Exhibitions

Exhibitions

What is it? 

An exhibition can be reasonably defined as a selection of items displayed for the enjoyment of the public. The specific subject of an exhibition can be almost anything, but the most popular themes tend to be art and history.

What does it involve?

Attending an exhibition mainly just involves paying attention and engaging with the show that has been put on for you! 

Why do it and what are the benefits?

The purpose of an exhibition is to display points of interest in the most effective manner, and it can be a great alternative way of learning than reading out of books in the classroom. Having a visual and tangible example of something in front of you makes it so much more interesting to learn about, especially if it's something you've only ever seen in pictures before e.g. you'll remember seeing preserved artefacts in real life much easier than when you saw it in a book. 

What equipment do we need?

Exhibitions often have guides to take you around and explain the display further, and specialist school group guides may have activities for the students to engage in during the visit - check beforehand to see if such a feature is available, and if you need to bring any equipment for it! Other than that, you shouldn't need to provide anything to enjoy an exhibition. 

Who is it suitable for?

While not all exhibitions are suitable for all ages, there is enough variety that there will be one perfectly suited to the age and interests of your student group - make sure to do your research!

Costs?

Entry to exhibitions can vary between costing nothing and a £30+ fee depending on the content and the venue!

Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)

Exhibition venues can often be large and confusing to navigate, so make sure younger groups of students are sufficiently supervised!

How do we include?

The variety of venues, subjects and sizes available when considering attending an exhibition means you should be able to include everyone regardless of interests or disabilities. 

Doing it abroad?

Foreign countries all have their own fascinating histories and culture which will all undoubtedly be displayed in a great exhibition somewhere! The main cities of a country are the most likely places to find an engaging exhibition, so check out whats on before you set off from the UK!

Main website: 

Consult individual venue websites to see exactly what they have on at the current time!

 

See the list below for venues and providers who deliver this activity:

Potteries Museum & Art Gallery

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

Travel back in time and discover the history of the Potteries and of Staffordshire.

See the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found on display, plus the world's finest collection of Staffordshire ceramics, Reginald Mitchell's WW2 Spitfire, Ozzy the famous pottery owl and all sorts of art and craft.

Enjoy our changing exhibition programme: including family friendly exhibitions and activities throughout the summer holidays.

School Visits

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Strumpshaw Steam Museum

Come and visit us for a yesteryear experience
Venue Type: 
Transport
Overall Rating: 
0

Home to the renowned Strumpshaw Steam Rally, the museum houses a nostalgic collection of traction engines, steam rollers, tractors and beam engines. 

There’s also a Christie cinema organ and fairground organs and you can take a countryside walk or a trip on the narrow gauge railway to explore the grounds of the old hall.

The Museum was opened at this site in 1954 when the engines were moved here from North Walsham where the engine collection as it was then was previously housed, and it was in this year also that the first engine, a Marshall was purchased.

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Exmouth Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

Exmouth Museum was first opened in 1985 and is housed in a 19th century building which was the Council Stables together with the adjoining foreman's cottage.

We tell the story of Exmouth and its people. Exhibits include a 1950s Room, a Victorian Kitchen, Wartime, the Beach, Children's Toys, Railways, Shipping, Antique Lace and Commemorative China. For the children we have Quiz Sheets and our ever popular 'Find the Cat' trail.

The Museum reflects Exmouth's rich social history and includes:

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Teign Heritage Centre and Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

Teignmouth and Shaldon are beautiful. They are not, however, just pretty places! Products of a turbulent past and the strivings of succeeding generations, Teignmouth and Shaldon have colourful and absorbing stories to tell. The stories are told in the Museum - what happened, when and who the players were. 

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Sir John Soane's Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

The architect Sir John Soane’s house, museum and library at No. 13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields has been a public museum since the early 19th century. Soane demolished and rebuilt three houses in succession on the north side of Lincoln’s Inn Fields, beginning with No. 12 between 1792 and 1794, moving on to No. 13, re-built in two phases in 1808-9 and 1812, and concluding with No. 14, rebuilt in 1823-24. 

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Levant Mine and Beam Engine

Unique steam-powered Cornish beam engine in action
Venue Type: 
Science & Technology
Overall Rating: 
0

Part of Cornwall and West Devon Mining World Heritage Site, this is the only Cornish beam engine anywhere in the world that is still in steam on its original mine site.

The famous Levant engine is housed in a small engine house perched on the edge of the cliffs.

Restored after 60 idle years by a group of volunteers known as the 'Greasy Gang', it is a thrilling experience for young and old alike to see this old engine in action, with its evocative sounds and smells.

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Paycocke's House and Garden

A stunning Tudor merchant's house whose walls have more than a few stories to tell
Venue Type: 
Historic Buildings & Monuments
Overall Rating: 
0

Stunning woodcarving and elaborate panelling made this wealthy merchant's house a medieval des res built to impress.

Built around 1500 for Thomas Paycocke, the house is a grand example of the wealth generated in East Anglia by the cloth trade in the 16th century.

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Finch Forge and Foundry

The last working water-powered forge in England
Venue Type: 
Science & Technology
Overall Rating: 
0

The last working water-powered forge in the country nestles in the middle of Sticklepath village on the edge of Dartmoor, near Okehampton. During lively demonstrations see and hear the large water wheel and tilt hammers in action. Demonstrations of the machinery every hour. 

Discover life as an apprentice at the Foundry in the upper gallery and try and guess what all the different tools were used for in the Carpenters shop. Take a peek at Tom Pearse’s summerhouse of Widecombe Fair fame (learn the rhyme too!). 
Shop and tearoom.

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Charles Burrell Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

This museum, housed in Burrells original paint shop, tells the story of the Charles Burrell Works – a Thetford business that once employed 350 people and supplied beautiful and reliable steam-powered engines throughout the world.  

Burrells built traction engines, agricultural machinery, steam trucks wagons and tram engines, thriving until the internal combustion engine took over from steam power. 

Displays include fine engines and agricultural machinery alongside recreations of parts of the original

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Discovery Museum

Venue Type: 
Museums
Overall Rating: 
0

Discovery Museum is a science museum and local history museum which displays many exhibits of local history, including 

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