat Sky Room auditorium. Further details on the contributors can be found below: Dr Rebecca Birrell is a Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow at the University of St Andrews and writer of This Dark Country: Women Artists, Still Life and Intimacy in the Early Twentieth Century (Bloomsbury, 2021). Dr Darren Clarke is Head of Collections, Research and Exhibitions at the Charleston Trust. He has curated several exhibitions including Orlando at the present time (2018), and Post-Impressionist Living: The Omega Workshops (2019). Rob Gifford is a cultural activist and co-curator of StonyWords, an annual community literary festival in Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes. Dr Wendy Hitchmough is emeritus senior lecturer at the University of Sussex. She is the author of The Bloomsbury Look (Yale, 2020) and former curator at Charleston (2001-13). Dr Hana Leaper is Reader in History of Art and Exhibition Studies at Liverpool John Moores University. She completed her PhD Vanessa Bell and the Significance of Form in 2014. Frances Spalding is an art historian, biographer and cultural historian. Projects include the biography Vanessa Bell (Bloomsbury, 2006) and an exhibition on Virginia Woolf (National Portrait Gallery, 2014). Dr Claudia Tobin is a Senior Research Associate at the Intellectual Forum, Jesus College Cambridge, and curator of Gardening Bohemia: Bloomsbury Women Outdoors (Garden Museum, 2024). Additional contributors will be announced in due course. The conference will be taking place on Friday 24 January, from 10am - 5pm, with an option to watch via live stream online. Tickets to the in-person conference will also include access to the Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour exhibition. Vanessa Bell (1879–1961) was a pioneering modernist painter and founding member of the Bloomsbury Group, a circle of influential English artists, writers and intellectuals in the first half of the twentieth century. Vanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour at MK Gallery – her largest-ever solo show – provides an in-depth overview that includes drawings, paintings, ceramics and furniture. Tickets to the Vanessa Bell Conference are available here. Tickets to live stream the Vanessa Bell Conference are available here.
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MK Gallery Receives Art Fund Grant
We are delighted to to share that MK Gallery has been awarded a grant through Art Fund's Reimagine programme. This funding will help us to strengthen our approach to strategic partnerships and explore new ways to engage with our communities. Building on MK Gallery’s innovative approach to tour programming, Sensory Exhibition Engagement will increase opportunities for disabled and neurodivergent adults, children, and young people to access and engage with exhibitions. Click here to find out more about the Reimagine programme and our plans for the grant. Art Fund Art Fund is the UK's independent charity for art, helping museums and people to share in great art and culture for 120 years. Art Fund raises millions of pounds every year to help the UK’s museums, galleries and historic houses. The charity funds art, enabling the UK’s museums to buy and share exciting works, connect with their communities, and inspire the next generation. It builds audiences with its National Art Pass opening doors to great culture; and it amplifies the museum sector through the world’s largest museum prize, Art Fund Museum of the Year, and creative events that bring the UK’s museums together. Art Fund is people-powered by 135,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, and the donors, trusts and foundations who support the charity. The National Art Pass provides free or discounted entry to over 400 museums, galleries and historic places, 50% off major exhibitions, and Art Quarterly magazine. www.artfund.org
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Warhol Returns to MK
In celebration of its 25th Anniversary, MK Gallery is delighted to present Andy Warhol: Portrait of America, an ARTIST ROOMS Partnership Exhibition with Tate and National Galleries of Scotland, opening Saturday 15 March 2025.
Almost 25 years since Andy Warhol: Cars was shown in 2001, MK Gallery is set to exhibit the seminal pop artist’s work once again in Milton Keynes. This upcoming exhibition will be a survey of over 130 of Warhol's most iconic artworks, including the renowned Marilyn series, and two paintings of British art duo Gilbert & George, who were the focus of MK Gallery's inaugural exhibition in 1999.
Andy Warhol (1928-1987) was a leading figure in American Pop art. This exhibition of works from the 1950s – 80s includes early drawings, painted-silkscreens and photographic series featuring Warhol’s collaborations with artists, friends, filmmakers and celebrities. Images of Marilyn Monroe, Liz Taylor, and Warhol himself, feature alongside icons of American consumerism as well as symbols of the artists fascination with mortality: guns, skulls and war.
Warhol’s fascination with celebrity and commercial culture produced some of the most recognisable images in 20th century art. Finding success living and working in 1950s New York as an illustrator for magazines, Warhol developed styles and techniques which propelled him to the centre of America’s cultural scene.
About ARTIST ROOMS
ARTIST ROOMS presents the work of international artists in solo exhibitions drawn from a national touring collection jointly owned by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland. Its programme reaches audiences across the UK and is developed through local partnerships.
The ARTIST ROOMS national collection and programme is managed in partnership by Tate and National Galleries of Scotland with the support of Art Fund, Henry Moore Foundation and using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England and Creative Scotland.
Andy Warhol: Portrait of America is open 15 March – 29 June 2025 at MK Gallery, Milton Keynes.
Click here to book tickets.
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Taking the Stage Returns to MK Gallery
Supporting and celebrating women playwrights, this third edition of the Taking the Stage festival will showcase an exciting lineup of new plays, discussions and talks. Taking the Stage will include a keynote speech from leading British playwright Winsome Pinnock, a headlining play from Suzette Coon and a talk from Lesley Gannon from The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain on how to protect your intellectual property. The programme of the four-day festival is as follows:
Day 1: Wednesday 16 October
7pm: Festival opens with a keynote speech by Winsome Pinnock award-winning playwright 7.30pm: In a Key of Her Own by Suzette Coon 8.30pm: Fifty Cups of Tea by Rosemary Hill 9pm: Q&A – ‘Where do we go from Here?’Day 2: Thursday 17 October
6pm: Four Weigh-ins and a Funeral by Emma Burnell 6.45pm: The Memory of Snow by Sian Rowland 7.30pm: Tales From the Confined by Tam Gilbert 8.15pm: Echo by Subika Anwar Khan 8.45pm: Q&A, ‘Where are we with diversity and inclusion now?’Day 3: Friday 18 October
7pm: Change of Engagement by Carly Halse 7.30pm: The V-Word by Lisa Stenhouse 8.30pm: Persuasion by Chloe Wade Q&A ‘Do we tell enough LGBTQ stories in theatre?’Day 4, Part 1: Saturday 19 October
1pm: Protecting Intellectual Property, Lesley Gannon, Writer’s Guild (Event Space) 2.30pm: MK Theatre Young Company presents MY WORLD 3pm: Q&A, ‘Where are our future theatre makers?’ 4pm: The Role of the Intimacy Co-ordinator, Ita O’Brien (Event Space)Day 4, Part 2: Saturday 19 October
7pm: Festival closing speech by Suzette Coon 7.30pm: In a Key of her Own by Suzette Coon 8.30pm: Fifty Cups of Tea by Rosemary Hill 9.00pm: Q&A “Where do we go from here?”£0.00
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Summer Replay is back!
Get ready for a summer of cinematic magic with Summer Replay! Perfect for the whole family, our programme features a spectacular lineup of the latest and greatest children's films, guaranteed to delight audiences of all ages. Film Lineup:
- Butterfly Tale: Experience the beautiful transformation and adventures of a butterfly in this visually stunning story.
- The Garfield Movie: Get ready to laugh with everyone's favourite lasagna-loving cat in a hilarious new adventure.
- Inside Out 2: Dive back into the mind with Riley and her emotions in this heartwarming sequel.
- Kung Fu Panda 4: Follow Po and the Furious Five as they take on new challenges in this action-packed, hilarious journey.
- Migration: Embark on an epic journey with a flock of birds in this breathtaking animated adventure.
- Scarygirl: Join Arkie on her adventure to save her city in this enchanting and thrilling tale.
- Wish: Follow a young girl as she embarks on a magical quest to make her dreams come true.
- Wonka: Discover the whimsical origins of the beloved chocolatier, Willy Wonka, in this imaginative prequel.
- Price: £6 per ticket
- Includes: A popcorn or hot drink to enjoy during the movie
- A diverse selection of the newest family-friendly films
- Affordable entertainment for a perfect summer outing
- Enjoy tasty treats with every ticket
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MK Calling and Vanessa Bell: Our next two exhibitions
MK Calling 2024
22 June - 29 September 2024
This year’s MK Calling features artworks spanning sculpture, painting, photography, installation and film. Over 120 established and emerging artists explore themes including identity, inclusivity, possible futures, heritage, and significant moments across five thematic gallery spaces. Book nowVanessa Bell: A World of Form and Colour
19 October 2024 - 23 February 2025
Vanessa Bell (née Stephen; 1879–1961) was a key figure in 20th-century British art and played a central role in the Bloomsbury Group. The exhibition at MK Gallery – the first solo show of Bell’s work in over seven years and the largest to date – will be an overview spanning the artist’s illustrious career, including over 120 items. Book now£0.00
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MK Gallery receives funding from the Community Foundation
MK Gallery receives funding from the Community Foundation to extend work with blind and visually impaired audiences
MK Gallery is thrilled to have been awarded funding from the Milton Keynes Community Foundation to support a new programme of activities including exhibition tours, and equipment that will enhance the experience of visitors with sight loss. Commencing in Spring 2024 MK Gallery will work with visually impaired students from St Paul’s Catholic School - who have a leading Visual Impairment (VI) department and specialist teachers - along with MK Gallery Associate Artist Julia Collar to develop and deliver new sensory exhibition tours. Julia currently leads the Gallery’s award-winning programme of Sensory Tours and will work with the children and young people from St Paul’s to bring their experiences and voices to the forefront. Lucie Gray, Head of St Paul’s VI department commented about the news: “We are thrilled to be working with MK Gallery’s Inclusive Practice in the Arts team and with Julia Collar. The students in the VI Department are so excited to have this amazing opportunity to be involved in a sensory art project in their community. They are hoping that the exhibition will encourage those with vision impairment to get more involved.” The funding will also extend and enhance MK Gallery’s existing accessible tour programme - increasing the number of artist-led audio-described tours per exhibition and introducing new portable gallery seating and tactile image printing. Opening in June 2024 the MK Calling exhibition will also trial new audio labels, accessible via the Bloomberg Connects app. Mike Pearson, MK Gallery volunteer and campaigner for improving accessibility in the arts for people with sight loss, said about the award: “This funding by Milton Keynes Community Foundation will open a pathway for visually impaired people of all ages to actively participate and engage with the Gallery, extending their programme of Inclusivity in the Arts. I hope that, going forward, many more galleries will include artworks that actively invite touch and offer audio description to enrich the visitor experience.” MK Gallery is one of the most accessible venues in Milton Keynes and is committed to making its spaces and diverse programme of exhibitions and events relevant and engaging for all members of the local community. This new area of work will bring new visitors to the Gallery and inspire a younger generation to connect with the arts in meaningful and multi-sensory ways. Find upcoming dates for MK Gallery’s Audio Described and Sensory exhibition tours here.
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Open now – Saul Leiter: An Unfinished World
MK Gallery presents largest UK exhibition of works by Saul Leiter, pioneer of colour photography
'Photographs are often treated as important moments but really they are fragments and souvenirs of an unfinished world.' - Saul Leiter A major survey of works by American photographer Saul Leiter (1923 – 2013), one of the most important practitioners of the post-war period and a pioneer of colour photography, opens today at MK Gallery in Milton Keynes. Saul Leiter: An Unfinished World is the largest exhibition of Leiter's work to take place in the UK, featuring 171 photographs alongside a selection of over 40 of Leiter's lesser-known paintings, presenting a complete overview of his life's work for the first time. 39 of these works have never been exhibited before. Click here to book tickets for the exhibition. The exhibition at MK Gallery is curated by Anne Morin, co-produced by the Rencontres d’Arles and DiChroma Photography, Madrid with the collaboration of the Saul Leiter Foundation, New York.£0.00
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Get your free Meerkat Movies tickets with MK Gallery
We're pleased to announce that our Sky Room Cinema is now a Meerkat Movies partner!
Compare the Market customers can now enjoy the amazing 2-for-1 cinema ticket offer at MK Gallery every Tuesday and Wednesday. Offer is redeemable when visiting our Box Office or over the phone: 01908 676900. Click here to see what's on. Click here to learn more about Meerkat Movies.£0.00
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Announcing Saul Leiter: An Unfinished World
American photographer Saul Leiter (1923 – 2013), one of the most important practitioners of the post-war period and a pioneer of colour photography, celebrated for his evocative images of New York City in the 1950s and 1960s, will be the subject of an exhibition opening 17 February 2024. Leiter photographed every day for sixty years, keenly observing daily life and discovering beauty on the streets of the East Village neighbourhood where he lived his entire adult life and which became his enduring subject. Upon his death in 2013, Leiter left behind a remarkable collection of around 15,000 black and white prints, at least 40,000 colour slides, a similar number of black and white negatives and over 4000 paintings, only a handful of which had seen the light of day. Once lost to obscurity, his work has since been rediscovered and revaluated for its ground-breaking role in the emergence of colour photography. Saul Leiter: An Unfinished World at MK Gallery will be the largest exhibition of Leiter’s work to take place in the UK, featuring 171 photographs alongside a selection of over 40 of Leiter’s lesser-known paintings. The exhibition at MK Gallery is curated by Anne Morin, co-produced by the Rencontres d'Arles and DiChroma Photography, Madrid with the collaboration of the Saul Leiter Foundation, New York. Click here to learn more about the exhibition and book tickets.
