1. art and entertainment
2. visual art and design
3. art museums and galleries

L E I C E S T E R
M U S E U M S ,
G A L L E R I E S
what's on
&
F E S T I VA L S
spring/summer season
april – june 2015
MUSEUMS
Secret Egypt: Unravelling Truth from Myth
16 May – 27 September
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Shabti box, New Kingdom (1250 - 1050 BC) © Birmingham Museums Trust
Secret Egypt challenges some of the
enduring myths about ancient Egypt that
are perpetuated through films, books and
other popular media and invites the visitor
to look at a range of archaeological
evidence to revaluate what they
understand about this remarkable
civilisation.
The exhibition contains objects including
statuary, coffins, stelae, ceramics, jewellery
and animal and human mummies.
A touring exhibition from the Herbert Art
Gallery & Museum, Coventry, loaned by
Birmingham Museums Trust on behalf of
Birmingham City Council.
W: visitleicester.info/secretegypt
MUSEUMS
Leicester at War 1914 – 1915
Here is almost there, lightjet print on photographic paper ©
Andrea Jaeger
On now until 12 April
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
To commemorate the outbreak of World War I, this
exhibition tells the story of life in the early years of
the war. This exhibition will tour community
venues – to be a host venue please contact 0116
225 4979 / [email protected]. See the
website for the tour schedule. A special touring
exhibition, ‘Empire, Faith & War: The Sikhs and
World War One,’ which tells the story of one of the
world's smaller communities in the First World
War, is also on display at New Walk Museum until
12 April.
W: visitleicester.info/firstworldwar
Open 26
On now until 4 May
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
The ever popular and diverse Open exhibition
presents a stunning array of artworks and
contemporary craft by artists from Leicester,
Leicestershire and the region. We are grateful to
our sponsors for their support of the Open
exhibition and presenting their prizes to their
chosen artists.
W: visitleicester.info/open26
the CENTRE
LESBIAN GAY BI & TRANS
Medieval Leicester Galleries
Permanent gallery now open
The Guildhall
The Guildhall has been at the heart of Leicester for
over 600 years. This new permanent gallery
showcases medieval objects and the rich heritage
of the building to encourage visitors of all ages to
explore life in the middle ages. Walk the streets of
medieval Leicester and uncover a world both
familiar and very different to our own! Supported
by the DCMS/Wolfson Museums & Galleries
Improvement fund.
W: visitleicester.info/museums
King Richard III’s Book of Hours
On display now until 28 June
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
To help mark the reinterment of King Richard III in
Leicester Cathedral, New Walk Museum & Art
Gallery is displaying the controversial king’s
personal prayer book, known as a book of hours.
Generously loaned by Lambeth Palace Library.
W: visitleicester.info/museums
MUSEUMS
George Henton, ‘Houses, Highcross St, Leicester’,
w’colour © Leicester Arts & Museums.
Installation view, Spartacus Chetwynd, Home Made Tasers, New Museum,
NY, 26 October 2011 - 1 January 2012
Summer Still Life © Mary Toon
Leicester Sketch Club
Past & Present
25 April – 1 August
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
An exhibition showcasing the diverse wealth of
talent of current members alongside paintings and
drawings by past members selected from the
museum’s collection dating back to the 1900s.
W: visitleicester.info/museums
Home Made Tasers
25 – 28 April
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
We are proud to present the work of Marvin Gaye
Chetwynd at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery.
Marvin Gaye Chetwynd was nominated for the
Turner Prize in 2013 and is one of the UK’s leading
artists.
This ground breaking performance piece, entitled
Home Made Tasers, can be seen at New Walk over
four days as it enters the museum’s collection as
both a sculptural piece and a performance.
The acquisition of this work was made possible
with funding from The Art Fund and The
Contemporary Art Society as part of the Testing
Media program which supported museums and
galleries to acquire contemporary work in
challenging media.
W: visitleicester.info/museums
Leicester Landscapes: An Artist’s
Eye for a Changing City
Opens 2 May
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
A new exhibition revealing how artists have
depicted the changing face of Leicester from the
18th century to the present day. Selected
paintings, prints and drawings from the permanent
art collection range from detailed engravings by
John Flower, the red-brick streets and lanes of
George Henton, to striking contemporary linocuts
by Sarah Kirby and drawings by Sally Rose Renner.
W: visitleicester.info/museums
Magna Carta 800th Anniversary
May – September
Various Venues
2015 marks the anniversary of the sealing of the
Magna Carta by King John. These 3,500 latin words
on a piece of parchment are credited with laying
the foundations of modern democracy, the
defence of personal liberty and the protection of
freedoms around the world. To mark this important
anniversary there will be a season of events and
activities. See the website for more details.
W: visitleicester.info/magnacarta
F E S T I VA L S
Leicester Riverside Festival
Saturday 6 & Sunday 7 June
From 12 noon each day
Bede Park, Mile Straight, Western Boulevard and Castle Gardens
One of Leicester’s biggest free festivals
featuring activities on and off the water,
sponsored by local housing provider
Riverside. Highlights on the river include
colourful boats from across the region,
canoe demonstrations and boat trips. This
year sees the welcome return of the ever
popular and exciting charity dragon boat
racing on Saturday, raising funds for When
You Wish Upon a Star.
On land, the festival continues to build on
its reputation for great live music by
showcasing some of the best bands and
artists on the main stage.
There’s plenty to entertain the whole
family including children’s activities, art
and craft market, street entertainers and
children’s funfair plus a variety of tempting
food stalls. Once again there will be an
environmental focus to the festival with
the involvement of various groups, helping
to raise awareness of environmental
issues.
In addition Castle Gardens hosts inspiring
eco activities with the opportunity to
have-a-go and learn new skills as well as
providing a relaxing space to enjoy a
picnic.
W: visitleicester.info/riversidefestival
F E S T I VA L S
Easter Funfair
Colour Blast Dash
Friday 27 March – Sunday 12 April
Abbey Park
All the fun of the fair in the beautiful setting of
Abbey Park.
W: visitleicester.info/festivals
Sunday 26 April
9am - 1pm
Victoria Park
Colour Blast Dash is a happy, healthy and
ridiculously fun 5k & 2.5k colour race. Wear white
and prepare to be colour blasted with coloured
powder and paint on this fun run for all abilities.
Start in white and finish like a rainbow. 5k - ages
10 and above, 2.5k - ages 3 and above.
W: colourblastdash.org.uk
Farmers Market
Thursday 2 April, 7 May and 4 June
Gallowtree Gate
Your chance to buy fresh local food directly from
the producers every month on Gallowtree Gate.
Organic meats, savoury pies, cakes and breads,
preserves, jams, honey, real ale, goat meat, plants
and more.
W: leicestermarket.co.uk
Leicester@theCross
Friday 3 April
11am
Humberstone Gate
Marking this significant Christian festival,
programme to include a dramatic presentation of
the events of Good Friday.
W: holytrinityleicester.org
Continental Market
Wednesday 8 – Sunday 12 April
Gallowtree Gate & Clock Tower
Market traders from around the world will serve up
delicious treats and hand-crafted goods as the
award-winning continental market returns to
Leicester.
W: leicestermarket.co.uk
Vaisakhi Parade
Sunday 26 April
Citywide parade begins at 11am from Guru Nanak
Gurdwara on Holy Bones
Celebrating the initiation ceremony of the Khalsa
Brotherhood that first took place on the 13 April
1699, when the 10th Master Guru Govind Singh
initiated the first five. Originating the traditional
names of Singh for males and Kaur for females.
Let’s Dance International Frontiers
Wednesday 29 April – Monday 18 May
Venues across Leicester
Let’s Dance International Frontiers is an annual
programme of dance in Leicester which will be
entering its fifth year. It is both a celebration and
showcase for emerging and established, national
and international dancers and choreographers,
bringing diversity to the forefront.
W: ldif.co.uk
Funfair
Sunday 3 – Saturday 9 May
Victoria Park
Rides and stalls for the whole family to enjoy.
W: visitleicester.info/festivals
St. George’s Festival
Leicester’s Big 10K
Saturday 25 April
From 12 noon
Orton Square and Cultural Quarter
Enjoy the annual family friendly festival on Orton
Square featuring a special appearance from the
underwater adventurers, the Octonauts. There will
be music, dance and live performances on the
square and in venues across the Cultural Quarter,
plus the chance to meet Tiny, a friendly baby
stegosaurus. The festival promises a day of nonstop entertainment for all the family, full of
activities to try out and fun things to do including
the fancy dress parade of knights and princesses
and a dinosaur trail around the Cultural Quarter.
W: visitleicester.info/stgeorgesfestival
Sunday 17 May
Abbey Park
A flat traffic-free course, this race is perfect if you
are trying to beat your best time or just want to
have a go at your first 10k. The event raises money
for Rainbows Children's Hospice.
W: tempoevents.co.uk
The Spark Children’s Arts Festival
Monday 18 - Saturday 30 May
Various venues
The Spark is the largest children’s festival in
England, presenting the best theatre, dance,
music, visual arts and digital media events for
young people and their families. A chance to play,
dance, make great art and see fantastic theatre this year’s festival takes place in theatres, schools,
libraries, parks and community venues across
Leicester.
W: sparkfestival.co.uk
F E S T I VA L S
Leicester’s Summer Food and
Drink Festival
Sunday 24 May
11am – 5pm
Leicester Market
Celebrate the start of the summer festival season
with the largest one day food and drink event in
Leicester. Sizzling curries, smoked meat, decadent
cakes, fresh bread, licensed drinks zone, live
cooking demonstrations, music and more.
W: leicestermarket.co.uk
Bands on Parks Season
June – September
Parks citywide
From April to September parks across the city will
play host to live bands, from jazz to brass and
everything in-between.
W: leicester.gov.uk/parks
ArtBeat
Friday 19 – Tuesday 23 June
Clarendon Park venues
Music, dance, literature, poetry and a showcase for
the people who live, work, learn, play and worship
locally.
W: clarendonpark.net
An Indian Summer
Friday 19 - Sunday 28 June
City Centre venues
Film, food, theatre, music, dance, art, comedy and
education; inspired by South Asia and its people at
home and abroad.
W: indiansummer.org.uk
Red Cross Refugee Week launch
Saturday 20 June
11am – 3pm
Town Hall Square
With the theme ‘Different Pasts, Shared Future’,
celebrate the launch of of Refugee Week with
entertainment from a fusion of talented
performers.
W: redcross.org.uk
Rainbows Walk of Life
Sunday 28 June
Watermead Park
Enjoy a magical day and challenge yourself to take
part in the fairy-tale themed one, three or 10 mile
walks around Watermead Country Park.
W: rainbows.co.uk/walkoflife
Queens Road Summer Fair
Sunday 28 June
Queens Road
Stalls, live music, children’s activities and
entertainment, plus the great shops, restaurants
and bars of Queens Road and Clarendon Park Road.
April
EVENTS
Open Gardens
Garden tour
From April - September, every Wednesday
and the first full weekend of the month
11am - 4.30pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Sunday 12 April, 2pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
Activity: Springtime magical forest
blossom trees
Wednesday 1 April, 11am - 1pm &
2pm - 4pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Storytelling: Tales from the
mad hatter
Wednesday 1 April, 11am - 4pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Activity: Easter medieval merriment
Thursday 2 April, 11am - 3.30pm
The Guildhall
Concert: Red Sky
Sunday 12 April, 7pm – 8.15pm
(doors open 6.30pm)
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Don’t Go into the Cellar presents:
The singular exploits of
Sherlock Holmes
Friday 17 April, Doors 7.30pm
(show starts 8pm)
The Guildhall
St George and the dragon drop in
activities
Saturday 18, Sunday 19, Saturday 25 and
Sunday 26 April, 11.30am – 3.30pm
Jewry Wall Museum
Museum tour
Saturday 4 April, 2pm
Jewry Wall Museum
Museum tour
Saturday 18 April, 2pm
Jewry Wall Museum
The Belgrave Hall picture house
Wednesday 8 April, 11am - 4pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Block print an amazing apron
Saturday 18 April, 11am - 2pm
Wygstons House
Activity: Springtime magical forest
daffodils & daisies
Music: Megson
Wednesday 8 April, 11am - 1pm
& 2pm - 4pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Saturday 18 April, Doors 7.15pm
(music starts 8pm)
The Guildhall
Create your own Newarke Houses
journey stick
The firelight show with Murray
the Magician
Friday 10 April, 10.30am - 3pm
Pre-booking essential for sessions at
10.30am, or 11.30am, or 1.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
Friday 24 April, Doors open 7pm (show
starts 7.30pm)
The Guildhall
Activity: Springtime magical forest
tadpoles
Heritage Sundays:
tours and open days
Friday 10 April, 11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Sunday 26 April, 11am – 3pm
Leicester Castle, The Magazine and
Wygston's House
Meet the curator: talk and tour on
medieval Leicester
Dr Johnson's jaunt through
Georgian Leicester
Friday 10 April, 2pm
The Guildhall
Sunday 26 April, 2pm
The Guildhall
Transforming surfaces
mixed media textiles
Afternoon tea and talk:
Roman food and cooking
Saturday 11 April, 11am - 3.30pm
Wygston’s House
Sunday 26 April, 2pm – 4.30pm
Jewry Wall Museum
Hobbies and pastimes steam day
Sunday 12 April, 1pm - 5pm
Abbey Pumping Station
For more events, details of any charges and further information,
please visit our website: visitleicester.info/museums
May
EVENTS
Leicester Print Workshop pop up
print sale
Afternoon tea and talk:
Roman make-up and cosmetics
Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May
11am – 4.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum
Sunday 17 May, 2pm – 4.30pm
Jewry Wall Museum
Emergency services railway day
Saturday 2 May, 11am - 4.30pm
Abbey Pumping Station
Museum tour
Saturday 2 May, 2pm
Jewry Wall Museum
The rites of spring:
Folky fun day and evening ceilidh
Spark Festival: Diversions:
Journeys End
Monday 18 - Friday 22 May
& Monday 25 - Friday 29 May, 11am – 3pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Workshops: Tuesday 19 & Wednesday
20 May: 10am, 11.30am & 2pm
Family Workshops: Wednesday 27 May:
1pm; Thursday 28 & Friday 29 May:
12 noon
Sunday 3 May, Fun day: 11am - 3pm
Ceilidh: 7pm
The Guildhall
Medieval madness fun day
Activity: May day madness!
Ancient Egypt week
Sunday 3 May, 11.30am – 3.30pm
Jewry Wall Museum
Tuesday 26 – Sunday 31 May
11am - 1pm & 2pm - 4pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Monday 25 May, 11am - 3.30pm
The Guildhall
Block printed silk scarf
Thursday 7 May, 11am - 2pm
Wygston’s House
Talk: The history of Walkers Pork
Pies and the history of the pork pie
with Ian Heircock, master pie maker
Sunday 10 May, 2pm
Newarke Houses Museum
Baroque Theatre Company
presents: House of Ghosts by Alma
Cullen - inspired by the Inspector
Morse novels of Colin Dexter
Friday 15 May, 7.30pm
The Guildhall
Museums at Night:
To Catch a Binding Tale
An Evening of Narrative Poetry,
Cheese and Wine
Friday 15 May, 8pm – 10.30pm
(Doors open at 7.30pm)
Jewry Wall Museum
Secret Egypt activities
Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 May, 11am - 1pm
& 2pm - 4pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Pretty pencils children’s day
Tuesday 26 May, 11am - 4.30pm
Abbey Pumping Station
Activity: Stamps galore!
Wednesday 27 May, 11am - 4pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
The Spark Children's Art Festival:
Kazzum presents Nana's Jumble
Thursday 28 May, 11.30am, 1.30pm & 3pm
The Guildhall
Half-term introductory Magna Carta
calligraphy workshop
Friday 29 May, 10.30am - 3.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum & Gardens
Illustrated talk:
The life and times of William Carey
Saturday 30 May, 10.30am – 12.30pm,
followed by lunch
Jewry Wall Museum
(meet at Wygston’s House)
Heritage Sundays: tours and open
days
Sunday 31 May, 11am – 3pm
Leicester Castle, The Magazine and
Wygston's House
For more events, details of any charges and further information,
please visit our website: visitleicester.info/museums
April
June
EVENTS
Wildlife at Belgrave Hall:
WEA walk & talk
Heritage Sundays:
tours and open days
Wednesday 3 June, 1pm - 4pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Sunday 29 June, 11am – 3pm
The Magazine and Wygston's House
Tea & history: shops and memories
Friday 5 June, 1.30pm - 3.30pm
Newarke Houses Museum
Music: O'Hooley & Tidow
Friday 5 June, 7.15pm (music starts 8pm)
The Guildhall
Teddy bears picnic railway day
Saturday 6 June, 11am - 4.30pm
Abbey Pumping Station
Talk: Earls of Leicester
Saturday 6 June (Part I),
Saturday 20 June (Part II), 2pm
Jewry Wall Museum
Gothic calligraphy workshop:
celebrate 800 years of Magna Carta
Saturday 13 June, 10.30am – 1.30pm
& 2pm – 5pm
Newarke Houses Museum
The art of silk painting
Saturday 13 June, 11am – 3.30pm
Wygston’s House
Vintage festival
Saturday 13 & Sunday 14 June, 11am - 4pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Meet the curator: talk and tour on
medieval Leicester
Sunday 14 June, 2pm
The Guildhall
Activity: Leicester skylines
Saturday 20 & Sunday 21 June, 11am - 1pm
& 2pm - 4pm
New Walk Museum & Art Gallery
Music: Chris Wood
Tuesday 23 June, 7.15pm
(music starts 8pm)
The Guildhall
Botanical illustrations
Thursday 25 June, 10am - 4pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Leicester’s vintage festival
Saturday 27 June: 1pm - 5pm
Sunday 28 June: 12noon - 5pm
Abbey Pumping Station
For more events, details of any charges and further information,
please visit our website: visitleicester.info/museums
V I S I T O R I N F O R M AT I O N
Abbey Pumping Station
Corporation Road
Leicester LE4 5PX
T: 0116 299 5111
February – October
Open daily:
11am – 4.30pm
Open November –
January for special
events, group bookings
and tours.
Newarke Houses
Museum & Gardens
The Newarke
Leicester LE2 7BY
T: 0116 225 4980
Monday – Saturday:
10am – 5pm
Sunday:
11am – 5pm
Belgrave Hall & Gardens
Church Road
Leicester LE4 5PE
T: 0116 299 8181
Gardens open April –
September, every
Wednesday and the first
complete weekend of the
month, 11am – 4.30pm.
The Hall is open for
special events
throughout the year.
The Guildhall
Guildhall Lane
Leicester LE1 5FQ
T: 0116 253 2569
February – October
Open daily:
11am – 4.30pm
On certain Saturdays,
parts of The Guildhall
may be closed for
weddings.
Jewry Wall Museum
St Nicholas Circle,
Leicester LE1 4LB
T: 0116 225 4971
February – October
Open daily:
11am – 4.30pm
Open November –
January for special
events, group bookings
and tours.
The Magazine
Oxford Street
Leicester
T: 0116 225 4980
Open for special events.
Leicester Castle
Castle View
Leicester LE1 5WH
T: 0116 225 4980
Open for special events.
Wygston’s House
12 Applegate
Leicester LE1 5LD
T: 0116 253 2569
Open for special events.
New Walk Museum
& Art Gallery
53 New Walk
Leicester LE1 7EA
T: 0116 225 4900
Monday – Saturday:
10am – 5pm
Sunday:
11am – 5pm
The Record Office
for Leicester,
Leicestershire & Rutland
Long Street
Wigston Magna
Leicester LE18 2AH
T: 0116 257 1080
W: leics.gov.uk/recordoffice
Please call or see website
for opening hours.
For more details about the venues and special events, please visit our website: visitleicester.info/museums
For further details on exhibitions, festivals and events contact:
Visit Leicester, 51 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, LE1 5AD
Monday – Saturday: 9.30am – 5.30pm
Sundays and bank holidays: 10am - 4pm
Open every day throughout the year, except Christmas Day
and New Year’s Day.
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Visit Leicester Old Town
Information Point (unstaffed)
at BBC Radio Leicester on
Guildhall Lane.
ST
ORD
HALF
T: 0116 299 4444
E: [email protected]
W: visitleicester.info
T
REE
VISIT LEICESTER
CENTRE
@visit_leicester
/visitleicester
To arrange museum school or community group visits, telephone
0116 225 4910. For more information on travelling by bus to museums and
festivals, telephone ‘Traveline’ on 0871 200 22 33.
This booklet is available in large print, telephone 0116 454 4284
for details.
All details are correct at the time of going to print. We apologise for any changes
which may be necessary.
Cover image: Coffin of Namenkhetamun © Birmingham Museums Trust.
Opening Times: