From 20 February 2023 - 2026 Show all dates and times Image: Five Six Photography Fresh from its recent return home to the Natural History Museum, Dippy the Diplodocus (DIP-low-DOCK-us) is stomping into Coventry this February half-term, set to remain as dino-in-residence at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum for three years! Dippy the dinosaur is a life-size, plaster-of-paris replica of a Diplodocus carnegii skeleton. It became the first Diplodocus to go on display anywhere in the world when it was gifted to the Natural History Museum by Andrew Carnegie on 12 May 1905. It quickly became a star, capturing hearts and imaginations, and went on to complete a whirlwind tour of the UK in 2017. After a brief return home to London, Dippy heads down to Coventry this year, and will be ready for visitors from 20 February 2023. Diplodocus carnegii lived during the Late Jurassic period, about 155 – 145 million years ago and their skeletons have been found in North America. They were huge, plant-eating dinosaurs, with long whip-like tails. They grew to about 24-26 metres long and probably weighed up to around 15 tonnes. For comparison, a London double-decker bus is around 14 metres long and weighs 12 tonnes. Image: FiveSix Photography Sign up to our newsletter or follow #DippyInCov on social media for updates. Dippy the diplodocus is on loan from the Natural History Museum, London

Tuesday 21 February 2023 - Saturday 21 February 2026 | Available during opening hours Show all dates and times Presented in collaboration with Warwickshire Museum, this free fossil display will take you back in time to the Jurassic era, a time when much of the region was underwater. A selection of fossils drawn from both the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and Warwickshire Museum collections offer a fascinating insight into the strange sea creatures that swam through Coventry and Warwickshire between 200 and 145 million years ago. The display includes our star fossil - an ichthyosaur skull found in Harbury. Held in the Herbert's covered court by Dippy. In April 2024, Annabelle Elvis, aged 6, won our naming ichthuosaur naming competition. The fossil was found in a Harbury Cement Quarry and has been part of Herbert Art Gallery & Museum’s collection since the early 1960s. In 2023, the Ichthyosaur received some much-needed restoration work, which has outlined a flurry of new details. Pictured: Annabelle Elvis with Curator, Ali Wells

Open Every Day During Opening Hours | Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 4pm, Sundays 12pm - 4pm Show all dates and times Explore Coventry Rugby Club's 150-year history through artifacts, photographs, and memorabilia in this new display. Founded in 1874, the club quickly rose in English Rugby, navigating challenges and rebuilding for a sustainable future, with community engagement and ambitions of returning to the Premiership.

Available During Opening Hours | Saturday 31 May - Sunday 7 September 2025 Show all dates and times Please note that entry tickets (day passes or annual passes) to the Herbert is also required to view the exhibition. Step back in time and explore the prehistoric world with Brick Dinos, brought to life with stunning LEGO creations by artist Warren Elsmore and his team. This educational and entertaining experience features LEGO dinosaur sculptures designed in collaboration with palaeontologists, including a soaring Pterodactyl, a four-metre-long Masiakasaurus, and more. Discover 16 intricately detailed dioramas, uncover fossils at the interactive Dino Dig, and learn quirky fun facts about our prehistoric friends. Get creative with hands-on LEGO and Duplo play, design your own dinosaurs on a graffiti wall, and take home dinosaur-themed colouring sheets. With photo opportunities, behind-the-scenes videos, and breath-taking LEGO recreations of fossils, skeletons, and palaeontological digs, Brick Dinos promises an unforgettable adventure for dinosaur and LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. Please note that the prices below apply for the Brick Dinos EXHIBITION ADMISSION ONLY. Guests (adults & concessions) will also need to purchase a separate Herbert day entry ticket (or annual pass) to enter the venue on arrival. BOOK DAY TICKETS HERE (Admissions & Dippy) Current annual pass holders can enter the venue with their pass, however they will need to purchase Brick Dinos tickets if they would like to see the exhibition.

Available During Opening Times (including Bank Holiday Monday | Friday 14 November 2025 - Monday 25 May 2026 Show all dates and times Stories That Made Us will showcase the lived experiences of a South Asian family in Coventry from 1968 to 2010, drawing on Coventry Archives’ Virk Collection and curator & artist Hardish Virk’s ‘Stories That Made Us’ Collection. Using photographs, books, magazines, posters, vinyl records, cassettes, and personal memorabilia to tell the story of migration, activism, identity and cultural contributions. The exhibition will also feature immersive room settings, oral histories, radio broadcasts, music, video, and graphics to bring these stories to life. The exhibition will showcase the lived experiences of a South Asian family in Coventry from 1968 to 2010, drawing on Coventry Archives’ Virk Collection and curator & artist Hardish Virk’s ‘Stories That Made Us’ Collection. This will include photographs, books, magazines, posters, vinyl records, cassettes, and personal memorabilia that tell the story of migration, activism, identity and cultural contributions. The exhibition will also feature immersive room settings, oral histories, radio broadcasts, music, video, and graphics to bring these stories to life. Coventry is home to a vibrant South Asian community, with 18.5% of the city’s population identifying as Asian or Asian British (2021 Census). Despite this, the stories and contributions of South Asian communities are often underrepresented in public collections and exhibitions. This project aims to address this gap by preserving and sharing the heritage of South Asian migrants and their descendants, ensuring their stories are accessible to future generations. Themes of Roots (the journey of migration and the contributions of South Asian communities to British society), Resilience (the challenges faced and overcome by migrants and their families), and Representation (the importance of telling these stories authentically and without stereotyping) will be explored in the exhibition. By doing so, it will challenge conventional views of heritage and highlight the importance of living memory and personal experiences. ‘Stories That Made Us’ is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to develop an immersive exhibition featuring room settings, archival materials, and digital content as well as create an engagement programme to strengthen relationships with South Asian community groups in Coventry and beyond. #StoriesThatMadeUs Saturday 16 August 2025 | 12pm - 4pm Drop in | FREE Located at St Paul's Church, Foleshill Road On Saturday 16th August, the DESIblitz Truck Art Bus, hand-painted by world-renowned artist Haider Ali, will tour to Coventry to promote a dynamic new exhibition, 'Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’, opening at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in November 2025. On Saturday the public will have the opportunity to experience the DESIblitz Truck Art Bus, learn about the exhibition, step inside the bus to view artefacts and stories inspired by South Asian heritage as well as listen to music by some of Indian cinema's greatest singers. Visitors can also take photos with the beautifully decorated bus. This is a free family friendly event open to the public on Saturday 16th August between 12pm - 4pm. The Truck Art Bus will be located in the car park next door to St Paul's Church, Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV6 5AJ. The Truck Art Bus and this event are supported by DESIblitz This event takes place during South Asian Heritage Month #StoriesThatMadeUs

Available for bookings throughout the year in the community settings, group homes etc. Show all dates and times Sessions are delivered in the community, at group homes and community settings. To book a session or enquire, please contact [email protected] who will direct you to our Community Engagement Coordinator. Celebrate and share memories through the immersive stimulus of objects, photos and other prompts from the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum collections. An ideal activity for a trip down memory lane and a chance to reminisce. There are a number of themes to choose from, and we can arrange to visit your setting on a regular basis so your group can enjoy multiple experiences with our Learning Team, who are all Dementia Friendly trained. The cost of the sessions are based on your location within the midlands. Price per postcode, per session can be seen below: SCHOOLDAYS: Take a trip back to the classroom with this interactive session which explores, where we went to school, what we learnt and what school dinners were really like! HOLIDAYS & TRIP TO THE SEASIDE: A session which will take you back to seaside holidays, the feeling of sand between your toes and the sound of crashing of the waves and other holiday experiences. MADE IN COVENTRY: Do you remember the good old days before the ghost town? This session explores some of the brilliant things that were invented and made in Coventry. ALL DRESSED UP: This session explores the way we used to dress, how fashions have changed and reflects on some of the places we brought our clothes from. MAKE DO & MEND: This session reflects on how Coventry was affected by WW2 how everyone pulled together and had to be more resourceful, particularly during and just after the war when essential items were in short supply and rationing was in place. FOOD TO THE TABLE: This session takes us back to a time before microwaves, ready meals and takeaways when people often used ingredients grown in the garden and cooked meals from scratch. ROYAL DAYS: This session takes us on a journey through the decades as we consider all the Royal occasions that have taken place over the years and how they can become the landmarks of peoples lives. ENTERTAINMENT, TOYS & GAMES: This session explores all the different entertainments and games we have enjoyed over the years and considers how much they differ from the way children play today. TIME TRAVELLERS: Travel through time, from prehistory to the present day, with objects from our museum collection. Can you guess how old these objects are and what they were used for? DIPPY THE DINOSAUR: We have a very special visitor with us at the Herbert at the moment, learn more about Dippy the Dinosaur and prehistoric fossils found in Warwickshire. LANDMARKS OF LIFE: This session explores all the major milestones on our lives including weddings, passing the driving test, royal celebrations and other cultural celebrations. SPORTING MEMORIES: Discover local legends and sporting highlights of Coventry’s past to present. From football, rugby, the speedway and Coventry Blaze, we have a great range of objects to invoke memories for sports enthusiasts. CHRISTMAS IN COVENTRY: This session takes us back to Christmas in the past, from hanging up Christmas stockings to making Christmas puddings on stir up Sunday! All of these sessions last between 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the needs of the group. For those taking part, they will be able to handle real museum objects from the past, learn about what the objects are from the museum’s Learning & Engagement Team and take part in active discussion within the group. The Herbert's reminiscence sessions carry a to cover staff and travel expenses.

Saturdays | 21 June, 25 October, 29 November 2025 | 6.30pm - 9am Show all dates and times £50 per person for adults, children and carers. Sleepover events are strictly for children aged 6 and above and their accompanying adult/adults only. There are no single adult tickets available. Includes admission fee. Stay overnight in the museum, snoozing under the feet of a 26-foot Diplodocus! Join us for a night of exploration and fun-filled activities designed for children aged 6 – 11 and their grown-ups. This will be a night you will always remember! During the event you will: · Take part in torch light tours of the museum. · Get creative with arts and crafts. · Discover fun facts about Dippy and get hands on with our fossil collection. · Wind down for a short film in our studio. Lights go out at 11pm and then it's time to settle down to sleep. Breakfast is served between 7am to 8am, and before departing you can join us for a wake up and shake up dino inspired routine to get you energised for the day ahead. Departure from the museum is at 9am. Saturdays | 25 October | 29 November Upon booking, you will receive a confirmation and a full itinerary for the night will be sent to you. Please bring your booking confirmation with you on the night of the sleepover. (£50 per person for adults, children and carers.) The timetable for the event is as follows: Saturday Night: 6:30pm – Arrive, register, receive your team colour for the night and set up sleeping spot. 7:00pm – Welcome from the museum team and a review of the ‘rules’. 7:15pm – 1st Activity 8:00pm – 2nd Activity 9:00pm – Break for evening refreshments (please note snacks will need to be brought with you, but water, tea and coffee are available in the café area and is included in your ticket price). 9:30pm – 3rd Activity 10:15pm – 4th Activity 11:00 – Activities end, get ready for bed (no pyjamas, must be loungewear in case of evacuation) 11:30 – Lights out. Sunday Morning: 7:00am – Breakfast and pack up. 8:00am – Farewell activity with a dino inspired wake up and shake up routine. 9:00am – Home time. · The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum closes the public at 4pm. We will reopen at 6:15pm to welcome all Dippy sleepover groups. You will not be permitted to enter the museum before this time. · Children and adults will need to have had dinner before arriving to the museum. A designated snack break is factored in at 9pm. · Sleepover events are strictly for children aged 6 and above. · When you arrive, please come to the main entrance to the museum, which is opposite the Old Cathedral and clearly marked with a giant Dinosaur graphic around the doors. · Please bring your email confirmation (no need to print just show at the door). · When you have registered at the welcome desk, you will be given coloured wrist bands for children to wear that highlight what group they will be in for the evening, for the various activities. You will then be shown to your sleeping area which will be around Dippy. Please note that all participants will be sleeping in this communal area. · All activities and resources will be provided by the museum so all you need to do is to show up. · Once you are in the museum, you will not be able to leave and comeback unless it is an emergency, this is to ensure that our collections remain as secure as possible, that children are protected from strangers entering the building and that no children leave the premises or become separated from their grown-ups. · Please ensure that you have an evening meal before you arrive. Please bring snacks with you, but please avoid nut-based foods. Water, tea and coffee will be available from self-serve stations in the café and is included in your ticket price. · Please bring a bottle of water that can be secured. · Breakfast will be provided the following morning in our café. Please make dietary requirements known at the time of booking. Dietary requirements will need to be sent through at least one week prior to your sleepover. The breakfast available will be a cold, self-serve breakfast (cereal, pastries and fruit) along with water and juice (and tea and coffee for the grown ups). · A sleeping bag. · Pillow. · Toothbrush and any other toiletries. Please note that we do not have showers on site, only wash basin facilities. · You may want to bring ear plugs and eye masks as there will be some lights left on for Health and Safety reasons. · You will be provided with a sleeping mat. · You are welcome to bring additional sleeping mats with you, but for health and safety reasons, we cannot allow any air mattresses above 2 inches thick or mattresses that require electricity to inflate. · You won't be able to use electrical items that require a plug, so we recommend adults to bring their own battery packs to recharge phones is required. We strongly advise children to not bring phones or devices with them. All personal belongings are the responsibility of the individual, and the museum takes no responsibility for loss of items during the sleepover events. · All activities will be inside, but some activities will require getting messy and active! · No changing in the communal areas, please use toilet cubicles, which are gender neutral. They are located on the upper floor and each cubicle has its own sink and hand drier, with enough space to change in. We also have male and female toilets located on our ground floor. · We are requesting no pyjamas, in the event of a fire evacuation and also for modesty. Instead please wear loungewear, such as jogging bottoms, leggings, t-shirts and/or hoodies. Please note Adults are responsible for their children at all times throughout the night. This will ensure everyone has a safe and enjoyable evening. An adult must be present at each activity and accompany their children at all times. Adult ratios are recommended as follows: 1 - 2 children = 1 adult 3 - 4 children – 2 adults 5 - 10 children = 3 adults After that, we have a strict 1 adult to every 10 children policy

Friday 11 July - Sunday 5 October 2025 | Available during opening hours Show all dates and times Jason and the Adventure of 254, an exhibition by Jason Wilsher-Mills. Gallery Photo: Garry Jones Photography Jason and the Adventure of 254 is a major solo exhibition by artist Jason Wilsher-Mills showcasing his largest and most personal work to date, commissioned by the Wellcome Collection. The exhibition is a joyful and subversive exploration of the body, drawing on the artist’s experience of becoming disabled as a child. Reimagining the gallery space as a hospital ward, Wilsher-Mills’ installation of sculptures, dioramas and illustrations challenges cultural and societal perceptions surrounding disability, medicine and the human body. Through a kaleidoscope of colours, tongue-in-cheek humour and a touch of magic realism, the exhibition is also a celebration of family, the artist’s working-class background and the opportunities he received through hospital education. Jason and the Adventure of 254 delves into the transformative moment when Wilsher-Mills was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, which was triggered by contracting chickenpox at the age of 11. Paralysed from the neck down until the age of 16, and unable to physically explore the wider world around him, the artist came to inhabit an interior world filled with action heroes, TV shows, films, comics, books and his own vivid imagination. The exhibition’s title refers to the exact moment - 2.54pm on 1 August 1980 at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield - when the artist witnessed his parents being told of his diagnosis. At the same time Sebastian Coe, wearing the number 254, was winning the gold medal in the 1,500 m race at the Moscow Olympics, which was being shown on the ward’s TV. The exhibition features a monumental figure in a hospital bed, watching a TV that has morphed in Sebastian Coe, surrounded by oversized plastic toy soldiers delivering viruses, inflatable germs hang in the air, and a pair of large calliper boots have been reimagined as boots the artist would chose to wear. Floor to ceiling illustrations depict significant episodes during the artist’s life and a series of dioramas based on penny arcade machines, act as windows into the artist’s mind, illuminating some of his childhood memories before and after his diagnosis.

Tuesday - Sunday | Saturday 19 July – Sunday 31 August 2025 | Available During Opening Hours (Including Bank Holiday Monday - 25 August) Show all dates and times Image: Garry Jones For Ages 0-4 The Herbert’s popular Early Years Exhibition for families is back this summer with Playful Planet! Inspired by life after the extinction of dinosaurs and the environmental changes that shaped our planet, this immersive exhibition invites young visitors into a specially designed world of sensory spaces. Perfectly crafted for children under 5, the exhibition features stunning ceiling installations by local artists that captivate imaginations. Children can marvel at meteorites hitting the earth, gaze up at starry nights and distant planets, and explore sensory pods surrounded by calming sound effects and gentle lighting. Illustrator and mural artist Jessica Hartshorn brings the walls and pods to life with beautiful, narrative-rich illustrations of rumbling volcanoes with glowing orange lava, crashing waves with sea creatures, and other fascinating environmental scenes. Tactile resources and interactive playthings are spread throughout the space, encouraging little ones to explore and imagine freely. Older children are welcome, too, making this an inclusive family experience. Open six days a week (Tuesday-Sunday plus Bank Holiday Monday) throughout the summer holidays, Playful Planet is the perfect free retreat for family fun, sensory play, and creative exploration. Don’t miss this magical journey into the dramatic story of our planet!

Saturday 26 July - Saturday 30 August (excluding Mondays and Sundays) | 10.30am - 3:30pm Show all dates and times This summer, embark on an exciting artistic adventure with LEGO Bricks & Superheroes! Our vibrant craft programme offers creative activities that spark imagination and bring out the hero in everyone. Inspired by Jason Wilsher-Mills’ Adventure of 254 exhibition and the Brick Dinos installation, you’ll explore childhood memories and create colourful masterpieces. Whether you’re making wooden spoon superhero puppets or LEGO-built dinosaurs, each activity is a chance to craft your unique story, expressing what’s important to you in bright, fun, and playful ways. Join us for an unforgettable summer of creativity and time travel through art! Saturday 26, Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30 July: Wooden Spoon Hero Puppets: Transform simple wooden spoons into your favourite superheroes or everyday heroes! Use paper, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, soft felt, and other fun materials to craft amazing hero puppets. Once you have added all the details, take your creative creation home to entertain friends and family. Thursday 31 July & Friday 1 August: Heroes Capes & Masks: Get ready for a super summer of creativity. Join us to design your own no-sew superhero cape and matching mask using various colourful materials and fun embellishments. Whether you decorate your cape with your favourite superhero’s symbol or create your unique logo, the choice is yours. Once your masterpiece is complete, take it home and wear it proudly. Show off your superhero skills all summer long! Saturday 2, Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6 August: Clay characters: Explore the techniques and possibilities of clay by using various methods and tools to bring your superheroes or dinosaurs to life. Take your sculpture home to display your skills. Thursday 7 & Friday 8 August: Slippery Soap Dinos: Slip away into the world of soapy dinos or other superheroes. Have a go at soap carving to create marvellous abstract sculpture art. Make your creation extra special by gift wrapping it in cloth and ribbon, then take it home or gift it to a family or friend. Saturday 9, Tuesday 12, Wednesday 13 August: Lego Printing Self-Portraits: Discover the art of printmaking by designing your self-portrait with LEGO tiles! Arrange the tiles on baseplates to create a relief image of your face, then print it onto a quality card to make a fabulous piece of art. Thursday 14 & Friday 15 August: Life Size Drawings - Make life-sized drawings! Trace around your body on giant paper and then immerse yourself in fabric, paper and pens to embellish your portrait with plants, rainbows and everything you love. How will your portrait express who you are? Once your masterpiece is complete, you can roll it up to take it home. Saturday 16, Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 August: Mosaic Number Masterpieces: Dive into the vibrant world of mosaics and explore what numbers are meaningful to you. Inspired by Jason’s exhibition Adventure 254, discover why 254 is special to him and create your unique mosaic number. Design a beautiful masterpiece with a touch of vintage charm using colourful tiles, buttons, beads, and shimmering mirror pieces. Take your finished creation home to display proudly in your home or garden. Thursday 21 & Friday 22 August: Mythical Watercolours: Set sail on a magical adventure under the sea. Bring dazzling jellyfish, enchanting mermaids, or mythical sea creatures to life using watercolour paints and wax-resist techniques. Add the final touch with intricate 3D origami boats, making your artwork leap off the page. Let your imagination flow and create a piece of art as mythical as the sea itself! Saturday 23, Tuesday 26, Wednesday 27 August: Block Print Totes: Create stylish tote bags using beautiful block print stamps and colourful used LEGO pieces. Inspired by the intricate hand-carved blocks of India, you’ll learn how to easily print fun and modern designs on fabric. From geometric patterns to floral designs, there’s a stamp for everyone. Use fabric paints to add your personal touch and make a tote for yourself! Thursday 28, Friday 29 August, Saturday 30 August: Lego Friendship Bracelets For the final summer activity, try your hand at making cool, colourful woven friendship bracelets—a perfect symbol of kindness! Create a unique bracelet to give to old and new friends and embellish your woven yarn with pre-drilled LEGO bricks. Bring your imagination to life by designing unique patterns.

Thursday 14 August 2025 | 10.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4pm Show all dates and times For ages 8-16 Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop. Parents are not required to stay but are welcome to do so. Join us this summer for an exciting Art Masterclass designed for 8-14-year-olds! This hands-on workshop will teach children how to use Modroc, a versatile plaster-based material, to create sculptures inspired by our current summer exhibitions. The session begins with a short, guided tour led by our learning team to spark inspiration from the vibrant artwork on display. Budding artists will then head to our art classroom to develop their ideas, crafting a base structure using newspaper, tape, wire, foil and other materials. Once their structure is complete, they will apply layers of Modroc to bring their sculptures to life. Although the sculptures will require 24 hours to dry fully, you can take them home on the same day. Once dry, they can be painted and decorated at home, allowing children to extend their creativity beyond the classroom. Our Art Masterclasses are a fantastic opportunity for young artists to develop their skills, gain confidence, and explore new materials. Don’t miss out on this creative and fun-filled session!

Thursday 28 August 2025 | 10.30am - 12.30pm & 2pm - 4pm Show all dates and times For Ages 8-16 Admission to the museum is included in the price of the art masterclass for participants. Accompanying adults will be required to pay the museum entry fee upon arrival, but they do not need a ticket for the workshop. Our latest Art Masterclass instalment will enable participants to learn drawing techniques. They will draw from a life model dressed as a hero from Coventry’s past, inspired by portraits in our permanent collection. Our learning team will introduce the group to several key portrait paintings from our collection before guiding them through the process of successfully representing the human figure in art. Participants will feel like true artists as they work with easels and use a range of art materials while being guided by our learning team to improve their technique. Our series of art masterclasses are fantastic for encouraging creative minds and enhancing the skills of budding artists. Parents are not required to stay but are welcome to do so.

Tuesday - Friday | 11 June - 20 August 2025 (Excluding 24 June) | 11am - 1pm Show all dates and times Enjoy a costumed medieval guide to explore Coventry’s dramatic, rich history - Starting at one venue and finishing at the other! Two tours are available each day, however advance booking is required. Tues, Weds, Thurs & Fri Only | Excludes 24th June 2025 Booking required 48 hours in advance Tour 1: 11am of the clock: Departing from the Herbert → End at Coventry Transport Museum Tour 2: 1pm of the clock: Departing from Coventry Transport Museum → End at The Herbert

Friday 3 October 2025 - Sunday 25 January 2026 Show all dates and times Coventry Biennial 2025 will facilitate a collective exploration of the roles and functions of collecting within the art, museum, heritage and knowledge production sectors, the wider community and the artists’ studio. The programme of exhibitions, events and activities will platform the co-creation and presentation of new artworks and exciting reimaginings of collections and archives rooted in society’s shared obsessions and possessions. Ranging from major national art collections to personal and family archives, from libraries to what can be found beneath your kitchen sink, from warehouses full of artworks to photo albums full of memories, we will explore how and why we collect, what it means to collect and will examine the impacts, legacies, politics and problematics of what is (or isn’t) included. SIMEON BARCLAY AND ARTS COUNCIL COLLECTION Leeds-based artist Simeon Barclay will curate a dynamic group exhibition drawn exclusively from the Arts Council Collection, exploring the rich and complex history of Coventry. Charting the city as a site of transformation and regeneration - from its industrial prominence, through to the devastation of the Second World War and the city’s ambitious post-war reconstruction - the exhibition will reflect on broader themes of nation-building, identity and community. Featuring sculpture, film, painting, photography, and works on paper, Simeon uses the Collection as both a resource and a point of departure to examine how public collections can illuminate evolving histories of space, place, and belonging. At its core, the exhibition highlights how an individual can use a collection to explore and better understand themselves, their interests, and the world around them. E. N. MIREMBE & ROSIE OLANG' ODHIAMBO E.N. Mirembe and Rosie Olang’ Odhiambo will continue their collaboration to curate a group exhibition that brings together works from the British Council’s Collection and other works by a range of artists from across east Africa. in transit under another sky brings together the work of artists including Larry Achiampong who engage deeply with themes of transience, marginal identities, and the idea of practice, objects and collections navigating between physical spaces and geographies. LEAH GORDON: MONUMENT TO THE VANQUISHED PEASANTS Artist, curator and writer Leah Gordon presents a solo exhibition of new and recent works commissioned by Meadow Arts, exploring the lasting impacts of the Enclosure Acts to build a critical understanding of the systems and politics we live with today. Monument to the Vanquished Peasants includes works created over the last three years, as well as a new commission, Urban Vagabonds, and a series of photographs made in collaboration with local allotment holders in Coventry. The exhibition is further contextualised by the presentation of images from author and image-collector Stephen Ellcock’s archive, alongside objects from the Museum of English Rural Life. SOPHIA EHRNROOTH: 879 HEROES BY HEART Helsinki-based artist and filmmaker Sophia Ehrnrooth will present a major four screen moving image installation with the support of Frame Contemporary Art Finland. The work was originally made in 2016 and has been shown internationally but never in its intended four screen configuration.

Tuesday 1 July - Sunday 31 August 2025 | Available During Opening Hours Show all dates and times In 1947, Dr Viktor Lowenfeld published his famous text, Creative and Mental Growth, which argues that there are six clearly defined stages of artistic development and that these stages can be witnessed in the artworks of children. It is a universal theory about how children, on average, grow and develop in art. Children all over the world, regardless of race, socioeconomic factors and culture go through these stages, although these can be fluid and dynamic and children may proceed at different rates. In this exhibition we group artwork made by the children of Coventry made in response to the theme of Community, into the six stages of artistic development to understand and illustrate the different stages and understand children's art development.

Saturday 23 August - Sunday 12 October 2025 | Available During Opening Hours Show all dates and times Image: Cora Sehgal Cuthbert A first chance to see the Herbert’s latest acquisition, a new artwork by Cora Sehgal Cuthbert created in response to the museum’s oral histories collection. In her film, a prayer for Coventry, life starts here (forever), the artist explores themes of migration, belonging, conflict and reconciliation in our daily lives. Zines and ribbons accompany the video and are free for the audience to take away. Acquisition made possible by 20/20, a 3-year funded programme led by the UAL Decolonising Arts Institute, supported by funding from Freelands Foundation, Arts Council England and UAL.

Tuesday 8 July - Sunday 7 September 2025 | Available During Opening Hours Show all dates and times In 2016, we asked the creators behind Brick Wonders and also our new temporary exhibition, Brick Dinos, to build us our very own Coventry Wonder. We chose Coventry's new cathedral because it is both an iconic Coventry landmark and a popular symbol of peace and reconciliation. In celebration of hosting Brick Dinos this summer, we have decided to redisplay this fantastic model at the Herbert. THE CATHEDRAL On the night of 14 November 1940, Coventry was bombed by the German Air Force. St Michael’s Cathedral was hit by incendiary bombs and caught fire. By the morning only the spire and the exterior walls remained. In 1947 an independent commission was set up which recommended that a new cathedral should be built and launched a competition for its design. The competition winner, Basil Spence, proposed a new building which would be linked to the ruins of the old cathedral at a right angle. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid by Queen Elizabeth II on 23 March 1956 and the new cathedral was consecrated on 25 May 1962. In a national poll in the 1990s, it was chosen as the nation’s favourite 20th century building. Culture Coventry would like to thank the Woodward Family for the loan of the Lego Coventry Cathedral model.

Saturday 4 October 2025 | 12.30pm - 2pm Show all dates and times This discussion brings together Helsinki-based artist Sophia Ehrnrooth with DASH team members Peter Bonnell and Esther Cartwright, [1] and will be chaired by Heather Peak. The conversation will delve into our cultural obsession with football, its power, passion, and pitfalls. Drawing from Sophia’s CB25 exhibition, 879 Heroes by Heart, the discussion will explore the intensity of fandom among young people, the impact of celebrity worship, and the fine line between play and fixation. This event is hybrid, join us online or in person. AI captioning will be available.

Saturday 16 August 2025 | 12pm - 4pm Show all dates and times On Saturday 16th August, the DESIblitz Truck Art Bus, hand-painted by world-renowned artist Haider Ali, will tour to Coventry to promote a dynamic new exhibition, 'Stories That Made Us – Roots, Resilience, Representation’, opening at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum in November 2025. On Saturday the public will have the opportunity to experience the DESIblitz Truck Art Bus, learn about the exhibition, step inside the bus to view artefacts and stories inspired by South Asian heritage as well as listen to music by some of Indian cinema's greatest singers. Visitors can also take photos with the beautifully decorated bus. This is a free family friendly event open to the public on Saturday 16th August between 12pm - 4pm. The Truck Art Bus will be located in the car park next door to St Paul's Church, Foleshill Road, Coventry, CV6 5AJ. The Truck Art Bus and this event are supported by DESIblitz This event takes place during South Asian Heritage Month Further information on the exhibition: Stories That Made Us - Roots, Resilience, Representation - The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum ‘Stories That Made Us’ is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to develop an immersive exhibition featuring room settings, archival materials, and digital content as well as create an engagement programme to strengthen relationships with South Asian community groups in Coventry and beyond. #StoriesThatMadeUs