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Tuesday: 10am - 5pm
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Photograph of a woman sat next to an easel in a gallery space facing a young boy looking at the easel sketching her

Open Day

16 September 2023

Visit us for FREE

An art-filled day of discovery and creativity – all completely free.

Visit the gallery for free and enjoy a host of fun activities. Learn more about our art with talks, tours and “show and tell” sessions taking place throughout the day. Inspired to have a go yourself? The day will be packed with creative activities to do with the family, from learning to draw figures (no more stick men!) to the history of Pallant House.

Everything is free. 

Book your free tickets using the button below. You don’t need a ticket to visit but it helps us to know how many people are coming.

Book your tickets

 

Schedule

Click on an event in the table for more information.

Workshops When? Where?
Life drawing 10am – 2pm Room 11
Crafty Cats 11am – 4pm Studio
Blue Tonal Portraits 10am – 3pm Room 4
Tours & Talks
Show and Tell 10am – 4pm Library
Collection Tours 11am & 12pm Pallant House
Meet the Artists 10am – 4pm Room 17
The 34 Model Gallery: Its Unique History 2pm Room 5
Caring for Our Collection 2 – 2:30pm Room 11
Pick Up and Explore
Ways of Looking Bags All day Reception
#PallantsGotTalent All day Reception

Workshops

Sketch of a woman from the chest up wearing a black scarf and hair arranged on top of her head

Life Drawing

Easels at the ready! You will be guided by artist Rebecca Mothersole to create your own drawings of family and friends.

Suitable for ages 5+

When? 10am – 2pm [Drop-in) 

Where? Room 11

Two girls sat on floor drawing both wearing ear defenders with artworks hung on the white wall behind them

Crafty Cats

Use stamps and collage to create your own cat, inspired by Gwen John’s beloved moggy, Edward Quinet.

Suitable for ages 5+

When? 11am – 4pm

Where? Studio

Portrait painting of a women from shoulders updwards with short wavy hair to shoulders with head resting on fist and eyes closed. She wears a grey shirt and dark cardigan.

Blue Tonal Portraits

Be inspired by the work of Kaye Donachie and create your own portrait in ethereal blues.

Suitable for ages 5+

When? 10am – 3pm

Where? Room 4

Tours and Talks

Two women talking at table pointing at a book

Library and Archives | Show and Tell

Did you know there are nearly 20,000 items in our library and archives? As you can imagine, there are many fascinating, beautiful and extraordinary pieces.  Visitors are welcome to drop-in to see some examples from our collection not usually on show to the public.

When? 10am-4pm [Drop in)

Where? Library

A group of five people standing with their backs to the viewer looking at a range of artworks on the wall.

Collection Tours

Learn more about history of the Queen Anne Townhouse from our wonderful Gallery Guides.

When? 11am and 12pm

Where? Pallant House

Community programme group around a model gallery of Pallant House

Meet the Artists

Meet the artists behind our exhibition A Place of My Own. Find out about how they made their work and the stories behind each piece. Community Programme Ambassadors will be joining us to share their experiences of being involved in our inclusive, long term programme.

When? 10am – 4pm

Where? Room 17

A man and a woman peer into a model art gallery, their faces illuminated by its light. In the model art glalery are miniature works of art including abstract sculptures, paintings and little benches.

The 34 Model Gallery: Its Unique History

Find out about how our visitor favourite, the miniature galleries started life.

When? 2pm

Where? Room 5

Conservator conserving painting with magnifying glass and cotton bud

Caring for our Collection

Join our Head of Collections, Sarah Norris, for an informal talk about how we care for our art collection and prepare it for display.

When? 2 – 2:30pm

Where? Room 11

Pick Up and Explore

Ways of Looking Bags

New to galleries and museums? These Ways of Looking bags are available to pick up and view art in a fun and engaging way. They include emotion cards, colour paddles, sensory toys and more.

Self-portrait of a woman with dark hair tied back looking outwards with a letter in her right hand held up to her chest

#PallantsGotTalent

Enjoying the Gwen John exhibition? Create your own response to her work on one of our #PallantsGotTalent cards. Pick one up at the Welcome Desk and hand it back when your finished. All entries will be shown on our tv display in the foyer or on our Instagram account.

Will we see you there?

Book your free tickets using the button below. You don’t need a ticket to visit but it helps us to know how many people are coming.

Book your tickets