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Exhibitions and events

12 events

Pieces of paper laid out on the floor on top of each other.

Artists making books: poetry to politics
. Free .

This intriguing new show explores the history of artists taking on the medium of books.

Black and white print showing map of Venice with chreub-like heads in clouds and boats in the water surrounding Venice.

Venice 1500: Jacopo de’ Barbari and the rise of printmaking
. Free .

This display showcases the innovation and variety of printmaking in Venice during the High Renaissance.

Japanese festival float model teaser 1

Japan’s Festival Floats
. Free .

For centuries, summertime in Japan has centred around spectacular local festivals with costumes, singing, dancing and incredible floats.

A close up photograph of a silver griffin. The griffin has curled horns, a beak and gold details including its wings.

Luxury and power: Persia to Greece
. Book now .

Drawing on dazzling objects, this exhibition explores how luxury shaped the political landscape of Eurasia in the first millennium BC.

Ink and colour picture showing the head and shoulders of an elderly Chinese woman with her hair tied back. She is wearing green earings and a blue jacket decorated with gold leaves around the neck.

China’s hidden century
. Book now .

In a global first, the resilience and innovation of 19th-century China is revealed through the stories of its remarkable individuals.

Five women posing for the camera at Notting Hill at Carnival.

Festivals & special events

4 Jun 2023

Windrush 75: Jamaican sound system culture
. Free .

Join us for a special day curated by Linett Kamala celebrating the gift of sound system culture from the Windrush generation.

Empty view of the Japanese gallery.

9 Jun 2023–28 Jul 2023

The way of tea
. Free .

Discover the history of tea drinking and gathering in Japan in this free demonstration of a Japanese tea ceremony.

Colourful kimono-like informal gown with a swooping phoenix on the front. Colours are mainly brown, pink, purple and blue.

Accessible event

15 Jun 2023

Audio-described tour of China’s hidden century exhibition
. Book now .

VocalEyes' Timna Fibert leads this audio-described event, which provides evocative visual descriptions with a guided tour of the exhibition.

On the left, a limestone head of a male statue with curly hair and beard and a wreath of leaves on his head. On the right, a marble portrait of an ageing man with curling beard and moustache.

Members' conference / Members' exclusive

£75 (Members)
17 Jun 2023

Great civilisations: Greece and Persia
. Book now .

Members are invited to this exclusive day-long conference, featuring talks by leading experts on the ancient Greek and Persian worlds.

Hydria showing a woman shaded by a parasol.

Online events / Accessible event

12 Jul 2023

Audio-described tour of Luxury and power exhibition
. Book now .

Lonny Evans leads this audio-described event, providing evocative visual descriptions with a guided virtual tour of the exhibition.

Print showing a semi-circular scene depicting soldiers attacking towns people.

Film / Members' exclusive

£28 (Members)
16 Jul 2023

Behind the screens: 300
. Book now .

Join us for an unforgettable afternoon of cinema and historical discussion with a special screening of the 2006 smash hit 300.

Gold leaf wreath.

Accessible event

21 Jul 2023

Deaf-led BSL tour of Luxury and power exhibition
. Book now .

Join Alan Murray for a BSL tour of this exhibition's dazzling objects and the complex stories they tell.