For further information about any of the events below and to book tickets
please click on the link:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events?page=1&location=Ferens%20Art%20Gallery%20#events
2026/27 Events at the Ferens Art Gallery
Artist Talks • Open Exhibition
Workshops
Open Exhibition Artist Talks
A series of Open Exhibition 2026 Featured Artist Talks
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Open Exhibition Artist Talk
Joe Foster
Image Credit: Joe Foster, “Garden Sculpture“
Thursday 19th November 2026 • Free, drop-in
Approx. 30 minutes starting at 2.00pm
Joe Foster is a multi-disciplinary artist exploring themes of ecological change and human intervention. Joe’s practice explores the connection – or disconnection – between ourselves and the natural world through everyday observations of human intervention in natural spaces. For example, the use of plastic tree guards as a supportive measure which can become environmentally detrimental if not recycled and removed. Using photography as a research method and a starting point for further investigation, Joe explores the effects of those interventions using image making techniques, ceramics and other representative materials including concrete, plastic byproducts and natural materials.
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Open Exhibition Artist Talk
Emma Hardaker
Image Credit: Emma Hardaker, “Mothers Intuition“
Thursday 3rd December 2026 • Free, drop-in
Approx. 30 minutes starting at 2.00pm
EV Hardaker is an artist and designer from Hull, who over the last decade, has built a reputation for bold and visually arresting transformations in the public realm. Since having a child in 2024 Emma has moved away from project based work to develop a strong studio painting practice, drawing on her long standing interests in architecture, colour and form. Using collage as a starting point, she experiments with colour, texture and shape, exploring the relationships between them to create unique and harmonious compositions.
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Open Exhibition Artist Talk
Dina Tereshchenko
Image Credit: Dina Tereshchenko, “Spurn Point“
Thursday 7th January 2027 • Free, drop-in
Approx. 30 minutes starting at 2.00pm
Dina Tereshchenko is a UK-based mixed-media artist from Kyiv, Ukraine. Her practice spans across painting, printmaking, collage and installation. Her works sensitively observe fleeting light changes and natural energies, underpinned by themes of memory, transition and fragmentation. The main aim of her artistic practice is to convey a unique emotional perspective, immersing the viewer in an alternative space shaped by her experiences. The works showcased at the Ferens Open reflect on landscapes observed in the UK while drawing parallels to meaningful places across time and space.
2026 Open Exhibition
On now until Sunday 10th January 2027
Free, drop-in
The annual Open Exhibition at the Ferens Art Gallery has celebrated the creativity of local amateur and professional artists since 1967. Each year the Open Exhibition provides an exciting opportunity for artists to display and sell artwork.
Visitors can expect to see a fascinating array of artwork including impressive paintings, photography and textiles, as well as a number of striking sculptures and ceramics, most of which will be for sale.
2026 Young Artist Open Exhibition
On now until Sunday 10th January 2027
Free, drop-in
The Young Artist Open exhibition has been held annually at the Ferens Art Gallery since 2003 and celebrates the creative talent of young people in Hull and the surrounding area.
Young artists are in the running to win prizes in three age categories, generously sponsored by the Friends of the Ferens and the Hull and East Riding Branch of The Arts Society.
The Tate and the National Portrait Gallery’s national tour of William Dobson’s
Self-Portrait c.1635-40
The Ferens Art Gallery is honoured to announce that the gallery will be part of the Tate and the National Portrait Gallery’s national tour of William Dobson’s Self-Portrait c.1635-40.
Dobson holds a pivotal place in the story of British art. His painting of himself as a young man was made between 1635 and 1640 in London, before he arrived at the King’s court in Oxford, and is one of the earliest examples of English self-portraiture. An exceptionally rare work, it has an honesty and intimacy that defied the conventions of 17th century British art.
The work will be on display in an exhibition at the gallery from 31st January to 23rd May 2027 and will mark the start of the Gallery’s centenary year. Art Uprising! will explore the regions history of rebellion and creativity with Hull’s Civil War story at its centre. Here, young people from The Warren Youth Project will work with a musician to co-produce creative responses to the history of Hull at the time of Charles I.
Slow Sundays: Drawing Group
1st November 2026 • 6th December 2026
3rd January 2027 • 7th February 2027 • 7th March 2027
Slow Sundays: Drawing Group is a new informal meet up at Ferens Art Gallery that provides inspirational opportunities to draw in this unique setting. Making the most of the incredible collection and the dedicated drawing studio ‘Create Gallery’.
All abilities / levels of experience are welcome. (Aged 18 +)
Established artist Esther Cawley, (Royal Drawing School Alumni) will provide expertise and advice as you work on developing your drawing skills at your own pace. High quality drawing materials, paper and easels will be provided. You are very welcome to bring along personal sketchbooks/materials. There will be lots of opportunity draw from life, honing your observational skills as well as taking a deeper dive into the artwork on display at Ferens. The aspiration is for this to be a collaborative group, developing content in response to needs and interests.
11.15am-1.15pm
£25 per session plus £4 booking fee
Click below for booking details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/slow-sundays-drawing-group
Flourish with Ferens
Artist led session for neurodivergent and disabled children and young people.
21st November 2026
10.30am-12noon
Ticketed – click link below for further details:
Flourish with Ferens – Hull Museums and Gallery
Sewn Bindings Workshop:
Pocket Notebooks
with Lydia Shearsmith
Saturday 14th November 2026 at 10.30am-4pm
This workshop introduces you to sewn paperback bookbinding by creating a series of A6 pocket notebooks. Suitable for beginners. It will take you from the fundamentals of bookbinding through to a finished, multi-section notebook or sketchbook of your own design. The day opens with a short introduction to the tools and materials used in bookbinding, covering topics such as paper weight, grain direction, and thread choice, so you understand not just how to bind but why certain materials and techniques are used. You will then build a single-section pamphlet-style notebook, which covers all the foundational skills of folding, piercing, sewing, and trimming. In the afternoon you will progress to a multi-section book, learning how to combine several sections into a thicker volume and exploring different methods of attaching a cover, including a wrap-around cover and an open-spine structure.
Choose between notebook and sketchbook papers, to tailor your final piece to your own interests. By the end of the day, you will have a beautiful set of homemade books to take home, and all the core skills needed to continue making your own paperback notebooks and sketchbooks at home.
Ticketed, £79
Ticketed – click link below for further details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/sewn-bindings-workshop-pocket-notebooks-with-lydia-shearsmith
Contemporary Kintsugi Workshop with Amelia Bedson
Saturday 28th November 2026 at 10.15
Discover the Art of Kintsugi—Where Broken Becomes Beautiful
Not everything broken is lost—sometimes, it can become even more beautiful
Join us for a one-of-a-kind workshop that celebrates the ancient Japanese art of Kintsugi, where cracks are filled with gold, turning once-broken ceramics into stunning masterpieces.
Led by Amelia Bedson, a professional restorer with a Masters in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, this workshop will take you on a journey through history, craftsmanship, and the philosophy of wabi-sabi—embracing imperfections as part of an object’s unique story. Contemporary Kintsugi fuses the techniques used in traditional Kintsugi with modern methods to produce stunning results.
In the workshop, Amelia will supply you with a ceramic bowl and your own toolbox for use during the workshop which will contain all the materials and items you need. She will then show you how to break it safely, and teach you step by step, how to repair the broken pieces to create a wonderful new masterpiece, using 22 carat gold leaf to gild the repair.
You will leave the workshop with the confidence to repair other pieces of broken ceramics to make them even more beautiful. Contemporary Kintsugi transforms your broken ceramics as they become beautifully flawed!
Why this workshop is so special:
• Kintsugi is a mindful, meditative art form that celebrates the beauty in imperfection
• It is a relaxing creative experience that you can share with others
• Your Kintsugi ceramics are unique personalised pieces of art that embrace the power of transformation
Ticketed, £91
Ticketed – click link below for further details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/contemporary-kintsugi-workshop-with-amelia-bedson
Festive Gilding Workshop with Amelia Bedsom
Sunday 29th November 2026 at 10.15
Christmas starts here with this wonderfully engaging workshop where you will have the opportunity to gild a large Christmas Ornament, and either a hanging Christmas Decoration, or a real walnut. Gilding walnuts is a Victorian Christmas tradition that has been cherished for over a century.
Led by Amelia Bedson, a professional restorer with a Masters in the Conservation of Cultural Heritage, this workshop will take you on a journey learning the art of laying Dutch gold leaf and helping you to create wonderful items that will make fabulous mementoes of the day, or unique Christmas gifts for friends and family.
In this workshop you will:
Step into the spirit of the season and gild your own large free standing Christmas Ornament together with a hanging decoration, or alternatively take a nostalgic journey back to the 19th century and in true Victorian fashion gild real walnuts. The Victorians transformed these into delicate decorations for fireplaces and Christmas trees. These charming ornaments often held secret messages, tucked inside to be opened on New Year’s Day. While Amelia’s may not conceal surprises, they beautifully echo that enchanting era when ‘A Christmas Carol‘ by Charles Dickens set the scene for a truly magical festive celebration.
Ticketed, £79
Ticketed – click link below for further details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/festive-gilding-workshop-with-amelia-bedsom
Festive Willow Weaving
with Alison Walling
Saturday 5th December 2026 at 10.30am-3.15pm
Using a range of different colourful willows, learn basic weaving techniques to make large and small stars and decorative pieces including mini reindeer and Christmas trees. This is a great introduction to working with willow and you will take home several pieces and tons of inspiration.
Beginners welcome, all tools and materials supplied.
Ticketed, £69
Ticketed – click link below for further details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/festive-willow-weaving-with-alison-walling
Willow Weaving Bird Sculpture
with Alison Walling
Saturday 30th January 2027 at 10.15am-4pm
Learn to make your own chicken or pheasant to roost at home or in the garden. We will use a random weaving technique to create these characterful and highly individual birds.
Beginners welcome, all tools and materials supplied.
Ticketed, £79
Ticketed – click link below for further details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events/willow-weaving-bird-sculpture-with-alison-walling
New Acquisition at the Ferens
Emma Prempeh (b. London, 1996)
Ira, 2025
Oil, Acrylic and Schlag metal on canvas
Donated by the Contemporary Art Society, 2026
Emma writes:
“I originally saw ‘Portrait of Ira Aldridge by an unknown artist‘ in the Wilberforce House. I found out it was a copy of the original painting, ‘The Captive Slave. But ah! What wish can prosper or what prayer for merchants rich in cargoes of despair‘ by John Philip Simpson.
The sitter was Ira Aldridge, a Shakespearean actor and campaigner born in New York in the year of the abolition of the slave trade act, who emigrated to England and became a successful actor. He sat for Simpson in a work that constructed black suffering as spectacle to white empathy in the years leading up to the British Emancipation Act of 1833.”
Prempeh created this work while undertaking a residency at 87 Gallery. She wanted to frame Aldridge in the contemporary world, shifting the focus from bondage. The canvas has been written on by Hull communities before Prempeh created the portrait.
David Bowie Highlights Tour to visit Ferens Art Gallery
in early 2028 as part of V&A national tour
Mick Rock, still of ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’ music video © Mick Rock 1973, 2026. Courtesy of the Estate of Mick Rock.
Ferens Art Gallery will host a landmark national tour from the V&A, celebrating the creativity and enduring cultural impact of
David Bowie
Bringing together 100 highlights from the V&A’s David Bowie archive – many that have never been on public display before – David Bowie: On Tour will travel to venues across the UK across multiple years, visiting Hull early 2028.
The tour marks the first time highlights from David Bowie’s archive have been shared on this scale across the UK, outside of London, bringing Bowie’s story and creative imagination to new audiences across the country.
Cllr Jackie Dad, deputy leader of Hull City Council and portfolio holder for culture, said:
“It is incredibly exciting to announce that in 2028, the Ferens Art Gallery will host David Bowie: On Tour, in partnership with the V&A. Hull has a legendary connection to David Bowie through the Spiders from Mars, and the mark they left on music history. David Bowie: On Tour builds on the momentum of the Ferens centenary celebrations in 2027 and reflects Hull’s long-standing contribution to music and culture. It is part of the city’s continued ambition to strengthen its profile as a world class music destination that belongs on the global stage.”
In November 2027, Ferens Art Gallery will mark its 100th anniversary with an ambitious, two-year centenary programme that places art, creativity and cultural connection at the heart of Hull. Spanning 2027–2028, the celebrations will showcase the gallery’s world-class collections, deliver major national partnerships, and invite audiences of all ages to experience art in new and inspiring ways.
At the centre of this landmark programme the David Bowie: On Tour will become a major cultural moment set to draw visitors from across the UK and beyond.
Kerri Offord, Curator of Art at Ferens Art Gallery, said: “We are incredibly excited to bring the story of David Bowie to Hull. It will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to experience his iconic style, sound and lyrics through an eclectic array of objects. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in Bowie while exploring objects that tell the story of his artistry and the man behind the many personas. For the people of Hull this will also be a truly unique experience as we explore the early years of Bowie’s career with the Spiders from Mars, and the many stories and connections in the region.”
Extracts from
Handel : Messiah
Bach : Christmas Oratorio
Nativity – Dutch School (attributed to) • Ferens Art Gallery
Hull Bach Choir & Orchestra
Conducted by Julian Savory
Saturday 12th December 2026 at 3.30pm
Trinity Methodist Church, Hull HU2 8AF
Friends of the Ferens Members Special Offer
The concert should be rather special as you will enjoy all the popular pieces from Handel’s Messiah and as if that is not enough, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.
Payment is by cash or card, on the door, but don’t forget to have your Friends Membership card with you.
Click on the link below for further details:
What’s on – Hull Museums and Galleries
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Family intro to British Sign Language
Thursday 29th October 2026 • Ticketed
1.00-1.45pm and 2.00-2.45pm
Join experienced British Sign Language teacher David Webb from Webb BSL for a fun intro to British Sign Language for children aged 7 and up and accompanying adults. In the session, families will join David, and BSL interpreter Lisa Bagnall, for a tour of the Streetlife Museum where they will learn some simple signs for beginners including names, colours, numbers, animals and vehicles.
The session will be a fun and inclusive introduction to British Sign Language for families. No previous experience of using sign language is needed, just come along and have fun as you learn some new skills!
Booking for this session is required as spaces are limited. Please only book a ticket for each child taking part. Accompanying adults do not need to book a ticket.
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Hull and East Yorkshire Deaf Centre
Centenary Exhibition
Friday 30th October – Sunday 24th January 2027
In June 1926, the custom built Hull and East Yorkshire Deaf Centre was opened for the first time by Thomas Ferens. For a hundred years the building has been the heart of Hull’s Deaf community and the exhibition will feature photographs, stories and a film telling the story of the community over the last century.
Free, drop-in
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Family Handsong Workshop
with Hull Visual Choir
Friday 30th October 2026 • Ticketed
2.00pm-3.00pm
Hull Visual Choir is a signing adult choir aimed at bringing the Deaf and hearing community together. They use a mixture of British Sign Language and artistic license to bring beautiful songs to life to be enjoyed by all.
In this fun, family friendly workshop, to celebrate the launch of a new exhibition created by the Hull and East Yorkshire Deaf Centre to celebrate their centenary, adults and children alike can join the choir to learn and perform songs. No previous experience of British Sign Language is needed, and all are welcome, so come along, have fun and learn some new skills.
Please note that this session is best suited for children aged 6+ years and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Booking for this session is essential as spaces are limited. Please book a ticket for each person who is taking part.
Click on the link below for further details:
https://www.hullmuseums.co.uk/museum-events?location=Hull+and+East+Riding+Museum+of+Archaeology&category=&audience=&entry=&startDate=&endDate=&filterList=Filter#events
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Spooky Transport and Prehistoric Beasts – Relaxed (SEND) Family Crafts
Thursday 29th October 2026 • Ticketed
10.30am-12noon
This is a relaxed craft session with limited numbers designed for children and young people who have a disability, are neurodivergent, or experience anxiety that would find it difficult to attend the busier drop-in sessions.
Booking for these sessions is essential as spaces are limited. Please only book a ticket for each child or young person taking part. Accompanying adults do not need to book a ticket.
In this session, children and young people can make their own spook-tacular transport themed crafts, from ghost buses, to creepy horse and carriages, to terrifying trams and or something of your own invention! They can also have a go at making their own fun crafts inspired by some of the large beasts that lived in parts of Britain thousands of years ago, from woolly mammoths to woolly rhinos, cave lions and hyenas!
As these crafts are themed for the ‘spooky season’, children are very welcome to come in Halloween fancy dress if they would like to.
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Prehistoric Beasts –
Family Craft Activity
Thursday 29th October 2026 • Free, drop-in
1.00pm-3.00pm
Have a go at making your own fun crafts inspired by some of the large beasts that lived in parts of Britain thousands of years ago, from woolly mammoths to woolly rhinos, cave lions and hyenas!
I am black because I come from the earth’s inside: Zivarna Murphy
on now until 7th February 2027 | 10:30 am-5:00 pm
Humber Street Gallery is pleased to present I am black because I come from the earth’s inside, an exhibition by Zivarna Murphy.
This new commission is an invitation to enter an alternatively conceived shell grotto: a space for considering how this architectural form might be reclaimed and imagined otherwise.
Ornamental sites of display, wealth and status, shell grottoes became fashionable within British estates and gardens during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Often shaped by women whose labour went largely unrecorded, these spaces are entangled with notions of class, gender and Britishness. Murphy enters this layered history through making, re-forming the grotto with locally gathered boulder clay, hand-formed ceramics, and sculptural weaving.
Taking its form from the cave, the grotto carries deep associations with retreat, ritual, and transformation. Moving between the histories held in the grotto and her own experience, Murphy approaches making as a process of discovery, through which the grotto can be encountered anew.
Since March 2026, Zivarna Murphy has been supported as part of Holding Space, a studio residency at Juice Studios. The residency provided an artist working in Hull, who would otherwise not have access to a studio, with seven months of cost-covered studio space and dedicated time to develop and expand their creative practice. Zivarna’s residency culminates in this presentation of work.
Join the artists to celebrate the opening of
our new exhibition
Featuring work by:
Anne Moses, Adrian Bannon, Kai Brook, Paul Collinson, Fernanda Cortes, Trevor Fearnley, Jamie Frost, Lyn Hodnet, Adele Kamazyn, Neil Moore, Carol Sommer, Wendy Tate, Sally Taylor and Amelia Frances Wood.
Figuratively Speaking invites visitors to reconsider the enduring power of the figure in contemporary art and to discover how fourteen artists are using recognisable forms to speak about the world we inhabit today.
FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING
on now until 1st November 2026
Thursday to Sunday 11.00am – 4.00pm
Admission Free
THE FRIENDS OF THE FERENS ART GALLERY
Please click the link below to view a detailed explanation of the Friends and the role of the Friends Trustees
FoFAG structure 3-fold contacts
