Cheltenham Town Hall

Coffee With A Curator
2026-01-07 13:30 - 2026-12-02 13:30 (Europe/London) | The Wilson, The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum and The Wilson Kitchen arts café 51 Clarence Street, Cheltenham, GL50 3JT, United Kingdom
Coffee With A CuratorFirst Wednesday of every month, 1.30pm – 2pmThese informal sessions held in The Wilson café lounge area at lunchtime on the first Wednesday of the month give you the chance to join one of our curators for a half hour chat as they introduce pieces from The Wilson’s extensive collections.From pottery and works of art to items that reflect the social history of the Cheltenham area, you’ll get to have a closer look at the objects as they are brought out of the archives.There will be a different object every month. Book a place for £3, which will include a complimentary tea or coffee from the café. For updates and more details of the objects and subjects for each monthly session, see our Facebook and Instagram.Wednesday 7 JanuaryMusical Instruments – A different kind of serpent! Explore the fascinating world of musical instruments as we uncover the story of the serpent, a most unusual instrument. Discover how it’s made, what it sounds like, and how it came to our collection!Wednesday 4 FebruarySmall objects; big stories – Find out some interesting stories about some of the smallest objects held in The Wilson’s collection.Wednesday 4 MarchCheltenham’s buildings – mysteries and histories! Cheltenham is more than just a Regency town, hear stories from The Wilson’s Curator of Art featuring Cheltenham’s famous donut to stories of shopping and the high street in times gone by!Wednesday 1 AprilVarious hair accessories were worn between the wars of the 20th century. Snoods were used as a decorative way of keeping mid to long hair out of the way and to keep a set in place. They were made of various materials and techniques and April’s talk will discuss the crocheted ones in the Wilson collection. Join Kat, our Collections Officer, as she shares information and history of the snood and shows her handmade copy for you to handle.

Practical Fine Art for Adults Course: 2026
2026-01-09 13:30 - 2027-01-08 13:30
Join our Practical Fine Art for Beginners course and unlock your creativity!27 February – 27 March: Introduction to Sculpture: Form, Expression, and Abstraction17 April – 15 May: Introduction to Landscape Drawing and Painting: From Line to Colour5 June – 3 July: Introduction to Acrylic Painting: Colour, Texture, and Expression11 Sep – 9 Oct: Introduction to Drawing: Seeing Like an Artist13 Nov – 11 Dec: Introduction to Watercolour8 Jan – 5 Feb: Introduction to Portrait Drawing: Capturing LikenessOur lessons are tailored for those with little-to-no experience in art, but feel the desire to discover and create. At the end of the course, you will have honed your skills and gained confidence in your ability to produce your own artwork. Start your journey as an artist today.About Kitty McLeodThe tutor, Kitty McLeod, of Promising Artists, trained at Ravensbourne University London and the University of Gloucestershire. She has been teaching art and creative workshops with children and adults of all ages nationally since 2010. She has experience in delivering fine art drawing & painting, illustration, printmaking, animation and life drawing classes. Kitty runs a small art school in Cheltenham and art courses for the National Trust.Price is for a course of 5 sessions and includes all materials.Dates 2026Winter Term: 9 January – 6 FebruaryWinter/Spring: 27 February – 27 MarchSpring: 17 April – 15 MaySummer: 5 June – 3 JulyAutumn: 11 Sep – 9 OctWinter: 13 Nov – 11 DecWinter 2027: 8 Jan – 5 FebFridays, 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Practical Fine Art for Children Course: 2026
2026-01-10 10:00 - 2027-01-09 10:00
Practical Fine Art for Children: 202628 February – 28 March: Introduction to Sculpture: Form, Expression, and Abstraction18 April – 16 May: Introduction to Landscape Drawing and Painting: From Line to Colour6 June – 4 July: Introduction to Acrylic Painting: Colour, Texture, and Expression12 Sep – 10 Oct: Introduction to Drawing: Seeing Like an Artist14 Nov – 12 Dec: Introduction to Watercolour9 Jan – 6 Feb: Introduction to Portrait Drawing: Capturing LikenessFor keen young artists of all levels. The perfect complement to school art lessons, whether studying at primary or GCSE level. Practical, how-to skills: observational drawing techniques, multi-media exploration, adventures in colour and more. There is plenty of time for one-to-one support in these small groups too.About Kitty McLeodKitty McLeod trained at Ravensbourne University London and the University of Gloucestershire. She has been teaching art and creative workshops, organising events, parties, and face painting with children and adults of all ages nationally since 2010. She has experience in delivering fine art, illustration, printmaking, animation and life drawing classes. Kitty’s students have won art scholarships to Cheltenham College, Rendcombe College and King’s School.Price is for a course of 5 sessions and includes all materials.Dates 2026Winter Term: 10 January – 7 FebruaryWinter/Spring: 28 February – 28 MarchSpring: 18 April – 16 MaySummer: 6 June – 4 JulyAutumn: 12 Sep – 10 OctWinter: 14 Nov – 12 DecWinter 2027: 9 Jan – 6 FebSaturdays, 10am – 11.30am

Art Meditation & Inner Peace
2026-07-08 18:00 - 2026-08-12 18:00
Art Meditation & Inner PeaceJoin resident artist Albert Chung for a guided meditation experience inspired by artworks from the exhibition, The Art of Looking.Using selected works from the exhibition as a focus for reflection, Albert will lead participants through a gentle meditation designed to encourage calm, presence, and deeper connection. The session will also incorporate the artist’s i Xing Energy of Light Pyramid as part of the experience.Explore art beyond the visual and discover new ways of looking, feeling, and being. The session aims to support a sense of inner peace, joy, and wellbeing.

Creative Explorers: Summer
2026-07-22 10:00 - 2026-08-26 10:00
Creative Explorers10am – 3pm An artist led holiday club for 4-11 year olds who love to make, share and play. We will collaborate on engaging individual and group craft projects with a focus on nature, the world around us and free play to encourage creativity, language and expression within the arts.This informal holiday workshop will be fun and light, providing your child with the chance to express themselves artistically while making new friends and learning new skills.We will take a tour of the galleries, explore the works on display and (weather dependent) we will take a nature walk outside, so please supply a coat if you are happy for your child to join.Please note:• On sunny days we like to get outside! If you are not happy for your child to leave the building then please let us know on the morning of the session.• Children aged 4 are only permitted to attend on a shorter day of 11-3 according to government safeguarding guidelines. If you book a 4-year-old on to any of our holiday club days you will not be allowed to drop them off before 11am.• We may get messy! Please send your child in old clothes that you don’t mind them making and playing in, as we do occasionally use materials that may be harder to wash out.• Please pack your child a drinks bottle, so that they can help themselves through the day. Feel free to pack them a snack as well – exploring can be hungry work!• Children should bring a bag to help them carry home all their crafts and keep them safe through the day.All children will now need a packed lunch, there is no longer the option to add it to your ticket booking. Please note nuts are not permitted in packed lunches due to allergies.‘Arty’ lunch boxes will be available to purchase from the café on the day if you wish, with a 20% discount for Creative Explorers.Please note this is a drop-off session.The cost includes all materials.
