Sheffield Museums Exhibitions and Events – October 2024

Sheffield Museums have announced a rich and exciting lineup of exhibitions and events for October 2024, inviting visitors to explore art, history, and creativity at various locations across the city. This month’s highlights include diverse exhibitions such as “Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood” at the Millennium Gallery, and “City of Rivers” at Weston Park Museum.

Sheffield’s museums continue to serve as cultural hubs, offering free entry and an engaging programme of family-friendly activities, workshops, and talks for all ages.

Museum Opening Times and Locations

Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet
Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield, S7 2QW
Until 3 Nov: Thu – Sat 10am – 4pm | Sun 11am – 4pm
From 4 Nov: Closed until Spring 2025, except for scheduled events

Graves Gallery
Surrey Street, Sheffield, S1 1XZ
Open: Tue – Sat 11am – 4pm

Kelham Island Museum
Alma Street, Sheffield, S3 8RY
Open: Tue – Sat 10am – 4pm | Sun 11am – 4pm

Millennium Gallery
Arundel Gate, Sheffield, S1 2PP
Open: Tue – Sat 10am – 5pm | Sun 11am – 4pm

Shepherd Wheel Workshop
Whiteley Woods, Sheffield, S11 2YE
Until 27 Oct: Sat and Sun 10am – 4pm
From 2 Nov: Sat and Sun 11am – 3pm

Weston Park Museum
Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TP
Until 3 Nov: Tue – Sat 10am – 5pm | Sun 11am – 4pm
From 4 Nov: Tue – Sat 10am – 4pm | Sun 11am – 4pm

Exhibitions and Displays

Acts of Creation: On Art and Motherhood

24 Oct 2024 – 19 Jan 2025 | Millennium Gallery | Free Entry
Curated by writer Hettie Judah, this exhibition dives into the complexities of motherhood through over 100 artworks. Motherhood as both a theme and a lived experience is explored through paintings, sculptures, sound, and film by over sixty artists including Tracey Emin and Marlene Dumas. Tackling themes like fertility, loss, and domesticity, the exhibition sheds light on the often-overlooked subject of motherhood in art.

Crafted

26 Oct – 24 Dec 2024 | Millennium Gallery | Free Entry
An annual showcase celebrating exceptional craftsmanship, Crafted presents jewellery, ceramics, and textiles made by the North's finest independent artists and designers. From glasswork to woodwork, this exhibition offers plenty of Christmas gift inspiration, while also supporting local makers.

Lubna Chowdhary: PLURIVERSE

Until 21 Dec 2024 | Graves Gallery | Free Entry
PLURIVERSE showcases Chowdhary’s exploration of the interconnectedness of objects across cultural and material boundaries. The exhibition features sculptures and installations that bring together diverse influences, including prints from Sheffield’s collection by artists such as Eduardo Paolozzi. This exhibition provides a unique lens on how global design histories influence contemporary art.

City of Rivers

Until 3 Nov 2024 | Weston Park Museum | Free Entry
This exhibition celebrates Sheffield’s rivers and their role in shaping the city’s industry, landscape, and wildlife. Featuring objects, artworks, and stories from the people of Sheffield, City of Rivers reflects on how these waterways continue to influence the lives of residents today.

Upcoming Events

Baby Friendly Art Club

Tuesdays until 22 October, 11am – 12:30pm | Abbeydale Industrial Hamlet | £9
Parents and carers can develop their artistic skills in a relaxed environment, with non-messy materials provided. Designed for participants with babies under 12 months, this session offers a creative escape with plenty of sensory toys for the little ones.

Lunchtime Session: Caribbean Footsteps – Archiving in Practice

Tue 1 Oct, 1 – 1:45pm | Weston Park Museum | Free
Join Ella Barrett, archivist and creative producer, for an interactive session on personal and community archiving. Learn about Afro-Caribbean history through personal archives and engage in discussions about cultural memory.

Wednesday Art Club

Wednesdays until 23 Oct, 5 – 7pm | Millennium Gallery | £9 per class
This weekly art club for 11-14 year-olds offers the chance to explore different artistic techniques inspired by the gallery’s collection. Each session focuses on a different piece, encouraging creativity and experimentation.

Tour: Signs of Colour & Form – Discover British Sign Language

Sat 5 Oct, 12 – 1pm | Millennium Gallery & Graves Gallery | Free
A unique opportunity to learn British Sign Language (BSL) while touring two exhibitions: Tess Jaray’s Paintings and Drawings, and Lubna Chowdhary’s PLURIVERSE. Led by Martin Glover, a Deaf BSL user and architect, this event will be supported by an interpreter.

Curator Tour: Sharing People’s Stories

Tue 22 Oct, 1 – 1:45pm | Kelham Island Museum | Free
Join Community Curator Cheryl Bowen and Industry Curator Emma Paragreen for an insightful tour of Kelham Island Museum’s latest displays. Learn about the museum’s ongoing work to celebrate diverse voices in Sheffield’s history, including themes like decolonisation and women in industry.

Lunchtime Talk: Seeing From All Sides – The Early Work of Tess Jaray

Tue 8 Oct, 1 – 1:45pm | Millennium Gallery | Free
Curator Natalie Rudd will explore the early career of artist Tess Jaray, focusing on the 1960s. This talk delves into her artistic evolution, with a close examination of works featured in the current exhibition.

LGBTQ+ Over 50s Group

Thu 10 Oct, 1 – 3pm | Weston Park Museum | Free
A community-led group providing a safe and welcoming space for over-50s from the LGBTQ+ community to gather, share experiences, and discuss relevant topics.

Family-Friendly Activities

Fridays Under 5s – Get Stuck In!

Every Friday during term time, 10am – 12pm | Weston Park Museum | Free
Young children can enjoy hands-on creative play with messy activities like painting and sensory play sessions. A fun way for toddlers to explore their creativity and engage with the museum's spaces.

Family Activity: Who’s Who in Kelham Island?

Tue 29 Oct, 12 – 3pm | Kelham Island Museum | Suggested Donation £3
Bring history to life by creating your own character sculpture, inspired by Kelham Island’s industrial past. Perfect for a hands-on family day out.