The Box Plymouth

How does it feel to make a big move to a new city and start a brand new role at The Box?

Rebecca Bridgman, our new Head of Collections and Programme shared her thoughts and advice in BBC Cornwall's 'New Beginnings' segment recently.

🎧 Listen here!

BBC Radio Cornwall - Anoushka Williams, 27/11/2023, New Beginnings - Rebecca Bridgman Rebecca is starting a new job in a new city. She shares her hopes for The Box in Plymouth

🌠 Hugely ambitious art
🌠 Mesmerising to look at
🌠 Akomfrah fuses a remarkable array of ingredients
🌠 Captivating
🌠 Transfixed by the five screens of 'Arcadia'

Thank you to everyone who came to the launch of 'John Akomfrah: Arcadia' last week - and to all those who have given us such great feedback so far.

Don't miss this major new film commission by one of the UK's leading artists - right here in Plymouth! On display until 2 Jun 2024.

https://ow.ly/AOX050QfUAg

Devon's Top Attractions rated us 'best loos in Devon' in their recent awards, and it's all thanks to our hard-working cleaners! We appreciate all the effort they put in to make our busy toilets the very best. 🤩

Did anyone catch a feature about Yinka Shonibare and his new 'Hibiscus Rising' work on The One Show last week?

It's fascinating how Shonibare focused on a shocking past event yet created a 'legacy of hope, not sadness'.

You can watch the feature, which begins at 23:22, here:
👇🏻👇🏾👇🏿
https://ow.ly/6sHk50QeXhp

See Yinka Shonibare's 'End of Empire' here until 23 June 2024. Entry is free.

Three years after opening, we're looking for an experienced consultant or consultancy to help us develop new approaches to marketing and audience development and collaborate on the creation of a strategy that reflects our refreshed mission, vision and values.

D/L 12pm on 22 January 2024.
Full details from https://ow.ly/XmGh50Qf8qN.

🎅 3 weeks to go until !

We've got a very festive programme of events taking place this month.

Take a look to find out more or head to https://ow.ly/iOcB50Qc6xj.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:

Tue 5 Dec
10.50am - 11.20am: Storytelling with Above Bounds
11.15am-12.05pm: I Wonder: join our friendly class for 2-4 year olds and their grown-ups! Limited places.

Fri 1 Dec
10.30am-11am: Our regular Tell Me a Story session to enjoy with your under 5s.

Sat 9 and Sun 10 Dec
9.15am-10.30am and 10.45am-12pm: Treat the family to a 'Breakfast with Santa'. Places still available!

Sun 10
1.30pm-2.30pm: See 'Behind The Scenes' with our Senior Archivist
7pm-9pm: A Christmas Spectacular: From Lapland to Broadway. Music through the ages!

Full info from https://ow.ly/VhM350Q9cEg.

FOCUS ON: Peter Lanyon furniture

Peter Lanyon is an award-winning furniture maker renowned for combining coppiced, unseasoned wood with other materials. He champions the use of sustainable, home-grown British hardwoods. We're delighted that Peter has loaned us some of his beautiful creations for the engagement space in the 'Dutch Flowers' exhibition (until 7 Jan).

Peter’s philosophy and approach to woodworking is simple: wood should look and feel like wood. So, when the wood is ready, Peter sets to work on the piece, allowing it to tell its own story and composing it into its finished form. There are no flat sides, straight edges or wood sanded against the grain. Instead, the tool marks add to the raw, tactile finish, bringing out the beauty of the grain and creating a playful contrast of light and shadow.

Coppicing is a traditional woodland management practice that preserves biodiversity. It involves felling young trees to open up the canopy, while preserving the root system. New shoots soon sprout from the stump, and the cycle is repeated every 30 years or so.

For more info, visit www.peterlanyonfurniture.co.uk.

📣 LAST FEW DAYS TO APPLY!

We're inviting proposals from artists for an Imperial War Museums' 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund commission that uses the Falklands Conflict of 1982 and the theme of homes as inspiration.

D/L for initial proposal: 6 Dec 2023
Full details from https://ow.ly/UAsL50Q42WG

The final preparations for 'John Akomfrah: Arcadia' (open from Thu 30 Nov) are in full effect!

This stunning film is presented across five screens in the shape of a cross and with footage filmed in a range of locations across the UK and beyond, as well as beautiful archive footage of the natural world.

Find out more about 'Arcadia' at https://ow.ly/euTI50QbZOG.

THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:

Tue 28 Nov
11.15am-12.05pm: Sing, make and play in our sensory I Wonder session for 2-4 year olds – limited places.

Wed 29 Nov
1pm-1.45pm: Join artist Kedisha Coakley in the ‘Dutch Flowers’ exhibition for a special talk about her work.

Thu 30 Nov
10am-5pm: It's the first day for our new ‘John Akomfrah: Arcadia’ exhibition! Free. No need to book.

Fri 1 Dec
10.30am-11am: Enjoy Tell Me a Story under the Royal Naval ship’s figureheads. Free. No need to book.

Sat 2 and Sun 3 Dec
9.15am-10.30am and 10.45am-12pm: Christmas gets fully underway at The Box with our 'Breakfast with Santa' sessions. Places still available!

Full info from https://ow.ly/VhM350Q9cEg.

The bright patterned clothes worn by the figures in Yinka Shonibare CBE RA's 'End of Empire' sculpture have become a recognisable part of his work.

Made by the Dutch, inspired by Indonesian Batik prints and then sold to West Africa, the wax print fabrics reflect on the complex relationship between Europe and Africa.

Discover more at https://ow.ly/ntlG50Qb2l0 and see 'End of Empire' on display at The Box until 23 June 2024.

Join us today from 11am-3pm for Museum Shop Sunday and celebrate locally produced products!

Our special showcase with MAKE Southwest is great for hunting for that special gift, from artisan jewellery to ethical home accessories. It's featuring the following makers:

Bonnie Mustoe-Whitehill, The Silver Duck, Becky Crawford, Steven Whitford Jewellery, Julia Finzel, Studio Arvor, Rosemary Jacks, Andrea McCarthy, Valerie Muddyman, Alice Wood, VJ Ceramics and Helen Harrison.



https://ow.ly/FpYp50Q9RY0

Looking for a stocking filler or unique gift? This Christmas, we have gift collections in our online store that fit all budgets.

Delivery is free when you spend £20 or more!

£5 👉🏻👉🏾👉🏿https://ow.ly/57OK50QaKo4
£10👉🏻👉🏾👉🏿https://ow.ly/qUYS50QaKo5
£20👉🏻👉🏾👉🏿https://ow.ly/3tVF50QaKo3

Plus, visit The Box Shop tomorrow (11am-3pm) and you can buy items from some of the best local makers at our Christmas Showcase!

Napoleon Bonaparte was imprisoned aboard HMS Bellerophon in Sound in 1815 before being exiled to the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena - and now a new historical epic has been released in cinemas that traces his rise to power and his fall.

Are you planning to watch ?

You can learn more about the events of 1815 in our 'Port of Plymouth' gallery too!

Napoleon - Official Trailer - Only In Cinemas Now He came from nothing. He conquered everything. From acclaimed director Ridley Scott, is Only In Cinemas November 22. Watch the official trailer now...

🌟 2024 EXHIBITIONS 🌟

Significant national partnerships, major artist commissions and exhibitions that explore identity, representation, the climate crisis and more..... we're excited to reveal more information about our exhibition programme for next year!

👉🏻👉🏽👉🏿 https://ow.ly/6qtx50QaKqt

MK Gallery National Portrait Gallery
National Gallery Tate Art Fund

This week, we have not one but two free storytelling sessions for under 5s! On Thursday at 10.30am, join Above Bounds reading Becca's 'I Can Be Kind' book. On Friday we're back at 10.30am with 'Tell Me a Story'. Both sessions are free - just turn up.

Come one and all to our Museum Shop Sunday’s shopping event with MAKE Southwest!

We’ve got handcrafted items from the following local makers: Bonnie Mustoe-Whitehill, The Silver Duck, Becky Crawford, Steven Whitford Jewellery, Julia Finzel, Studio Arvor, Rosemary Jacks, Andrea McCarthy, Valerie Muddyman, Alice Wood, VJ Ceramics and Helen Harrison.

Find the perfect gift for your special someone, from artisan jewellery to ethical home accessories. Shop local and spread the holiday cheer!

Join us from 11am - 3pm this Sunday.


https://ow.ly/FpYp50Q9RY0

ARTIST FOCUS: Our latest blog post looks at the work of artist Winifred de Vany, whose work is currently on display. Her resilience and determination to become an artist despite all the obstacles is inspiring!

https://www.theboxplymouth.com/blog/art/portrait-of-jacqueline-glanville-by-winifred-de-vany

📣 CALLING ALL ARTISTS

We're inviting proposals for a new commission as part of Imperial War Museums' 14-18 NOW Legacy Fund, that will look at themes such as home, family and communication during a time of conflict.

D/L for initial proposal: 6 Dec 2023
Full details from https://ow.ly/UAsL50Q42WG

Congratulations to Plymouth-based artist, curator and producer Rhys Morgan who is one of four Assistant Curators appointed by the National Gallery, and funded by Art Fund, to work on Jeremy Deller’s 'The Triumph of Art' commission which will round off the celebrations for the National Gallery’s Bicentenary year.

Rhys will be seconded to The Box and will work with local communities to develop our activities and a very special performance!

https://ow.ly/Mv5T50Q9w7I

GREAT EVENTS THIS WEEK:

Tue 21 Nov
11.15am-12.05pm: I Wonder - last place remaining in our fun, sensory 2-4 years session.

Thu 23 Nov
10.30am-11am: Storytime with Above Bounds - meet Becca and 'Spotty Monster' who'll be with us for 'I Can be Kind'. Free. No need to book.

Fri 24 Nov
10.30am-11am: Tell Me a Story: enjoy some fun tales with our front of house team. Free. No need to book.

Sun 26 Nov
11am-3pm: Christmas Showcase with Make South West. Free. No need to book.
1.30pm-2.30pm: Collections Tour: last ticket remaining for our glimpse behind the scenes!

Full details and booking links: https://ow.ly/VhM350Q9cEg.

Could you spare a few hours a week to be part of our amazing team of volunteers?

We're looking for enthusiastic people who can share information about our collections and exhibitions with our visitors.

No formal qualifications or previous experience are necessary as full training will be given.

Find out more from https://ow.ly/xkLp50Q98f9 and get in touch!

Take the hassle out of searching for unique gifts at our 'Christmas Showcase'.

Call in between 11am and 3pm next Sunday (26 November) to browse high-quality, handcrafted items from talented local makers including jewellery and homewares.

https://ow.ly/YXNQ50Q6A4n

Closing date approaching! A reminder that we're searching for a full-time Media Technician to support our media archive collections, lighting design, and AV installation/maintenance for exhibitions.

Interested? Find out more and apply here 👇🏻👇🏾👇🏿
https://ow.ly/i9ix50Q6sNY by 22 November!

We've been amazed by the generosity and thoughtfulness of our visitors to the 'Dutch Flowers' exhibition.

Many of you have left pledges suggesting how you can reduce your impact on the environment and our label cloud is growing by the day. We'd love more though! Next time you visit, please do add your pledge.

Just two weeks until 'John Akomfrah: Arcadia' opens on 30 Nov!

Our install team are hard at work and our gallery is shaping up nicely. We can't wait for you to see it.

Keen to find out more? This article is a great read: https://ow.ly/wFnY50Q8wQI.

We're pleased to confirm a free 'Artist Talk' with Kedisha Coakley from 1pm on Wednesday 29 November!

Come along to find out about her work, process and inspiration, and enjoy the experience of handling a selection of her beautiful floral sculptures.

🔗 https://ow.ly/B5E450Q6zMb

Dutch flower paintings capture the mesmerising beauty of flowers, insects, and porcelain in incredible detail!

To discover more about these items' significance within the paintings, you can visit the National Gallery's website to explore this in depth.

https://ow.ly/E11W50Q7mfV

Today, we're saying , players for helping to support good causes around the UK.

National Lottery funding was a massive help to us in opening The Box. It continues to help support our day-to-day work, so it couldn't be done without you!

FOCUS ON: This 1670 oil painting featuring a gleaming white Citadel is by a Dutch artist called Willem van de Velde.

Van de Velde came from a celebrated family of maritime painters and his work helped shape the development of seascape painting in England in the 1700s.

Head to https://ow.ly/fWLM50Q5vez to learn more about it, and see it in our 'People and Place' exhibition, 10am-5pm Tuesday-Sunday.

THIS WEEK’S EVENTS:

Tue 14 Nov
11.15am-12.05pm: Last space left for our 2-4 years I Wonder sessions. Perfect for a young explorer!
2pm-4pm: Always Welcome - fully booked. Tickets are now available for the new year.

Fri 17 Nov
10.30am-11am: Tell Me a Story: relax with your under 5s while listening to stories. Free.

Check our what's on for new Bite Size and Artist talks, plus our Christmas events!
Head to our website: https://ow.ly/h2aG50Q6Vhx