Exhibitions at Bristol's museums

Don't miss Bristol Museum's exciting programme of high profile exhibitions running throughout the year. These temporary exhibitions take place at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and M Shed and are located in the Temporary Exhibition Galleries at both museums unless otherwise stated.

NO BORDERS
Contemporary art in a globalised world
15 December 2012 - 2 June 2013
Admission free, suggested donation £2

In partnership with Arnolfini
No Borders is a major exhibition of international contemporary art featuring artists from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The exhibition reflects upon the globalised conditions of the world today and the particular histories and contexts that inform current art practices.

No Borders presents the monumental A Ton of Tea by globally-renowned Ai Weiwei, photographic portraits of sugar-cane cutters by Zwelethu Mthethwa and a video meditation on the Partition of India by Amar Kanwar.

14 artists explore globalisation, histories, migration, the city and conflict. The work is powerful, poetic and challenging, locating Bristol as a point of connection in a dynamic and rapidly changing web of global relations, mobility and exchange.

Find out more about this exhibition and associated events on our No Borders page.

Pharaoh: King of Egypt
A British Museum Tour
16 March 2013 – 21 July 2013
£5 / £4 concessions / £3 children / Free Under 5s / Family Ticket £10

Pharaoh: King of Egypt presents the splendour and power of the ancient kings and queens.

This touring exhibition from the British Museum explores the time of the pharaohs through fascinating objects from their world-class collection of Ancient Egyptian artefacts, many of which had never been on display outside of London until this tour.

To find out more about this exhibition and for booking information visit our Pharaoh: King of Egypt page.

With thanks to Brewin Dolphin, exhibition sponsor. 

Pharaoh: Reborn

Saturday 20 April - Sunday 29 September 2013
Exhibition Gallery 2, 2nd floor. Free entry

To complement the Pharaoh: King of Egypt exhibition, the museum will also show paintings of the tomb of Pharaoh Sety I.

When Giovanni Belzoni opened this tomb in 1818, he was astonished by the painted wall decoration.

Belzoni created a blockbuster exhibition in London, using the casts and scale copies of the wall paintings. A selection of the ‘model’ paintings will show the journey of the pharaoh after death through the Underworld.

To find out more about this exhibition, visit our Pharaoh: Reborn page

Roman Empire: Power and People
21 September 2013 – 12 January 2014
£5 / £4 concessions / £3 children / Free under 5's
Special offer free days – dates tbc

Roman Empire: Power and People will be a unique touring exhibition, combining some of the most fascinating objects from the British Museum’s collections of Roman, Romano-British and Romano-Egyptian material, never before displayed together in this way. It will explore the story of the Roman Empire and its impact both locally in Britain and much further a field in the East. It will provide the opportunity for visitors across the UK to see these objects in their local areas for the first time.

The exhibition will contain over 70 British Museum pieces on display. The Museum will also be displaying Roman and Romano-British material from its own collections.

With thanks to Brewin Dolphin, exhibition sponsor.  

Group and school bookings will open in June 2013 with full details of the school programme.

M Shed

Chocolate!
2 February 2013 – 23 June 2013
£5 / £4 concessions / £3 children / Free Under 5s / Family ticket £10

Special free entry days (Sorry no group bookings on free days) - Wednesday 17 April 2013, Wednesday 15 May and Wednesday 19 June

Take a trip down memory lane, sink back into the loving certainties of a simpler time and the pleasures of childhood in M Shed’s Chocolate!

This golden ticket family exhibition explores the history, mystery, magic and science of one of Bristol's (and the nation's) favourite products - chocolate!  Unwrap the stories of those who made the confectionery in the city over the past 250 years, find out why it tastes so good and remember the brands from years gone by.

Supported by themed events and multi-sensory experience, this promises to be Bristol's tastiest exhibition of the year. See the M Shed website for details.

With thanks to Clarke Willmott Exhibition Sponsor, Bristol Water Education Programme Sponsor and Divine Chocolate Event Supporter.

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize 2012
20 July - 3 November 2013

The very best contemporary portrait photographs from around the world, capturing famous faces and intimate moments. 

This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see the sixty prize winning portraits by some of today's most talented students, emerging photographers and gifted amateurs alongside those of established professionals.

The images explore a range of themes, styles and approaches to the photographic portrait. Each one tells its own story and will inevitably evoke its own reaction.

More information about events and ticketing coming soon. See the M shed website for further details.

A Naiad by Mark Titchner
From 13 April  
Ground floor foyer, permanent display 

'A Naiad', the new sculpture by Mark Titchner is based on a redundant reduction gear which has been drawn from the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery collection, and which the artist has used as a basis for a sculptural work that examines the tidal system of Bristol's floating harbour, and New Cut.

Find out more about this display and associated events on the M shed website.

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