Exhibitions
As well as our permanent displays, we have a packed schedule of changing exhibitions at both the Maritime Museum and the City Museum.
Read on to find out what you'll be able to discover on your next visit - or if you've seen it all already, skip ahead to our Future Exhibitions!
Standfast & Barracks: A century of design
6 April to 30 June 2024
Standfast and Barracks is an internationally renowned Lancaster-based textile company. We have worked closely with their team to develop an interactive exhibition celebrating the company’s centenary.
This exhibition occupies our ground floor gallery, which is fully accessible to anyone with a wheelchair or limited mobility via the entrance ramp to the front door.
100 Years, 100 Objects: Stories from the Collection of Lancaster City Museums
September 2023 to August 2024
2023 marked the 100th anniversary of our museums. As part of our centenary celebrations we created a series of podcasts about objects in our collection. These objects are now on display at the City Museum. They were selected by members of our museum team, academics, and members of community groups, who chose their favourites from our collection of over 50,000 items.
Please note that this exhibition is on the first floor of the building. Our stairlift is currently out of order, so this is only accessible to those able to climb two flights of stairs. We're very sorry for any dissappointment this may cause. We hope you will still enjoy listening to the podcast here.
Hoard of Hoards: Hidden | Lost | Stolen | Offered | Collected
Continuing throughout 2024
This immersive exhibition literally uncovers the hoards that we have in the collection. From pre-history through to the Tudor period people have always stashed away their valuables for one reason or another. We take a look at each one and ask what was happening in Britain at the time and why the owners felt the need to hide theirs.
Lancaster Delftware: a Potted History
20 April – 25 August 2024
This exhibition looks at the history of the recently discovered 18th century pothouse right here on St. George’s Quay. It brings together a collection of the ceramics that were made there and sold in the local area and around the world.
You can find out more in the book Lancaster Delftware: an 18th century pottery (1754 - c.1786), available in the Maritime Museum shop.
We're looking forward to two new exhibitions at the City Museum later this year:
- The first will focus on the beloved statue of Eric Morecambe that stands on Morecambe Promenade, and its sculptor Graham Ibbeson.
- The second exhibition will explore the history and work of our local council.
The Maritime Museum will also gain a new exhibition this autumn, celebrating the work of local photographer John Walker, who was active between 1890 and 1918. His work provides a remarkable record of the Lancaster District during that period, including portraits, landscapes, natural features, streets and buildings. Many of his photographs feature shipping on the River Lune and the fishing community at Sunderland Point where he lived.
Check back here for updates, or follow us on social media for all the latest announcements about exhibitions and events at our museums:
