April to September 2020 Section of tile pavement found at Warden Abbey. Reconstruction by C. Marshall and E. Baker. © Courtesy of the Southill Estate. WHAT’S ON AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD THE HIGGINS ON AT WHAT’S CONTENTS Exhibitions 4 Displays 7 Events 9 Tours 12 Reminiscence Sessions 14 Wellbeing Programme 15 Holiday Activities 17 The Friends of The Higgins Bedford 20 Booking Information 21 Exhibitions and Displays Coming Soon 22 Groups 24 Venue Hire 25 Shop 26 Access 27 Events Calendar 29 Contact Us and How To Find Us 32 2 About the Higgins Bedford We are a Bedford Borough Council cultural service that showcases wonderful and varied collections of fine and decorative arts and changing exhibitions drawn from the nationally significant collection of British watercolours, drawings and prints. Displays of archaeology, social history and ethnography demonstrate how Bedfordshire has developed over time. These collections inspire a busy programme of temporary exhibitions, active learning and events. In our permanent collection spaces you can: • tour the 1840s house built by the Higgins family next to their brewery. Uncover family stories and Cecil Higgins’ collection of internationally important glass and ceramics. • explore the biggest collection of painted furniture created by William Burges, the leading Gothic Revival architect and designer of the 1800s. • admire the decorative artwork and techniques of the most influential designers from over four centuries including fine glassware, textiles, enamels and metalwork. • study the Edward Bawden Archive, the collection of one of the most influential artists of his generation. Discover the work of this versatile artist in changing exhibitions. • uncover the geology of Bedfordshire and discover how people from the Stone Age to Medieval times lived in and shaped the landscape we see today, • follow the development of the local area through agriculture, engineering and the brickworks, airships at Cardington, the Second World War and technological advances. • enjoy changing displays about local people who have influenced the story of Bedfordshire. • take a glimpse into the world of The Collectors and cases of natural history, ethnographic and archaeological items from near and far. For the latest about temporary exhibitions and events visit: www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk 3 The Higgins Bedford EXHIBITIONS Samuel Palmer (1805–1881) - Harvest in the Vineyard, 1859 © Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection Under the Same Sky WHAT’S ON AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD THE HIGGINS ON AT WHAT’S 4 April – 20 September 2020 Wixamtree and Connections – Free Entry Spanning two galleries, discover the local impact of weather alongside artists’ depictions of the sky above. Drawn from the internationally renowned Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection explore storms and calm skies, fluffy clouds and drenched cities, sun worship and visions of the moon in the work of artists such as JMW Turner, Samuel Palmer, Alfred Sisley, Eric Ravilious, Paul Nash and Edouard Manet. Covering 200 years of art this exhibition includes well known works as well as several that have not been on public display in over a decade. In addition, celebrate the local pioneers and research organisations including the founders of the national Royal Meteorological Society, the weather forecasters for the airships at Cardington and the recorders of rainfall. Discover the effects of weather on changing river levels and habitats for wildlife. 4 The Higgins Bedford Climate Change and Local Wildlife by Brian Eversham 22 April, 2.30pm – 3.30pm Free Entry - Booking Essential Join Brian Eversham from The Wildlife Trust in exploring how wildlife has responded to past climates, how plants and animals are being affected now, what the future may hold, and what we should be doing about it. Brian is a former research ecologist, discovering how habitat structure and landform can help Wasp Spider, Cambourne, 2009 wildlife adapt to a changing climate. © Brian Eversham Lunchtime Art Tours Thursdays: 30 April, 18 June, 16 July, 12pm – 12.30pm £3.10, £2.60 for concessions – Booking Essential Join The Higgins expert guides for a lunchtime tour of the BEDFORD THE HIGGINS ON AT WHAT’S artistic highlights in the exhibition. The Fabric of Bedford 11 July - 13 September Sir William Harpur Gallery – Free Entry This exhibition of selected work produced by local children and young people aged 4-18 from across all Bedford Borough schools is the third Harpur Trust biennial art competition. The Fabric of Bedford captures the heart of Bedford life in a variety of art mediums including drawing, painting, printmaking and collage. To support schools entering the competition, the Harpur Trust funded over 30 workshops led by local artists resulting in a colourful display that reflects the uniqueness of Bedford Borough. 5 The Higgins Bedford EXHIBITIONS Exhibition Bawden: Architectural Elements 8 February 2020 - 24 January 2021 Edward Bawden Gallery – Free Entry Architecture is one of the most prominent and recurring subjects in Edward Bawden’s work. Selected from the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery Collection and home of the Edward Bawden Archive, Edward Bawden (1903—1989) Nine London explore his passion for Monuments - Palace of Westminster, 1966 architecture through prints, ©The Edward Bawden Estate. advertising campaigns and private commissions, some of which have never been on display. Includes architecturally inspired wallpaper designs, nostalgic pre-war vignettes of rural houses, WHAT’S ON AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD THE HIGGINS ON AT WHAT’S 1930s modernist architecture and Victorian ironwork structures lost to modernisation. Bawden Archive Session Thursday 23 April, 10am - 11am £6.10, £4.90 for concessions – Booking Essential Delve into the Edward Bawden archive with Victoria Partridge, Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art, to view works that have never been on display as well as old favourites. Architectural Elements Gallery Tour Wednesdays: 20 May, 1 July, 12pm – 12.30pm £3.10, £2.60 for concessions – Booking Essential Join the Keeper of Fine and Decorative Art for a lunchtime tour of the artistic highlights in the exhibition. 6 The Higgins Bedford DISPLAYS Warden Abbey Revealed 4 April – 9 November 2020 Outside Settlement Gallery – Free Entry Recent research by the Old Warden History and Heritage Society alongside the results of the geophysical survey by MOLA (Northampton) has revealed the grandeur of the medieval Cistercian abbey. The reconstruction illustration by Peter Dunn based on this work will be on display with a selection of archaeological artefacts recovered from excavations at Warden Abbey. Warden Abbey Revealed: the Making of a Reconstruction Painting Wednesday 29 April, 2pm – 3:30pm, Free Entry – Booking Essential WHAT’S ON AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD THE HIGGINS ON AT WHAT’S Warden Abbey was demolished on the orders of Henry VIII, but thanks to the skills of reconstruction artist, Peter Dunn, you can appreciate how the Cistercian monastery may have looked c.1370. Join our ‘virtual guided tour’ Early 14th century floor tile in the shape with local historian, of a Lion’s head, Warden Abbey, © Courtesy of the Southill Estate. Margaret Roberts. Warden Abbey Revealed: Tactile Tiles Wednesday 5 August, 11am – 3pm Free Entry – Drop In (For Ages 4-11) Learn about tile manufacturing at Warden Abbey and handle some of the tile fragments made there 700 years ago. 7 The Higgins Bedford DISPLAYS RAE Bedford and Concorde Continues Until 21 June 2020 Outside Somewhere in England Gallery – Free Entry On the 9 April 1969, Concorde’s maiden flight took place after many years of research. The Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) Bedford was a major contributor to the research through wind tunnels near Milton Ernest and the flight research airfield at Thurleigh. This display commemorates this achievement and illustrates the evolution of Concorde’s design. Flying Concorde - a Magnificent Aircraft by Les Evans Wednesday 6 May, 2.30pm – 3.30pm Free Entry – Booking Essential Join Les Evans to learn more about flying Concorde commercially. Come on a journey from London WHAT’S ON AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORD THE HIGGINS ON AT WHAT’S to New York as seen through the Concorde pilot, Les Evans, in eyes of the pilots. His overriding the cockpit © Les Evans experience of Concorde was of a complex, fascinating and exciting aircraft to fly. Secret Boffins on the Hill by Barry Tomlinson (FRAeS) Wednesday 3 June, 2.30pm - 3.30pm Free Entry – Booking Essential Explore the world-class aeronautical research carried out by the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE) Bedford. Among its Harrier launching from achievements the RAE established ski-jump © Bedford the basic principles of automatic Aeronautical Heritage Group landing in fog; devised the best wing shape for Concorde; explored how to control vertical take-off and landing, improved helicopter performance and designed optimum wing profiles for future airliners. 8 The Higgins Bedford DISPLAYS Innovation and Tradition: 40 years of Morris 23 June 2020 – June 2021 The last forty or so years have seen great shifts in what most people think of as a fixed and unchanging English tradition. This display traces the impact Redbornstoke Morris at Hastings ‘Jack of the of innovation and change Green’ event, 2015 © Chas Leslie on tradition through the story of two local Morris teams: Redbornstoke Morris and Bedfordshire Lace Morris. EVENTS The Higgins Knitting Group Tuesdays: 21 April, 19 May, 16 June, 21 July, 18 August, 15 September, 20 October, 11am – 3pm Free Entry - Drop In Get creative and join like- WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE HIGGINS BEDFORDHIGGINS THE AT HAPPENING WHAT’S minded crafters to knit and crochet hats, socks, gloves and blankets for charitable causes. Beginners welcome. Needles, hooks, wool and patterns can be provided. Living as well as possible, Life beyond a diagnosis Wednesday 13 May 1.30pm – 4.30pm, Free Entry Dementia Action week runs from 11 – 17 May where communities come together to help improve the lives of people living with dementia. This event will offer taster sessions, workshops and activities to explore how to continue to live as well as possible.