What’s On at Chippenham Museum

Autumn 2019 Events Programme

Download our Museum Events Programme to see What’s On at Chippenham Museum and Neeld Community & Arts Centre from September to December 2019.

Current Exhibition

Strange & Wonderful Beings: The Work of Clifford & Rosemary Ellis

Saturday 5 October – Saturday 18 January 

This exhibition celebrates the work of Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. From tube posters to wartime sketches, explore the artistic output of this fascinating design duo and their legacy at the Bath Academy of Art in Corsham. Displayed alongside these will be works by Howard Hodgkin, William Scott and the other famous lecturers who taught at the school.

The exhibition will include loans from the Art and Design Collection of Bath Spa University and the Ellis Family Archive that was given to the Victoria Art Gallery in 2016 is shared with the Bath Record Office.

A programme of themed half-term family activities are running alongside this exhibition, more details coming soon.

Find out more on our Collections & Exhibitions page

More Events

The Obscure Eye presents…

18 October – 11 January 2020

The Obscure Eye presents for your delight and entertainment; drawings, costumes and cabinets of curiosities.

A fanciful exploration of circus and equally its audience. A story of the Ringmaster, a Stag Beetle and his human wife, their circus family and performing fleas. Enter at your own risk, there are over 120 fleas in this exhibition, some of them alive and direct descendants of the original circus.

Starlettes Remembered

Saturday 9 November, 10am – 4pm

A day of celebration to mark the 40th anniversary of the final performance of Chippenham Starlettes. Join the group’s founder Betty Hooper at Chippenham Museum and view a display of objects from the museum collection.

Whether you performed with the group or enjoyed one of their shows, this is a chance to share your memories and possibly even reconnect with old friends.

Chippenham Starlettes were formed in 1953 by Betty Payne and Bill Hooper as a dancing school for children. The group held their first performance, ‘Dick Whittington’, at the Neeld in 1954 and continued to stage popular performances for 25 years both in Chippenham and at the Theatre Royal in Bath.

‘Starlettes Remembered’, a book of memories and photographs charting the success of the group, is available from our museum shop (£6.95), with a special 20% discount available on Saturday 9 November for the event.

Free entry, drop in

Saxon Twelfth Night Celebration

Saturday 4 January, 10.30am – 3pm

Join Chippenham Museum to celebrate all things Saxon. Discover Chippenham’s Royal Saxon connections and the significance of Twelfth Night 878AD in King Alfred the Great’s victory over the Vikings.

With local author Geoff Hill, Saxon re-enactors and much more! All ages welcome.

Free entry, drop in

Adult Creative Workshops

Chippenham Museum is starting a new programme of adult workshops, with a variety of skills available to try and enjoy each month from Autumn 2019 to Spring 2020. No experience is necessary and refreshments are provided.

Festive Glass Stars with Mary Quarmby

Saturday 7 December starting at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm or 3pm

This event is now fully booked

Join Chippenham based glass artist Mary Quarmby to make your own fused glass star decoration at these relaxed workshops at Chippenham Museum.  The workshops are 1 ¼ hours, with four taking place throughout the day on Saturday 7 December.

The stars will be fired in Mary’s studio and available to collect from the museum soon after, ready to hang on your Christmas tree or give as gifts.

Chippenham based contemporary glass artist Mary Quarmby uses fusing and slumping to complement traditional methods of glassworking, creating unique vibrant works.

Regular Activities

Discovery Time

Every Monday (excluding Bank Holidays), 10.15am-12.00noon, at the museum

Messy play for under 5s. Develop their creative side with crafts, paints, toys, sandpit and more!

Please note this session takes place upstairs (with lift access) in the museum’s Education Room with buggy parking downstairs in the museum.

£1.50 per child