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Online exhibition

Costumes from Gentleman Jack

In 2022 Bankfield Museum in Halifax hosted ‘Costumes from Gentleman Jack’ exhibition. To share the exhibition further, the exhibition and content have been recorded in a film and slideshow.
Event dates Wednesday 13th September 2023
This exhibition takes place in your web browser
Online exhibition

Anne Lister's birthday diary entries

For Anne Lister's 229th birthday on the 3rd April 2020 we wanted to share her diary entries from her journals 1818 to 1840. Here we have the extracts from Anne's birthdays, with transcriptions kindly provided by members of the #AnneListerCodeBreaker team.
Event dates Wednesday 13th September 2023
This exhibition takes place in your web browser
DIARY PAGE
Online exhibition

Waterloo

An online exhibition to commemorate the anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo on the 18th June 1815.
Event dates Wednesday 13th September 2023
This exhibition takes place in your web browser
Online exhibition

Shibden Hall - Virtual Tour

Join us on a journey through 600 years of history and discover the secrets of Shibden Hall from the comfort of your home. 
Event dates Wednesday 13th September 2023
This exhibition takes place in your web browser
Explore the gardens of shibden hall and then venture inside the halls.
Online exhibition

A letter by Anne Lister and Ann Walker 1st August, 1834

Event dates Wednesday 13th September 2023
This exhibition takes place in your web browser
Online exhibition

Shibden Hall Paintings

Shibden Hall has 15 unique oil paintings, that are mostly portraits, on permanent display; some have been on site for centuries. We have lots of information on these paintings but would love to find out more.
Event dates Wednesday 13th September 2023
This exhibition takes place in your web browser
Shibden Dale
Exhibition

John Holland’s Local Landscapes

During 2023 the main hall at Bankfield will be hung with several works by John Holland (1829-1886), held in Calderdale Museums Service’s collection. Holland was born in Nottingham and painted landscapes and coastal scenes.
Event dates 7th January 2023 - 23rd December 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Exhibition

Opening the Wardrobe - The History Wardrobe Collection of Lucy Adlington

A unique exhibition celebrating women’s clothes and the stories they tell. This exclusive exhibition features highlights from the private collection of dress historian Lucy Adlington.
Event dates 4th February 2023 - 23rd December 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
History Wardrobe Presents - Opening the Wardrobe - The Collection of Lucy Adlington
Exhibition

A Hat for all Seasons

Celebrating all things hats! This new exhibition examines the style, function, and symbolism of headwear in British society. Showcasing highlights from the Museum collection and contemporary examples from Yorkshire milliners, the exhibition traces the evolution of the hat from the bonnet and topper of the Nineteenth Century to Royal Ascot and catwalk showstoppers of the present day.
Event dates 11th March 2023 - 30th September 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
A burgundy hat with roses attached to the front
Exhibition

Highlights from the Smith Collection

Both galleries at the Smith Art Gallery in Brighouse will showcase highlights of the art collection of William and Susannah Smith. Alderman William Smith (1839-1922), who was Mayor of Brighouse from 1893-1895 and 1904-1907, and his wife Susannah (1838-1916) began collecting paintings in the 1870s from exhibitions around the UK.
Event dates 1st April 2023 - 16th September 2023
This event takes place at Smith Art Gallery
Event

History Wardrobe presents - Divine Deco, The Art of the Dressmaker

To tie in with our new exhibition: Opening the Wardrobe, we're hosting four History Wardrobe evening presentations. The third evening event is ‘Divine Deco, The Art of the Dressmaker’.
Event dates Saturday 16th September 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Exhibition

Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2023

The Calderdale Open is returning in 2023! Showcasing the best works entered into the Calderdale Open Art Competition. To mark Calderdale’s Year of Culture in 2024, the theme of this year’s exhibition is the landscape, people, history, and heritage of Calderdale.
Event dates 30th September 2023 - 9th April 2024
This event takes place at Smith Art Gallery
Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2023
Event

Opening and Prizegiving Ceremony, Calderdale Open 2023

The official launch of the Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2023. Successful entrants to the Open Art Competition and members of the public are invited to attend the opening ceremony.
Event dates Saturday 30th September 2023
This event takes place at Smith Art Gallery
Calderdale Open Art Exhibition 2023 logo
Exhibition

Three Miles from Home

The watercolours of Jane Austin A special collection from watercolour artist Jane Austin that explores both the famous views and the hidden wonders to be found within three miles of her Halifax home. Jane’s work explores the effects of light and the changing of the seasons on architecture and the natural world, creating a deeply personal celebration of the local area.    Jane will be appearing in Bankfield Museum throughout the exhibition to give demonstrations of her painting.
Event dates 7th October 2023 - 24th February 2024
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Supernatural Shibden

What dark and macabre secrets does Shibden Hall hold? What phantoms and beasts hide in the dark woods?
Event dates Friday 27th October 2023
This event takes place at Shibden Hall
Event

Free artist demonstration of drawing animals through shade

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration observing how animals in the wild can blend into their background using tone. The way that light passes over an animal can describe their bone structure through shadows, which can be simplified in a drawing allowing the eye of the observer to complete the unseen outlines.
Event dates Saturday 4th November 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Drawing animals through shade

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a workshop to learn how to draw animals through shade with lost and found outlines. The way that light passes over an animal can describe their bone structure through shadows, once simplified in a drawing this can allow the eye of the observer to complete the unseen outlines.
Event dates Saturday 11th November 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Free artist demonstration of creating a Watercolour nest

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration on mark making with both watercolour paint, the freedom of brushstrokes, laying colour on colour and the use of masking fluid – liquid latex used to retain white paper. Using the image of a bird’s nest and the random, circular movement there are multiple painting techniques which can be used to build the construction of the nest, reflecting nature itself.
Event dates Saturday 18th November 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Shibden Winter Craft Fair

Shibden Hall’s Winter Craft Fair will be returning for 2023. Join traders from across the region for a weekend of shopping and festive fun.
Event dates Saturday 18th November 2023 (1 more date available)
This event takes place at Shibden Hall
Event

Creating a Watercolour nest

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a workshop to learn the many ways in which to layer watercolour paint, masking fluid and mark making to create the image of a bird’s nest. Jane will explain the pitfalls commonly experienced with these techniques and provide guidance which will make their application easy and very helpful when painting in the future.
Event dates Saturday 25th November 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

History Wardrobe presents - Top of the Frocks - a 1980s Christmas

To tie in with our new exhibition: Opening the Wardrobe, we're hosting four History Wardrobe evening presentations. The last of our events for the year is ‘Top of the Frocks - a 1980s Christmas!’ Two Lucys revisit the amazing Eighties for power-dressing, ultra-glamour and even fitness kit for after the festive feasting. Roll up your stonewash jeans, flick your perm and grab your plastic bangles...
Event dates Thursday 30th November 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Creating a Christmas image

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a workshop creating your own Christmas image of a natural wreath, either as a painting or small personal cards. Jane will show you several watercolour techniques which suit the different elements of a Christmas wreath including the use of shadow to bring depth.
Event dates Saturday 2nd December 2023 (1 more date available)
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Bankfield Christmas Craft Fair

Bankfield Museum’s Christmas Craft Fair will be returning on Saturday 9th December 2023 with the venue welcoming a range of traders from across the region for a day of shopping and festive fun.  The Museum will be filled with stalls selling a range of local produce including artisan crafts, just in time for buying those special Christmas gifts and treats. No booking required and free admission to the event.
Event dates Saturday 9th December 2023
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Free artist demonstration of Painting a Hawk

Join watercolor artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration of the watercolour techniques she applies to painting feathers. Birds of prey are particularly wonderful to observe closely as the complex layers can be seen clearly to give depth to a painting.
Event dates Saturday 13th January 2024
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Watercolour day class - Painting a Hawk

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a full-day workshop painting the detailed head and body of a hawk. Learn how to work with layers of colour over fine detail with masking fluid to build the body of feathers, using different sizes of brush and implement as needed.
Event dates Saturday 27th January 2024
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Exhibition

Making Historical Fashion

This exciting new exhibition showcases fashion makers from across the country who design and make clothing based on historical dress. It explores the process of how you go from a museum garment or fashion plate to producing an item of historically inspired dress that is ready to wear.
Event dates 27th January 2024 - 21st December 2024
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Free artist demonstration of painting Apple Blossom

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin in the Bankfield Museum gallery for a free demonstration of the watercolour techniques she applies to painting floral images. Background colour and tones are built with transparent layers of random marks, alternating from the warm and cool side of the colour wheel.
Event dates Saturday 3rd February 2024
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum
Event

Painting a Blossom

Join watercolour artist Jane Austin for a full-day workshop painting the blossom in nature. Learn how to build background colour and tones with transparent layers of random marks, alternating from the warm and cool side of the colour wheel to create form, painting positive shapes, and creating soft highlights.
Event dates Saturday 17th February 2024
This event takes place at Bankfield Museum