Mary Linwood events open for bookings

What’s coming up for the Mary Linwood exhibition from September 2025 to February 2026.

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Events start with free Social Stitch sessions in the gallery, where there are tables and stools alongside the Mary Linwoods. These take place monthly on Monday afternoons, the first is 22nd September which I hope to attend.

The first ticketed event is a talk I’m giving at Leicester Guildhall on Saturday 4th October at 11am. This will have British Sign Language interpretation too. That’s the only formal talk I’m giving in person. I will be doing some mini talks at various events and some gallery tours but this is the only illustrated lecture. I’ll do an online version in the new year. 

I very much hope the two workshops I’m running will be popular, as it’s the first time at least 10 years that I’ve run workshops in Leicester, where I used to have my teaching studio. They are half day sessions so there’s time to visit the Mary Linwood exhibition in the morning before coming to one of the other museums for the workshops. 

That’s not all, there will also be a wonderful sketchbook making workshop with Mandeep Dhadialla, inspired by the amazing Mary Linwood sketchbook which will be in the exhibition (and a reproduction will be available in the workshop). 

I’m also hosting a free quiet opening in October for those who prefer to visit when the museum is closed to everyone else. There is no tour / talk but I will be around for questions. Two other tours are also available, a tactile tour with lots of hands-on material, focussing on my work (as we can’t touch Mary Linwoods!). This is open to all but particularly suited to blind and visually-impaired visitors. I’ll also be around for a meet the artist tour in December, where you will get to explore the exhibition with me. 

Last but not least is the Mary Linwood Stitch Weekend on 22nd & 23rd November. This will be at Leicester Guildhall, a beautiful building in it’s own right. We will have lots of stitch-related delights for you, including mini workshops, demonstrations, historic embroidery study table (that’s me and my collections!) plus talks and workshops. The full programme will be finalised in September, but the main event is completely free and open to all. Bring your stitching and join me for a lovely weekend. 

There’s also a family activity in October half term and there will be a resource for children to explore colour stories in the exhibition, available all the time. 

I am planning an artist development day in early 2026 too, date TBC.

The exhibition is free entry and the museum is open 7 days a week. Monday to Friday: 11am – 4.30pm. Saturday and Sunday: 11am – 5pm