Community Gallery
A dedicated exhibition space for local groups, organisations, and individuals to showcase their work, stories, and heritage.
About
The Community Gallery is a dedicated exhibition space for local groups, organisations, and individuals to share their work, stories, and heritage. Since 2022, the gallery has been part of Our Community’s Voice, a project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Over this time, we’ve proudly showcased a range of exhibitions from local artists, social historians, craft specialists, university researchers, and enthusiastic school groups.
The project allowed Keswick Museum to collaborate with 281 members of the community to co-curate 17 exhibitions in our Community Gallery, with over 22,000 people visiting the space over the course of the project.
Located on the museum’s lower floor beside Café West at the Fitz Park level, entry to the Community Gallery is free.
Case Studies
1950s Keswick
An exhibition capturing 1950s Keswick through community memories, photographs, and objects.
Raindrop to River
An interactive exhibition tracing a raindrop's journey and exploring efforts to protect our rivers.
The Wild Escape
An exhibition featuring painted canvases from 150+ local pupils, celebrating nature and rewilding.
Past Exhibitions
Take a look at the past exhibitions in the Community Gallery at Keswick Museum.
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26 Sep 2024 - 14 Nov 2024
Your Home by local individuals
An exhibition exploring the process of researching the history of your home, inspired by a series of house history workshops held at the museum over the summer.
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08 Aug 2024 - 25 Sep 2024
Skiddaw in Felt by Braithwaite Primary School KS2 pupils
This exhibition displayed large-scale felt banners by local school children showing their colourful interpretations of Skiddaw.
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19 Jun 2024 - 05 Aug 2024
Thirlmere Be-Dammed by Wythburn & Thirlmere Heritage Group
An exhibition telling the story of the damming of a valley to make way for the Thirlmere reservoir.
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04 May 2024 - 16 Jun 2024
Getting Our Archaeology Badge by Threlkeld Brownies
Documenting several weeks of activities between Threlkeld Brownies and Keswick Museum to get their Archaeology Badges.
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29 Mar 2024 - 01 May 2024
1950s Keswick by local individuals
An exhibition bringing together community photos and memories from Keswick and the surrounding area during the 1950s.
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21 Feb 2024 - 26 Mar 2024
What Keswick Means to Us by Keswick School Year 10 & 12 pupils
An exhibition by Keswick School French exchange pupils highlighting what the local area has to offer to their French exchange guests and museum visitors alike – from the best hills to climb to their favourite places to eat.
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15 Jan 2024 - 18 Feb 2024
Keswick Museum Unlocked by Keswick Museum volunteers
An exhibition uncovering the process and results behind our inventory project ‘Opening the Store Door’ which saw our assistant curator and a group of volunteers inventory our entire collection.
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25 Nov 2023 - 31 Dec 2023
Textile Tiles by local sewing group
Showcasing hanging textile panels inspired by Arts & Crafts tiles found in and around Keswick.
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21 Oct 2023 - 23 Nov 2023
Our Frozen Planet by Michael Hambrey
An exhibition exploring the world of glaciers and polar ice – from their role in shaping the Lake District landscape to their struggle for survival and importance to the climate.
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15 Sept 2023 - 19 Oct 2023
Connecting With Nature by Escape Education
This exhibition by John Lee and young people from Escape Education demonstrated all of the wonderful ways nature can inspire and educate young people in the local area.
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04 Aug 2023 - 10 Sept 2023
Raindrop to River by National Trust
An interactive exhibition tracing a raindrop’s journey through the local landscape, whilst also discussing the work being done to save our rivers.
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29 May 2023 - 31 Jul 2023
Drawing on Cumbria by David Boyd
An exhibition by local painter David Boyd that explored the many ways in which, through drawing, Cumbria and nature can reveal itself.
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22 Apr 2023 - 24 May 2023
The Wild Escape by local primary schools
Featuring painted canvases from over 150 pupils from five local primary schools, this exhibition responded to the theme of rewilding and nature.
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26 Jan 2023 - 20 Apr 2023
Show the Love by local climate groups
A collaborative exhibition by local climate groups (WI, Sustainable Keswick, Fairtrade Keswick and Keswick Swifts) discussing and demonstrating how to live sustainably in Keswick today.
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03 Dec 2022 - 25 Jan 2023
Keswick’s Textile Heritage by U3A Textile Heritage Group
An exhibition about the local textile heritage, including examples of local craft by Ruskin Lace artisans.
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01 Nov 2022 - 01 Dec 2022
Our Lake District by Alan & Taibion Smith
Local father and son photographers, Alan and Taibion Smith, exhibited their landscape and wildlife shots of the Keswick area, and explored the various tools and techniques used by different generations.
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17 Sep 2022 - 27 Oct 2022
PPE Paintings by Jane Hansen
An exhibition by local artist Jane Hansen inspired by the PPE crisis of May 2020. The artist wanted to draw attention to the issues facing frontline workers in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Exhibitor Feedback
100% of participants who answered our exhibitor feedback survey recommended the experience of creating a Community Gallery exhibition at Keswick Museum. Here are some of the things they said:
The Community Gallery adds wonderful vibrancy and freshness to Keswick Museum as there's something new to see every month. It isn't possible to update the main galleries as regularly as this or work as closely with the local community on those exhibitions. Therefore, having a dedicated Community Gallery allows local people to feel represented in the museum, and it allows other people from the area to see all the wonderful activities going on around them. The Community Gallery (and by extension the museum as a whole) is a point of connection for the people of Keswick - and beyond.
— Exhibitor Feedback
It's great because it gives local people of all ages a chance to discover more about their local area and to share it with other residents and visitors.
— Exhibitor Feedback
Lots of children have been to look at the gallery and been very proud that their work was on display.
— Exhibitor Feedback
Exhibit
If you or your group are interested in creating an exhibition for the Community Gallery, please reach out to our Community Curator.
Support
We are proud to be supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, whose generous funding has helped bring Our Community’s Voice to life, empowering locals to share their stories.
