Autumn–Winter 2015 townereastbourne.org.uk
John Napier: Stages, Beyond the Fourth Wall 29 November – 31 January
Contents
Autumn—Winter 2015
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Welcome Introduction 3 Exhibitions & Events 4 Children & Families 9 Young People 11 Adults 11 Tours 12 Community Events & Exhibitions / Culture Trail 13 Visitor Information 14
Welcome to our latest brochure. After a successful summer with our critically acclaimed exhibition on William Gear, we have a fantastic season ahead of exhibitions and events for all ages. We are delighted to be presenting Julian Germain’s The Future is Ours, Classroom Portraits. Julian has spent the last eight years travelling the globe photographing school classes, and this exhibition offers an intriguing survey of what early 21st-century education looks like around the world, including Eastbourne. Prepare to see the ground floor galley completely transformed by the genius of award-winning theatre designer John Napier, who designed the original sets and costumes for Cats, Starlight Express and many more productions. A legend in the theatre world, this immersive exhibition will draw audiences through John’s extraordinary career and introduce his own practice. North to South presents highlights from the Aberdeen Art Gallery’s collection alongside our own. Aberdeen’s collection includes a number of works by Eric Ravilious, including his iconic Train Landscape, which can be seen in the Ravilious Room. We will be releasing details soon about our major exhibition on Ravilious in 2017 so watch this space. With the return of the popular Jarman Film Awards and a packed programme of activities for children and young people including the Tiny Towner takeover day for under 5s, we look forward to welcoming you to Towner this Autumn. Emma Morris Executive Director, Towner Art Gallery
Exhibitions & Events
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Julian Germain: The Future is Ours, Classroom Portraits 2004-2015 10 October 2015 – 10 January 2016, Free
Exhibitions & Events
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John Napier: Stages, Beyond the Fourth Wall
29 November 2015 – 31 January 2016 Associated Events
Towner is delighted to present the UK Premiere of The Future is Ours: Classroom Portraits 2004-2015 by British photographer and artist Julian Germain. Germain became interested in education as a theme when his own children started school. Despite being a universal experience, Germain realised that traditional school photographs revealed very little about school and the subject was virtually unexplored in visual art. Using the conventional ‘class photo’ as a starting point, Germain began to formulate his own approach, dependent on the collaboration and concentration of the pupils to make choreographed and detailed photographs of them and their learning environments. Over the next 8 years, he produced ‘classroom portraits’, featuring thousands of pupils in 19 countries; the UK, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Bangladesh, USA, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Yemen, Japan and Taiwan. This major exhibition will display 200 objects including photographs, videos, prints, Polaroids, and customised books. The exhibition will also show recent portraits of four Eastbourne schools: West Rise Junior School, Cavendish School, Bishop Bell School and Motcombe Community School.
Associated Events Julian Germain talk Sat 10 October / 2pm / £6 / £5 conc. & members Julian Germain will discuss the project underpinning this exhibition and also his practice as an artist and photographer.
Left: Julian Germain, The Future is Ours, Classroom Portraits, 2004-2015. Deneside Infants School, Seaham, County Durham, UK. Reception Class and Year 1 (Mixed Group), Structured Play. October 12th, 2004 Right: Julian Germain, The Future is Ours, Classroom Portraits, 2004-2015. Gambela Elementary School, Gambela, Welisso District, Ethiopia. Grade 1, Music. October 9th, 2009
Multi award-winning set and costume designer John Napier brings theatre and art together in a new exhibition, Stages, Beyond the Fourth Wall. Napier’s innovation and distinctive designs are responsible for some the most iconic theatre productions: the horses in Equus, the barricades in Les Misérables, the helicopter in Miss Saigon, the outsized junkyard in Cats, and of course Starlight Express. Stages encompasses these theatre achievements alongside Napier’s art works. The collection includes costume designs, three-dimensional pieces based on his theatre work, and sculptures that have been created in parallel with his career. £5 / £3.50 conc. & members / 18 and under free
Above: John Napier, Equus Heads, 1963-2007 – Chrome Steel and Leather
John Napier in Conversation with David Dimbleby 12 December / 11am / XXX / Birley Centre, Eastbourne Hear the multi awardwinning theatre designer talk about his long and illustrious career at the forefront of British theatre design. Find out more about the creative process behind productions such as Cats, Starlight Express and Les Misérables, his experiences working with leading theatre and film directors and the development of his own practice as an artist. Hook (1991) Sun 27 December / 11am & 2pm / Free but ticketed Steven Spielberg’s highflying re-telling of the classic Peter Pan story stars Robin Williams as a grown-up Peter and Dustin Hoffman as the infamous Captain Hook featuring lavish set designs by John Napier. Budding designers, see page 11 for details of a special course for young people.
Exhibitions & Events
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North to South
Highlights from Aberdeen Art Gallery & Towner Art Gallery Collections 12 September 2015 – 24 January 2016, Free
Exhibitions & Events
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Ravilious Room
Permanent Display,* Free
Associated Events Aberdeen Art Gallery Talk 14 November / 2pm / £6 / £5 conc. & members Alison Fraser, Lead Curator, Art, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museums will talk about the Aberdeen Collection, the gallery’s current redevelopment project and its current redevelopment project and its re-launch in 2017.
North to South presents selected paintings from Towner’s Collection alongside highlights from the Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum Collection. Although Aberdeen Art Gallery is currently closed to the public until winter 2017 for large-scale refurbishment and building work, it has still been able to lend a large number of key paintings to Towner for this collaborative exhibition. The exhibition brings to Towner for the first time several important artists, including Charles Conder, Joan Eardley and Alexander Nasmyth. A number of these artists, while Scottish by birth or lived in Scotland, had a connection to Eastbourne, or painted the South Coast. North to South will include works by artists that also feature in Towner’s Collection such as George Clausen, Henry La Thangue, Paul Nash, Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden, Duncan Grant, Christopher Wood, and Edward Wadsworth.
Above: Roger Fry, The Breakfast Table, c.1918. Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museum Collection
Curators Walk and Talk Thurs 26 November / 12.30pm / Free Sara Cooper, Head of Collections, Towner and Curator of North to South, will take you on an informal walk and talk of the display, providing insights into both collections. Flemish Collection and Scottish Painting Sat 9 January / 2pm / £6 / £5 conc. & members Aberdeen Art Gallery has loaned works to exhibition Northern Lights at The Fleming Collection, London. Selina Skipwith, former Director of The Fleming Collection, will give a talk on Scottish art and artists.
Towner holds one of the largest public collections of works by Sussex artist Eric Ravilious (1903-1942). Our permanent Ravilious Room is a dedicated space to admire a selection of his finest watercolours, explore our unique archive and browse books on the artist. The autumn display will include works on loan from Aberdeen Art Gallery and Museum Collection including South Coast Beach, c.1940 and Coastal Defenses, c.1940 both were presented by the War Artists’ Advisory Committee to Aberdeen Gallery and Museum. We will also show popular Ravilious works from Towner’s permanent collection: The Westbury Horse, 1939, Lifeboat, 1938 and Train Going Over a Bridge at Night, 1935. The room also includes works by Paul Nash and Edward Bawden. The room features specially commissioned cabinets to view and enjoy the Ravilious archive. Copies of the wide range of Ravilious books will also be available for you to read. Come enjoy his unique views of Sussex, the South Downs, and surrounding areas. *Advance notice: the Ravilious Room will be closed from 26 January – 5 February inclusive as we change the display and install our next exhibition in the Collection Gallery. The room will open with a new display on Saturday 6 February.
Supported by Eastbourne Arts Circle Eastbourne Arts Circle Talks These popular talks look at the lives and work of great painters through the ages. For dates, please see their website: eastbourneartscircle.org.uk
Left: Eric Ravilious, Train Landscape, 1940. Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museum Collection Top, right: Eric Ravilious, Train Going Over a Bridge at Night, 1935. Towner Art Gallery Collection Bottom, right: Eric Ravilious, Westbury Horse, 1939. Towner Art Gallery
Exhibitions & Events
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Film London: Jarman Award Touring Programme 2015 5-8 November, Junction Box, Free
What’s On
Children & Families Get creative throughout October’s Big Draw and the Family Arts Festival: draw using all your senses with our free activities for children and families, sign up for a workshop or come to our spooky late opening Hallowe’en event if you dare!
See a diverse and thought-provoking programme of artists’ moving image and hear from one of the six shortlisted artists for this year’s Jarman Award: Adam Chodzko, Seamus Harahan, Gail Pickering, Alia Syed, Bedwyr Williams and Andrea Luka Zimmerman. This year’s shortlist of artists were chosen for bodies of work representing uncompromising power, beauty and humour. The programme shows the breadth of practice within contemporary filmmaking, from extraordinary documentaries and lyrical storytelling to mesmerising works that interweave glimpses of the past with digital technologies. Inspired by visionary filmmaker Derek Jarman, the Jarman Award recognises and supports artists working with moving image and celebrates the spirit of experimentation, imagination and innovation in the work of artist filmmakers. filmlondon.org.uk/jarmanaward Top: Adam Chodzko, Great Expectations, 2015 Bottom: Alia Syed, Points of Departure, 2014
Associated Events Jarman Award Shortlisted Artist Talk: Alia Syed Sat 7 November / 2pm / £6 / £5 conc. & members Artist Alia Syed will discuss her most recent films, including Points of Departure (2014). These works combine Syed’s interest in storytelling with a compelling presentation of history as a visual narrative; using diverse subjectivities to reframe both the time flow of the river Thames and the regeneration of the city of Glasgow respectively.
Workshops places are limited – book online or by phoning 01323 434670. For our free workshops, a suggested donation of £1 would be welcome. Please stay with your child during free sessions.
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One-Stop Drawing Shop with artist Elizabeth Doak Sat 3 October / 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm / All ages / Free drop-in Visit our pop-up drawing shop to bag some new ideas and materials to get you started on our marathon month of art!
Elizabeth Doak
Drawing in 3D
Spooky Windows
with Eastbourne Blind Society Sat 10 October / 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm / All ages / Free drop-in Join members of Eastbourne Blind Society’s art group to draw in three dimensions. Make your own piece and add to a collaborative sculpture.
with artist Annis Joslin Wed 28 October / 10.30am-12.30pm & 2-4pm / 5-7 years / £5 Create large-scale creepy art work for the windows of Towner especially for Halloween and make some to take home too!
Drawing in the Bag with artist Steven Follen Sat 17 October / 11am-1pm & 2pm-4pm / All ages / Free drop-in Use your sense of touch to explore a series of objects in closed bags, explore mark-making to capture what your hand feels and your mind sees.
Great Big Self Portraits with artist Elizabeth Doak Sat 24 October / 11am-1pm & 2-4pm / All ages / Free drop-in Fill a life-size outline with pictures and collages that tell your story and add it to our one-day only portrait gallery.
Annis Joslin
Haunting Hallowe’en Shadow Show with artist Lindsey Smith Fri 30 October / 10.30am12.30pm & 2-4pm / 8-11 years / £5 Hunt around Towner’s exhibitions for creatures and people to make into a
What’s On
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Tiny Towner Workshop Sessions
haunting Hallowe’en Shadow Show. Come to our event Drawing in the Dark on Saturday to see it brought to life!
Drawing in the Dark with artist Lindsey Smith Sat 31 October / 2-4pm & 5-7pm / All ages / Free drop-in Doodle and draw, paint a picture with light. Using torches, colour gels and glow sticks, we will create weird and wonderful drawings in the dark.
Lindsey Smith
Tricks ’n’ Treats at Towner
Sat 31 October / 5-7pm / 5-11 years, accompanied by adult / £5 for a set of 5 tokens Towner will be open late so that young ghouls and their families can come and play for Hallowe’en. Come dressed in your spookiest outfit and have a ghostly portrait taken. Go on a torchlight tour of the gallery. Listen to scary tales and lots more! Spooky snacks by Urban Ground.
Trick ‘n’ Treats at Towner
Decorate your Tree in 3D Workshop with artist Hermione Allsopp Sat 5 December / 10.30am12.30pm & 2-4pm / 5-11 years / Free – suggested £1 donation Explore new ways to create 3D shapes and structures and get into the Christmas spirit. Make beautiful decorations to hang in your house, or give as a gift.
Thurs / 23 Oct, 20 Nov, 18 Dec / 10.30am-12pm / 2-5 years / £3 per child, adults free Our popular creative sessions are back! Led by staff from Towner, Eastbourne Library and Eastbourne Children’s Centre, we’ll be exploring art together.
Fri 20 November / 0-5 years / Free drop-in We’re inviting under 5’s to take over and be our boss for the day by trying out our activities and telling us what they think. If you’d like to take over Towner, check our website for more info.
Sun 27 December / 11am & 2pm / Free but ticketed See page 5 for more details.
Tiny Towner Drop-in
Open Sesame, Towner, 2015
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Young People
Adults
Designing Spaces
in partnership with Emma Mason Gallery Sun 15 November / 10am-4pm / £55 / £49.50 conc. & members
A mini-course for 16-19 year olds Sundays: 6 Dec, 13 Dec, 17 Jan, 24 Jan, 31 Jan / 1-4pm / £50 for 5 sessions
Towner Printmaking Workshop
Tiny Towner Takeover Day
Hook (1991)
Tuesdays / 10.30-12.30pm / 0-5 years / Free A welcoming space for under-5s and their parents and carers to play and explore together.
What’s On
Family drop-in
Every Sat, Sun & throughout school holidays / Free Free activities for children and families – look out for gallery trails, explorer vests, iPad and drawing activities and things to make in our free family art areas.
Avant Commercial
Stage designer John Napier is famous for his groundbreaking designs for shows like Cats and Starlight Express and Towner is hosting a major exhibition of his work. Taking Napier’s designs as inspiration, you will work with artist Gary Campbell to design and make a participatory space for children and families at Towner over a series of workshop sessions. Starting with a tour of the exhibition, the sessions will take you through a design process including research, testing ideas, learning design and construction skills and completing a final installation for our foyer area.
Helen Brown, Over the Downs to Kingston
Book your place for this dry point etching workshop with Helen Brown, a Sussex based printmaker who produces beautiful colourful work inspired by the Downs. emmamason.co.uk
Late Night Christmas Shopping
Thurs 3 December / 5-8pm / Free Join us for a relaxed evening of after-hours festive shopping. Warm yourself with complimentary mulled wine and mince pies before exploring Christmas gift ideas: from exclusive silk scarves and limited edition giclee prints to quirky stocking fillers and beautiful cards and wrapping paper. Staff will be on hand to help with gift ideas and wrapping.
Drawn to the Page
Sat 5 December / 10am1pm / £30 Explore the John Napier and Julian Germain exhibitions with writer and artist Wendy Ann Greenhalgh as your guide, using fun and revealing creative writing exercises. No previous experience necessary. Next workshop: Sat 30 January, 10am-1pm. Discounts available if booking 2 or more workshops. Book: newwritingsouth. com/events
Partnership with New Writing South, De La Warr Pavilion, Towner Art Gallery and Jerwood Gallery
Christmas Wreath Making
Sun 6 December / 1.304.30pm / £35
Spend a relaxing afternoon learning new skills under the expert guidance of florist Rachel Grimes and come away with your very own creation for the festive period. Price includes coffee, croissant and all materials.
What’s On
Tours ‘Perspectives On…’ Themed Tours
12 Perspectives On… Portraits Sun 17 January / 2pm / £6 / £5 conc. & members
Our popular ‘Perspectives on…’ themed tours are a great way to learn more about a particular artist, genre or theme represented in Towner’s extensive art collection. Numbers are kept low to ensure a quality experience so book early to avoid disappointment. Perspectives On… The Grogan Bequest Sat 21 November / 11am / £6 / £5 conc. & members
Towner Art Store, Avant Commercial
In 2009, Towner received a bequest of significant paintings from the Helen and Arthur Grogan estate, including works by Bawden, Nash, La Thangue and Clausen. Our conservator Corinne Farmer will introduce you to key paintings from the bequest and to the Grogans themselves, who were tenants at Standen, the Arts and Crafts country house in the ‘70s and ‘80s.
as Ravilious will always feature, there is flexibility for visitors to make specific requests, ensuring no two tours are ever the same. These hour-long tours offer a fascinating introduction to our collection.
Exclusive Private Tours
Elizabeth Andrews, Annie, undated. Towner Art Gallery Collection
Within Towner’s Collection, there are many interesting portraits that have been gifted to or acquired over the years. Your expert guide will introduce you to a variety of portraits, from historical works to contemporary pieces by artists such as Stephen Finer and Ugo Rondinone.
Art Store Tours
Alternate Sundays: 18 Oct, 1 Nov, 15 Nov, 29 Nov, 13 Dec, 27 Dec, 10 Jan / 12pm / £6 / £5 conc. & members Guided by one of our knowledgeable gallery team, you will learn about the story of Towner’s impressive art Collection, from the original Victorian bequest to recent acquisitions of works by contemporary artists. Although key artists such
We also offer exclusive private tours of our extensive collection in our art store at a time of your choice for £7 per head (minimum charge £35). An ideal gift for any art lover or an inspiring social excursion for your group. To arrange a visit, contact towner@townereastbourne. org.uk
Open Ended
First Tuesday of every month: 6 Oct, 3 Nov, 1 Dec / 10am-12pm / £3 (including refreshments) + carers come free Open Ended is a special initiative for people with memory loss problems and their carers. More a conversation through art than a formal tour, each visit provides an opportunity to explore art work from our collection, supported by a specially trained gallery staff. We can also accommodate group bookings – please phone 01323 434670 for details.
What’s On
Community Events & Exhibitions Chalk Gallery Exhibition
2-14 October / Free Chalk Gallery will mark its 10th anniversary with a special exhibition of work by past and present members. Over 100 local artists have exhibited and learned new skills from collectively running the Lewes gallery. The exhibition is a celebration of this achievement and a tribute to all the artists’ contributions over the past 10 years.
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Take a Closer Look – Positive Disability
21 October-2 November / Free SASBAH – the Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocaphalus – will celebrate its 50th birthday with an exhibition of members’ portraits by photographer Helen Tinner alongside original art work produced by members during creative workshops at Towner. sasbah.org.uk
Untold Stories – Life Story Workshop
Sat 24 October / 11am-4pm / Free – booking essential Older and younger generations come together in this one-day workshop, through the sharing of personal stories and life experiences. Open to older people (50+), younger people (9-15 years) and anyone from a black or ethnic minority background. Presented by East Sussex BME Health & Social Care Forum. To book, contact cesar.daluz@ eastsussex.gov.uk
The Coastal Culture Trail
Along a 25-mile strip of East Sussex coastline, you will find three of the best contemporary art galleries in the South of England – Towner Art Gallery in Eastbourne, De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill and Jerwood Gallery in Hastings. We have packaged ideas for your weekend in Sussex including where to enjoy local food, drink and hospitality, where to hire bikes and what else there is to see and do! Coastalculturetrail.com @CoastalCultureT
The Huts – Eastbourne Community Workshop
Left: Snowball Julie, Angel of the South
Sat 17 October / 10am-1pm & 2–5pm Creative workshop with artist Sheridan Quigley at Towner Gallery. Come along to experiment with various materials to get your ideas flowing. To book, contact engage@thehuts-eastbourne .co.uk or 01323 400664.
Project has been funded as part of Driving Devonshire Forward (DDF) initiative by Coastal Communities Fund. DDF is managed by Eastbourne Borough Council & Eastbourne Homes Limited.
Visitor Information
Visitor information Towner Devonshire Park, College Road Eastbourne BN21 4JJ Tel 01323 434670 Email towner@townereastbourne.org.uk Web townereastbourne.org.uk Opening times from 28 September Tues-Sun 10am-5pm Bank Holiday Mons 10am-5pm Christmas closures Towner is closed on Thurs 24, Fri 25 and Sat 26 December and Fri 1 January
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Access all areas
Venue Hire
Towner supports the i-go ACCESS ALL AREAS scheme, an initiative to improve access to leisure activities for children and young people with disabilities and special needs across East Sussex. Towner strives to be accessible to all. There is a lift to each floor. A manual wheelchair can be provided. See our website for more information on how we can meet your access requirements.
Admission is free
Travel and parking
Visit our shop to find inspiring art, beautiful books and special gifts for all ages. Our stock is influenced by our Collection and exhibitions, with a strong focus on Eric Ravilious merchandise and limited edition giclee prints. Our John Napier merchandise, based on original designs for Cats and Starlight Express is perfect for theatre lovers. See pg 11 for details of our late night Christmas shopping event. Selected items also available on our online shop: shop.townereastbourne.org.uk
Become a volunteer Volunteers are a key part of the Towner team. If you interested in art, love interacting with people and are keen to develop new skills or gain experience, we would love to hear from you. Contact volunteer@townereastbourne. org.uk Membership Become a Towner member, and you can start enjoying the many benefits membership offers while allowing us to continue to make art accessible to all. townereastbourne.org. uk/join-us/membership/ Mailing list Join our email list to receive news about our exhibitions, events, special offers and private views: townereastbourne.org.uk/mailing-list
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Support Us
Our top floor café and balcony terrace is the perfect spot to relax, meet friends and enjoy stunning views across Eastbourne. Choose from a menu of delicious sweet and savoury treats, ranging from filled Lebanese flatbreads to Portuguese custard tarts and polenta cake and a full range of speciality teas, hand-roasted direct-trade coffee and licensed bar.
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By bike Why not cycle? Secure bike racks to the rear of the building.
Grange Rd
By car College Road car park is pay and display. There are 7 blue badge holder spaces in the car park next to Towner.
Towner’s versatile and stylish spaces are available to hire and can accommodate a wide range of events, from small meetings to wedding receptions and product launches. Bespoke packages can be created, incorporating gallery tours and opportunities to view our art collection as well as delicious catering options from Urban Ground. Contact Niamh on 01323 434679 or roomhire@townereastbourne.org.uk to discuss your requirements.
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Urban Ground
South St
Grange Rd
By train By train, Eastbourne is 35 minutes from Brighton and just 1hr 25 mins from London. There are direct rail links from London, Brighton and throughout the South East – see our website. By bus, Eastbourne is 1 hour from Brighton.
Gildredge Road
By bus The no. 3 bus stops next to the Congress Theatre adjacent to Towner, and other buses include 12, 12A, 12X and 13X and 98 & 99.
Eastbourne Station G ro ve Rd
Towner is only a 10-minute walk from Eastbourne train station and a few minutes from the seafront. Follow signs to Devonshire Park.
Visitor Information
Conservation Services
Do you have a painting, print or object that requires specialist cleaning or repair? Towner is now pleased to offer professional conservation services, undertaken by our fully accredited conservator Corinne Farmer, ACR. Specialist areas include paper, photographic material and works on canvas. To book a free consultation contact Corinne on 01323 434670 or corinne.farmer@townereastbourne.org.uk
towner art gallery
Towner Devonshire Park, College Road Eastbourne BN21 4JJ Tel 01323 434670 Email towner@townereastbourne.org.uk Web townereastbourne.org.uk Follow us on Facebook.com/TownerGallery Twitter.com/TownerGallery Instagram.com/TownerGallery Opening times from 28 September Tues-Sun 10am-5pm Bank Holiday Mondays 10am-5pm Christmas closures Towner is closed on Thurs 24, Fri 25 and Sat 26 December and Fri 1 January Admission is free
We are very grateful to EY, our corporate supporters Thanks to Devonshire Park Hotel for their on-going support