Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery Ticket Portal

Discover and play at our weekly under 5's Mischief Maker events!

Bring your little ones to Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery for our free, weekly Mischief Maker sessions, specially designed for children under 5 and their grown-ups!

When the Museum and Art Gallery is closed to the public, you and your little ones can enjoy exclusive access to play, explore and make new friends in our unique spaces. From permanent collection interactives in our galleries to playing with a trove of toys in our historic courthouse to the courtyard during the warmer months for outdoor play, there is so much to spark creativity and imagination.

Your children can enjoy playing together with plenty of toys while you connect with a welcoming community of local parents and carers in Petersfield. It's the perfect way to embrace play and build connections in a relaxed, friendly environment.

• Our Mischief Makers sessions are Free to attend but booking is required.
• All children must be accompanied by an adult (18+).
• Maximum of 2 children per adult.
• Please book a free ticket for each attendee (including adults).

Block 2 of 2 (4 week course).

Join us for the second block of workshop sessions all about perfecting drawing portraits and figures. Join artist Livvy Stainer, who brings over 35 years of experience in portraiture and figure drawing, as she shows you tips and demonstrations on how to nail facial proportions, structure of the head and  body,  how to capture a likeness, drawing hands and hair, capturing posture as well as working on colour and flesh tones 

Working from photos and the occasional live model we'll be deep diving into all aspects of portraiture and figure drawing/painting.

What You’ll Learn:

Master facial proportions and the structure of the head and body

Capture a likeness with confidence

Perfect drawing hands, hair, and posture

Explore colour and flesh tones

Develop your skills with practical tips and demonstrations

You’ll work from photos and occasionally a live model, diving deep into the art of portraiture and figure drawing and painting.

Materials:

Livvy will use pencil, charcoal, and colour pastels during the sessions, but feel free to bring your favorite medium and work in colour or monochrome.

Suggested supplies:

Drawing tools: HB, 4B, and 8B graphite pencils, willow charcoal sticks, putty eraser

Paper: Cartridge paper and toned pastel paper

Optional pastels: Conte à Carre Colour Pastels 'Portrait Set'

Basic art materials will be provided by the museum if you're still deciding what to bring!

Course Options:

Full 8 weeks: Immerse yourself in the complete journey (4th, 11th, 18th, 25th March, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th April). To book onto the full course click here.

4-week blocks: Perfect for those with a busy schedule.
Block2: 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th April.

Unleash your creativity and build the skills you’ve always dreamed of in a relaxed and welcoming environment.

Book your place today!

Hop into springtime fun with our Easter Bunny Bonanza, a special day just for toddlers! With the Museum and Art Gallery closed to the public, your little ones can explore, play and enjoy a host of easter activities.
Join in the excitement with crafts, easter egg hunt, and our lively Bunny Hop Disco, perfect for burning off some bunny energy! Enjoy story time together and make magical memories meeting the Easter Bunny. Laugh, create and discover in our welcoming, playful museum and art gallery.

Event Timings:
Museum Opens: 10am
Bunny Hop Disco: 1010am, 1130am, 1330pm, 1430pm, 1530pm
Story Time and Easter Bunny Meet: 1045am, 1200pm, 1400pm, 1500pm
Craft sessions: 1100 - 1300, 1400-1600
Events finish:1600
Museum closes:1700

Toddler Takeovers:
Toddler Takeovers are an exciting way to explore our spaces in a fun, exciting and friendly way.This day is just for you and your little ones so we encourage play, noise, dance and creativity in an environment that often seems the opposite of all these things!

Enjoy our intimate and historic courthouse venue for a vivid portrayal of writer Patrick Hamilton in The Silence of Snow: The Life of Patrick Hamilton.
 

Mark Farrelly (Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope, Howerd's End, Jarman) presents his riveting, kinetic solo show portraying one of the great English writers of the inter-war years. Patrick Hamilton was a dazzling success in his twenties, producing hit plays Rope (filmed by Hitchcock), Gaslight (which gave us the modern term 'gaslighting') and classic novels Hangover Square and The Slaves of Solitude. But Hamilton was also an alcoholic, whose wit darkened as his inner and outer worlds collapsed.

Covering the entire sweep of Hamilton’s thrilling life and writing, The Silence of Snow entertains and challenges, asking: why do so many of us get through life without feeling we ever truly knew another person?

Written and performed by Mark Farrelly
Directed by Linda Marlowe
Running time: 70 mins no interval

Event Details

Experience theatre in our historic Victorian Courthouse, an intimate venue for one-of-a-kind theatre productions. Our fully licensed bar offers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available throughout the evening. 

• Doors and Bar Open - 7.00pm
• Performance starts - 7.30pm
• Fully licensed bar is open before, during and after the production

Reviews of The Silence of Snow: The Life of Patrick Hamilton 
★★★★ “You won’t be able to take your eyes off this magnetic actor Mark Farrelly. He inhabits the character of Hamilton with a blazing fluidity” The Times
★★★★ “Farrelly’s performance is electric” What’s On Stage 
★★★★ “Horrifyingly funny snapshot of the wit, novelist and playwright…brilliant” The Spectator
★★★★★ “Phenomenal. What a performance!” Sardines Magazine
★★★★★ “Unmissable! An extraordinary, beyond accomplished piece of writing, performed faultlessly. This is a spellbinding event” Everything Theatre

Join us for a memorable night of folk music in our courthouse venue with The Kimberleys.

'Even if you think you know a song inside out you'll find something here to make you think again' - Folking.com

The Kimberleys, a husband-and-wife duo, have become recognized as authentic and original interpreters of the traditional folk repertoire. Their second album, "The Shape of A Year," has further solidified their reputation, combining distinctive voices and harmonies that evoke the spirit of the 60’s and 70’s folk revival while offering fresh, original arrangements. Their sound appeals to both traditional folk enthusiasts and those less familiar with the genre.

Critically acclaimed for their ability to breathe new life into well-known songs, The Kimberleys deliver performances rich in musical excellence and charismatic presence. Their work is part of a quiet revolution, reshaping traditional songs to reflect modern life, making them relevant for today's audiences.

Isobel and Jim Kimberley have an impressive background, having worked, toured, and recorded with notable artists such as The Albion Band, Andy Cutting, Cathy Lesurf, Julie Felix, Dave Swarbrick, and Gordon Giltrap. They have received accolades like the “People’s Choice” awards from Sky Arts and were featured in the top 10 Folk Albums by The Daily Telegraph for their work under the Wolfscote name.

The Kimberleys promise performances that are both beautiful and memorable, continuing to carve their place among the folk greats.

Event Details

Experience live music in our historic Victorian Courthouse, an intimate venue for one-of-a-kind acoustic, folk and indie concerts. Our fully licensed bar offers a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available throughout the night. 

• Doors and Bar Open - 7.00pm
• Live Music from - 7.30pm
• Fully licensed bar is open before, during and after the music event

Discover and play at our weekly under 5's Mischief Maker events!

Bring your little ones to Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery for our free, weekly Mischief Maker sessions, specially designed for children under 5 and their grown-ups!

When the Museum and Art Gallery is closed to the public, you and your little ones can enjoy exclusive access to play, explore and make new friends in our unique spaces. From permanent collection interactives in our galleries to playing with a trove of toys in our historic courthouse to the courtyard during the warmer months for outdoor play, there is so much to spark creativity and imagination.

Your children can enjoy playing together with plenty of toys while you connect with a welcoming community of local parents and carers in Petersfield. It's the perfect way to embrace play and build connections in a relaxed, friendly environment.

• Our Mischief Makers sessions are Free to attend but booking is required.
• All children must be accompanied by an adult (18+).
• Maximum of 2 children per adult.
• Please book a free ticket for each attendee (including adults).

Join our Head of Collections and Exhibitions, Louise Weller, for an exclusive inside look at Bound Together: Modern British Bookbinding. 

Bound Together: Modern British Bookbinding explores the captivating life and legacy of internationally renowned bookbinder and conservator Roger Powell, whose innovative work connects traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques.

Discover Powell’s remarkable career, from his beginnings with leading bookbinder Douglas Cockerell, to establishing his own bindery in Froxfield near Petersfield. Learn about his conservation of the Book of Kells for Trinity College Dublin and his role in the restoration of flood-damaged books in Florence in 1966. Louise will also introduce contemporary bookbinding works by members of Designer Bookbinders, showcasing the extraordinary skill and creativity that keeps this tradition alive today.

Discover more with our Curator Tours

Enjoy a guided walk through the current exhibition, delving into the stories behind the objects and curatorial process.

• 45-minute conversation-led tour across the exhibition.
• Includes Museum and Art Gallery admission.
• Learn about Roger Powell and the art of bookbinding, past and present.
• Explore Powell's contributions to the craft and his enduring impact on book conservation and design.

Please inform us of any access requirements during booking to ensure a welcoming experience for all our visitors. For more details, visit our Accessibility page.

Price includes Museum and Art Gallery admission. Tour leader subject to change.

Join us for a unique screening Maureen Duke - The Life and Work of a Bookbinder in our atmospheric Victorian Courthouse in the midst of our exciting Bound Together: Modern British Bookbinding exhibition.

Maureen Duke is one of the most respected bookbinders and teachers of our time. Over a career spanning more than sixty years she has introduced many students to this special craft. She has travelled widely, taking bookbinding to new audiences around the world, has written extensively on the subject and has been a pioneer in book restoration.

In this remarkable film, Maureen looks back over her career, which began under William Matthews at Guildford College of Art in 1946. She reflects on her early years of self-employment, her first forays into the world of teaching and talks with passion about her time leading the full-time course at Guildford.

In retirement Maureen has been busier than ever and we see her in action at Urchfont Manor and West Dean and meet some of her students, past and present, who have been inspired by her skills as a craftsman and communicator.

She takes us on a tour of her extraordinary bindery, which she has occupied for the last forty years and in a special feature demonstrates some of her favourite techniques which have evolved over many years at the bench.

With a combination of modesty, humour and sure command of her subject, Maureen gives us a rare glimpse into her fascinating world.

This screening has been made possible thanks to the generoisity of the Society of Bookbinders.

There will be an interval approximatley half way through the screening to allow you to top up your drinks and grab some more popcorn!

Ticket includes admission to 'Bound Together: Modern British Bookbinding' on the day of the screening.

Run time: 70mins (excl. Inteval)

Discover more about the historic market town of Petersfield and the role that routes and pathways have played in its history.

Embark on a captivating journey through the history of Petersfield. Immerse yourself in the tales of a town that has evolved over 1,000 years, from its humble origins as a small settlement at the crossroads of ancient trackways to the vibrant market town it proudly stands as today.

We will meet outside of Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery and will make our way through the streets of the town, guided by our expert and friendly narrator who is ready to share insights and answer your questions along the way. Our walking route is fully accessible to ensure everyone can partake in this event.

Discover where history lingers in the architecture, streets and landmarks of Petersfield, connecting the dots between its storied past and present. This immersive experience is not just a stroll through time; it's an opportunity to deepen your understanding of the town's evolution and appreciate the enduring traces of history that surround you—if you know where to look.

This walk starts at the front of Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery.

Please wear weather appropraite clothing.
We endevour to lead our walks in all weather, but if we do need to cancle due to dangerous weather we will be in contact as soon as possible with an alternative date.

Join us for a unique screening of Seventy Years in Bookbinding - A Portriat of Bernard Middleton in our atmospheric Victorian Courthouse in the midst of our exciting Bound Together: Modern British Bookbinding exhibition.

Bernard C. Middleton, M.B.E., F.S.A is one of the most skilled craftsman of our time. His extraordinary career has now spanned some seventy years, as bookbinder, teacher and writer.

In this film, Bernard looks back on his long and varied life in bookbinding, which began at the Central School of Arts & Crafts in 1938. He remembers his apprenticeship years at the British Museum and reflects on his time spent as the manager of Zaehnsdorf's.

He talks about his early years of self-employment in a garret room in Soho, his American adventures and his experiences in the flood-damaged libraries of Florence.

Bernard shares some of his extraordinary techniques for restoring antiquarian books, including the best places to find dirt for ageing new bindings. He takes us on a tour of his bindery, with its huge collection of finishing tools and old paper and demonstrates his method of reproducing facsimile pages.

With his characteristically understated humour, his sharp mind and thoughtful observations on the he craft that he loves, Bernard gives us a truly fascinating, often moving and always enjoyable insight into his remarkable world.

There will be an interval approximatley half way through the screening to allow you to top up your drinks and grab some more popcorn!

This screening has been made possible thanks to the support of The Society of Book Binders.

Ticket includes admission to 'Bound Together: Modern British Bookbinding' for an hour before the start of the screening.

Running Time: 123 minutes (excl. Interval)

Step back in time and celebrate Victory in Europe Day with a nostalgic Victory Picnic in our beautiful museum courtyard! Enjoy an afternoon of local stories, hands-on activities and food set against the soundtrack of the 1940's, bringing history to life for all ages.

What’s On?

• Explore local V.E Day stories – discover how the people of Petersfield and surrounding area celebrated
• Hands-on history – get up close with real wartime objects from our handling collection
• Craft your own victory paper hat – perfect for little history-makers
• Music from the 1940s – enjoy the ambiance of the era as you tuck into your picnic 
• A selection of period activities suitable for all ages!

Bring Your Own Picnic or Pre-Order a Victory Picnic Box!

Make your experience even more special with a Victory Picnic Box, packed with classic British treats. 

Join us for an afternoon of nostalgia, community, and celebration—just like in 1945!

Join us for an evening of amazing live music from 'The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar', Iago Banet. Spanish virtuoso guitarist Iago Banet will be joining us in the Courthouse for an evening of unmissable music. 

Described as ‘a master of the guitar’ by Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3 In Tune; as 'nothing short of phenomenal' in a recent review, and as a ‘highly recommended artist’ by Celtic Connections, Iago creates stories without words, enthralling audiences as he does so. 

Iago Banet, ‘The Galician King of Acoustic Guitar’ launched his third album, TRES, in 2023, with a tour which has included multiple sell-out shows and sensational receptions from audiences across the UK. He has showcased his immense talent at festivals including Pontevedra Jazz and Blues Festival, Brecon Jazz, Hellys International Guitar Festival and Aberjazz, displaying new levels of skill, complexity and versatility, whilst fusing styles, ranging from gypsy jazz, blues, Americana, country and dixieland, to swing, pop and folk

Since 2018, Banet has been building an impressive career as a solo fingerstyle acoustic guitarist, displaying his exceptional abilities and receiving rave reviews along the way. He has performed with artists, including Josh Smith (Joe Bonamassa), Mark Flanagan (Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra), Jack Broadbent and Clive Carroll, amongst others.

Iago’s technique and approach to performance have captivated crowds across the UK and Spain. He is a one-man-band on acoustic guitar not to be missed.

As featured on BBC Radio 2's The Blues Show with Cerys Matthews

‘A master of the guitar’, Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3

‘Fabulous’, Katie Derham, BBC Radio 3

‘Highly recommended artist’, DKOS, Celtic Connections 2023

‘An absolute genius talent on the guitar... Magical’, Kate Justice, BBC Hereford and Worcester

 ✭✭✭✭ ‘Nothing short of phenomenal’, R'n'R Magazine 

Doors/Bar: 7pm

Music from: 7.30pm

Unlock your creativity and refine your drawing skills with our Life Drawing sessions – a time-honoured practice that hones your ability to observe and capture the human form.

Led by an experienced tutor Livvy Stainer, these relaxed and welcoming sessions will guide you through the essentials of life drawing, including proportion, anatomy, composition, line, tone, and perspective. Working from live nude models, you’ll explore a range of timed poses, with expert tips, demonstrations, and guidance to support your progress.

Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced artist, these sessions are designed to help you build confidence, improve hand-eye coordination, and develop your artistic style.

???? No long term commitment, Join us for a one-off session to see if its right for you or multiple sessions for a deeper dive into this essential artistic discipline the choice is yours.

All materials provided – just bring your enthusiasm!

Join us in an ancient tradition of walking Petersfield's medieval boundary with our Beating the Bounds walk.

Beating the Bounds is an ancient custom, enforced before Norman times and still observed in some English parishes, where a group from the community would walk the boundary of the parish. Whilst there is no recorded evidence that this ceremony took place in Petersfield, there are maps that show the ancient boundaries of the borough and parish.

Our walk will see us travel the 4-mile route, stopping at intervals to explain the historic connections that formed the boundary and its future expansion into the town we know today. Starting in front of the Museum and Art Gallery, the walk will take 2.5 hours.

Event Details

• The walk will start and finish outside Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery.
• The boundary walk will be a 4-mile route, taking approximately 2.5 hours.
• We advise wearing sensible footwear.

If you have not been informed of any cancellations or alterations to the event, please assume it is proceeding as planned.

Much Ado About Falstaff – Open-Air Theatre at Petersfield Museum & Art Gallery

GSP Theatre follows up its recent successes (Old Herbaceous, Three Men in a Boat, My Dog’s Got No Nose) with a brand-new comedy about one of Shakespeare’s most beloved rogues—Sir John Falstaff! A philanderer, a glutton, and an infamous trickster, Falstaff is larger than life, both in reputation and stature.

In this hilarious new play by Simon Downing, Falstaff (played by Giles Shenton) finds himself in his bedroom at the Boar’s Head, being nursed by the ever-persistent Mistress Quickly (Georgie Taylor). As creditors come knocking, he faces a dilemma—will he marry Mistress Quickly just to pay off his debts? Could he ever give up drinking? Might he finally mellow in his old age?

Join us for an evening of jollity, sharp wit, and more Shakespearean insults than ever heard on stage! Expect slapstick comedy, bawdy humor, and a rousing performance that captures the spirit of the infamous Fat Knight.

★ Open-Air Performance – Embrace the Elements!

This performance takes place under the open sky in the courtyard at Petersfield Museum & Art Gallery. Come rain or shine, the show will go on! (Unless the weather is deemed unsafe by the museum or production company.) We recommend dressing for the occasion to make the most of this unique outdoor theatre experience.

★ Fully Licensed Bar

Make a night of it! A fully licensed bar will be available before the show.

★ Praise for Much Ado About Falstaff

"Giles Shenton effortlessly embodies all that audiences have come to know and love of Sir John Falstaff... An evening of silliness that revels in humour and wit, be it bardic wordplay or fart jokes… More Shakespearean insults than ever previously heard on a theatrical stage. To be enjoyed by Shakespeare lovers and haters alike!" – The Brighton Source

Book now for an evening of unfiltered fun and Shakespearean mischief!

Workshop: Working in Wire – Everyday Objects in Lines

Inspired by Michael Craig-Martin
Find out more Book now