Click on the News page for information about (i) The exciting acquisition of a Turner Watercolour; (ii) Two further acquisitions for the Chinese Gallery; (iii) the Next exhibition in M Shed (iv) Art in the Cinema;  and (v) what’s next in Refurbishment of the Art Galleries - this article has been updated.

Also, read about a forthcoming Art Trail in Bristol Gromit Unleashed - see the report at the bottom of this page…….

Excursions:  

Day: The Summer trips to Dyffryn Gardens (NT) & Fonmon Castle on Friday 16 August and Syon House on Thursday 19 September are both Full.

The Autumn programme is:  Tate Britain (Lowry) on 12 October; V&A (Masters of Chinese painting) on 17 November; Royal Academy (Australia/Honore Daumier) on 7 December; and National Gallery (The Portrait of Vienna 1900), on 4 January.  More details will be posted to the Full Events List soon.

Short:  The guided tour of historic Acton Court, near Iron Acton, on Wednesday 7 August is Full. Later, on Saturday 21 September there will be a morning visit to St Mary Redcliffe Church at 10.30am, again with a guided tour.  More details soon.

Lectures: The Friends 2013-14 Lecture Programme starts in the Rear Hall of the Museum on 4 September when the Schubart Lecture will be given by Linda Smith.  The subject matter for this, and details of the rest of the Programme, will be announced when they are known.

Social:

Annual General Meeting: as reported in the May Bulletin, this year’s AGM will be held in the Rear Hall of the Museum at 6.00pm for 6.30pm on Tuesday 2 July.

Lecture/Lunch: the 2013 annual summer event at Trinity College will take place on Tuesday 23rd July. See the Full Events List for details.

Exhibitions: At the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG):

Blockbuster exhibition in Exhibition Gallery 1 on the Ground Floor:  

Statue Ramesses II

King of Egypt 16 March 2013 – 21 July 2013 Admission: £5 / £4concessions / £3 children (5-16yrs) / Free under 5s Family ticket: £10 (2 adults & 2 children or 1 adult & 3 children)   Free Fridays for all: 17 May, 21 June, 19 July.

This exhibition features highlights from the British Museum’s superb collection of ancient Egyptian objects. The exhibition is the largest UK loan of Egyptian artefacts ever undertaken by the British Museum and includes wonderful examples of sculpture, jewellery, palace ornamentation, papyri and funerary objects.

(Photo © The Trustees of the British Museum)

From Saturday 20 April – Sunday 29 September, visitors should also visit Temporary Exhibition Gallery 2 on the second floor to see Pharaoh Reborn an exhibition that showcases some of the city’s incredible watercolours made by Giovanni Belzoni and his team between 1817-1820. The exquisite images were copied from wall paintings made over 3,000 years ago in the Egyptian tomb of Pharaoh Sety I and today provide the most complete record of the decoration that once existed.  Belzoni’s paintings provide the most complete record of the decoration that once existed and over 300 watercolours are in the care of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives.

Free Egypt talks (all at 1.00pm): Bristol Museum’s Egypt Collection: Sat 29 June; Egypt & Science: the Life of the sacred scarab: Wed 10 July & Sat 20 July.  No need to book. Meet at Reception. 

Next exhibition coming soon:  Roman Empire: Power & People: 21 Sept – 12 Jan 2014.

This unique touring exhibition combines objects from the British Museum’s Roman, Romano-British and Romano-Egyptian collections and explores themes of power, influence and identity as well as the impact of the Roman Empire.  More details later.

Roman Empire: Power & People – Images © The Trustees of the British Museum

Exhibitions at M Shed

 Last chance to see!  Chocolate ends this Sunday, 23 June 2013, when there is also an opportunity to chat with former Cadbury Factory workers.

Admission: £5 / £4 concessions / £3 children / Under 5s go free / Family Ticket £10. The final  free entry day is tomorrow Wed 19 June.

Next exhibition: The Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize  20 July – 3 November 2013. The very best contemporary portrait photographs from around the world, capturing famous faces and intimate moments. Exhibition organised by the National Portrait Gallery.  See News for details of tickets, tours, talks and special events.

Gromit Unleashed is a new ground-breaking public art exhibition, hitting the streets of Bristol this summer to raise funds for Bristol Children’s Hospital charity, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal.
Spearheaded by Aardman, the unique art trail will feature around 70 giant, 5ft high Gromit sculptures, individually decorated by an eclectic mix of well-known and local artists, designers and celebrities. The Gromit statues will animate the city for ten weeks from 1 July. The museums service will be hosting at least 4 Gromits — more details soon

®Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Appeal. Charity No.1043603 © and TM Aardman/W&G Ltd. 2013.

Tony Kitt website manager.

(Updated 17 June 2013)