Next year we mark 25 years with a series of events and exhibitions celebrating community and collaboration, as well as our connection to nature and the planet.  

What’s On

Earthbound 

15 November 2024 – 8 June 2025 

Floor 3

Set within the context of global anxiety about the climate crisis and planetary health research, this major group exhibition presents existing and newly commissioned artworks by nine artists and community makers that highlight our connection with the earth and our potential to return to a more healthy and harmonious existence with the natural world. It emerges from the argument that, over time, natural and human histories have become so disconnected that we have lost sight of the innate interconnectivity between human and natural life.   

REFLECTOR 

26 October 2024 – 9 March 2025 

Floor 4

The culmination of a ten-month intensive professional development programme for emerging photographers, artists and curators from diverse backgrounds from across England. Each works with photography but with different approaches and perspectives. This exhibition celebrates their achievements to date and provides an important step towards their future creative and professional development. 

Produced by GRAIN Projects in partnership with The New Art Gallery Walsall, supported by Art Fund’s Reimagine Programme. 

Walsall Society of Artists 

13 December 2024 – 2 February 2025

Community Gallery 

The 74^th annual exhibition by members of Walsall Society of Artists. Works included are in a wide range of media with many for sale. Throughout the exhibition society members will showcase their skills with the community. They will also collaborate with local poets for a series of spoken and written word events and demonstrations. 

Equal + Able = Not a Label 

8 June 2024 – 18 May 2025 

Floors 1 & 2

Exploring Ableism, Disability, Neurodiversity and Mental Health through The New Art Gallery Walsall’s Collections. This project is co-produced by the Gallery’s Collections Community Panel. 

Suzanne Holtom: And Hills Bore Scars  

29 March – 29 June 2025 

Floor 4

“During the pandemic I lost my Dad, and as a result my trips back home to the West Midlands became far more frequent. It was this continuing return to my original home, contemplating and experiencing this embodied landscape that initiated a new direction in my work. Specifically, the areas around Streetly formed the topography of significant sense? memories and stories of my earlier and later life. A deep mapping of place has become the primary motivation in my work, which encompasses geological time, social histories, personal experiences and memory.” Suzanne Holtom 

The ‘Outside In’, National Open: Shelter 

27 June – 20 October 2025 

Floor 3

Outside In, the award-winning charity that provides a platform for artists encountering significant barriers to the art world, hosts its seventh National Open exhibition at The New Art Gallery Walsall. The exhibition, exploring ‘Shelter’ will be accompanied by an exhibition of works from both organisations’ collections about the same theme.   

The Joy Project 

21 February – 6 July 2025 

Community Gallery

Over the last year, members of the Gallery’s youth panel have developed a collaborative exhibition exploring the concept of ‘joy’. The project provides an opportunity for under 25s to develop in confidence, build social skills, learn about positive mental health and gain useful work experience, working as part of our Collections Youth Panel. As part of the exhibition, the panel will revive the Gallery’s popular ‘The People’s Show’ from the 1990s. As well as young people as part of the panel, the Gallery have been working with groups including local The Blue Lights Choir, Funky Kids, Thomas Telford College and Braidwood School to explore the concept of joy from their perspectives. 

Hannah Maybank 

7 June 2025 – May 2026 

Floor 2 

Walsall-born, London-based artist Hannah Maybank is creating a special new work as a gift to mark the Gallery’s 25^th birthday. Hannah will also exhibit a series of other new works exploring the still life genre, using flowers and glassware. These works all have elements of materials which will change over time, creating ‘living still lives’ including silver (a material associated with 25^th celebrations). Hannah will also select works for the re-hang of the adjacent Flowers and Still Life room to complement her exhibition, having grown up being inspired by the Gallery’s Garman Ryan Collection. 

The New Art Gallery Walsall selected 2025 event highlights (January – March) 

Lunar New Year Community Day 

Saturday 1 February, 12-4pm. Free, drop-in 

Join us to celebrate Lunar New Year with Chinese folk fan dancing and lion dancing with DANS Chinese Dance and Performing Arts. Have a go at calligraphy, print lucky red envelopes (Hongbao) with artist Mengxia Liu, and complete the Red Gallery Trail. We encourage visitors to wear red or pink! 

JOY: Celebrating 25 years of The New Art Gallery Walsall  

Thursday 20 February, 6-8pm. Free, drop-in 

The New Art Gallery Walsall opened on 20 February 2000. Join us for a celebration of 25 years at the opening of our exhibition ‘The Joy Project’, which will include a performance by Jorja Smith’s Blue Lights Choir. 

Sunday Art Club: Celebrate the Gallery’s 25^th Birthday 

Sunday 23 February, 12-3pm. Free, drop-in. Ages 4+ 

Join us for a special birthday edition of Sunday Art Club! Make Gallery bunting and enjoy tea, squash and birthday cake. Sunday Art Club is our weekly art club for children and young people. Meet artists and creatives, learn to paint, sculpt, craft and more! 

World Book Day: Peacocks & Peahens 

Saturday 8 March, 12-4pm. Free, drop-in 

Join us for a celebration of books, stories, art and poetry inspired by peacocks. Enjoy special performances of Princess and the Peacock by Sonia Sabri Company, and join Pep the Poet for funny, interactive performances of his poem ‘The Funky Peacock’. There will also be the opportunity make bookmarks with illustrator Bec Tonks, grab your free book from National Literacy Trust and pick up your own signed copy of ‘The Funky Peacock’. 

Holi 25: Festival of Colours – Community Day 

Saturday 15 March, 12-4pm. Free, drop-in 

Join us to celebrate the Festival of Colours with Bharatanatyam (Classical dance originating from the temples of Tamil Nadu in southern India) dance performances from Jnan Deep Kundu and Kathak dance performances from Roshni Pink . There will also be the chance to spray paint mandalas onto fabric with artist Haseebah Ali, make banana leaf parrots with artist Ahalya SP, get Mendhi from Mrs Bed and enjoy authentic food from Hargun Sweet Centre. 

The New Art Gallery Walsall is delighted to announce that following her major solo exhibition at the Gallery earlier this year, Karla Black’s artwork Study The Method Of The Theft, 2023 has been gifted to Walsall’s Permanent Collection by the artist.

A wall-based sculpture comprising of one hundred paint filled jewellery boxes in grid formation, Study The Method Of The Theft, 2023 brings to mind the desirable and carefully organised displays of sweet shops and make-up counters.

Stephen Snoddy, Director of The New Art Gallery Walsall, said: “We’re delighted accept this generous gift by a major Scottish artist, who has exhibited globally over a twenty-year career and consistently pushed the boundaries of contemporary sculpture. The work will act as a wonderful reminder of Black’s major exhibition, her largest in the UK to date, which saw our Floor 3 spaces utterly transformed by her pastel and metallic sculptures.”

REFLECTOR, a new and unique professional development programme, open to emerging Photographers, Artists and Curators of Colour working with photography, who are based in England. 

Produced by GRAIN Projects in partnership with The New Art Gallery Walsall, supported by Art Fund’s Reimagine programme.

REFLECTOR will empower participants and create new opportunities for collaboration and career development. The programme will take place over 10 months, starting in October 2023, and will include both online and in-person activities.   

The programme will include mentoring, masterclasses, portfolio reviews, and networking opportunities. These activities are thoughtfully designed to boost professional development and empower artists to advance their creative pursuits to the next level.

Additionally, bursaries will be provided to support artists in creating new work and further enhancing their skills. Participants will learn directly from inspiring artists, mentors, projects and events. REFLECTOR will amplify and platform work as well as being a unique opportunity to learn and develop new skills. Participants will also receive support in developing CVs, statements, portfolios and creating new work for exhibition.

Up to 20 participants will be recruited to take part in the 10-month programme. All will be awarded a £1000 bursary to support their involvement.  

Deadline: Sunday 9 October 2023 at midnight (GMT).

Find out more and apply here.

Following a successful funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund Dynamic Collections fund we are looking to expand the scope of what we do and to recruit some new panel members with an interest in our Collections and in making them accessible to the widest possible audience.

Together we have explored LGBTQ+ lives through our Collections, and our current project looks at Class and Identity. In 2024 we are due to focus on disability, neurodiversity and mental health.

We are looking for local people with a range of lived experiences to help us reflect and represent the people of Walsall with our Collections displays, to select the works they want to see exhibited, and the events they would like to accompany the exhibition programme. Join us to have your say on the Collections you own!

The panel meet roughly monthly, both in-person and online. You can join remotely or attend sessions at the Gallery. It is very flexible, and dates for meetings and events are decided democratically as a group. We are friendly and meetings are informal and welcoming. No knowledge/experience of art necessary! Just bring your own lived experiences! Panel members can choose to remain anonymous, and contribute as little or as much as you like or are able to. A nominal fee is given for attendance at meetings, or for contributions at events etc.

It’s a great way to meet new people from diverse walks of life, have active discussions and do advocacy work on topics important to you, get helpful work experience opportunities, and keep active for wellbeing.

If you are interested in exploring our Collections as part of this co-production project, or to find out more, please get in touch with our Collections Curator, Julie via julie.brown@walsall.gov.uk or by calling 01922 654419 to arrange an informal chat, either in person, over the phone, or online.

Here at The New Art Gallery Walsall, we endeavour to be welcoming, relevant and engaging to all of our communities and to provide and plan for a resilient future to support all of our programmes. The Gallery is owned by Walsall Council and is currently funded by the Council and Arts Council England. Those working in the Gallery are employees of Walsall Council.

The Development Trust’s aim is ‘to support and enhance’ the work of  The New Art Gallery Walsall and as such it is important for the Trustees to have a variety of skills and experience. Given the nature of the Trust, alongside a keen interest in art and its place in the wider community, skills such as fundraising, marketing, legal, community engagement, education and digital are particularly relevant.

We are now looking to expand the range of skills and experience of our current Board of Trustees.  We want to reflect the diversity and heritage of the West Midlands region in terms of age, gender and ethnicity.  We are also keen to ensure that there is representation from particular groups such as people who are neurodiverse or those with disabilities.

There are 4 Trust meetings per year. Meetings can be attended online.  Trustees are not paid for their time, but where appropriate we are able to reimburse trustees for expenses incurred in travelling to attend Trust meetings; for any access needs and/or childcare; or care of other dependants, while attending meetings. We would expect each new Trustee to commit to 3 years.

Further information is available upon request. If you are interested in supporting us to make positive changes please send an email to the Chair david.carver@carver-group.co.uk and cc Director stephen.snoddy@walsall.gov.uk and let us know why you would like to become a Trustee in less than 300 words. 

Deadline: 31^st December 2022

Salary: G7 £27,514 – £31,895 (pro-rata)
Contract: Job share 24.5 hours including Saturday working

The New Art Gallery Walsall opened in 2000 in the heart of Walsall town centre. Since then it has remained a significant venue for the visual arts regionally, nationally and internationally. Hosting a vibrant artistic programme, combining the very best in contemporary art with the Modern and the historic, the Gallery is also home to the renowned Garman Ryan Collection and a significant collection of contemporary works. The impressive and award winning building provides a truly unique place for visitors to enjoy, discover, learn from and participate in the visual arts.

We are seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic individual to join our team for the next exciting stage in the Gallery’s development.  Your duties will include:

• coordinating the planning and delivery of Front of House services in an efficient and effective manner
• prioritising both visitor experience and customer care through enhancement and support of the artistic programme.
• organisational and staff development, and the reporting of performance management information.

Previous managerial experience of working directly with the public in a visitor attraction role would be an advantage.

View Job Description and Employee Specification

View Information for Applicants

Closing date: 13^th November 2022

This post is covered by the Government’s Code of Practice on the English Language Fluency Duty for public sector workers.  The post holder will be required to communicate verbally with customers and provide advice and/or information in accurate spoken English.

Walsall Council takes seriously the responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all the children, young people and adults entrusted to our care and it is our expectation that all staff will share this commitment. Completion of an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check is a requirement for this role.