Exhibitions

Temporary exhibitions

Our Lecture Hall and Baily Gallery host our temporary exhibitions. We change exhibitions regularly throughout the year, below you can find out more about what currently have on display.

The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is now on display at Mansfield Museum, bringing together a hilarious collection of wildlife photographs capturing animals in some wonderfully unexpected and amusing moments.From cheeky expressions to perfectly timed poses, these award-winning images celebrate the funny side of the natural world and remind us why wildlife is worth protecting.

The Wonderful World of Ladybird Book Artists celebrates the iconic books, original artwork and illustrators behind Ladybird’s remarkable success. Exploring the golden years (1940–1975), this colourful exhibition invites visitors to browse vintage titles and rediscover a cherished part of Britain’s publishing history. Curated by Ladybird expert Helen Day.

Nature and Climate Change is an upcoming exhibition exploring the connections between people, nature and our changing climate. Discover how climate change is affecting the world around us, why protecting nature matters, and how we can all play a part in creating a more sustainable future.

Reimagining A.S. Buxton. Experience the work of A.S. Buxton in a new way through an immersive projection that brings his art to life. Discover his work transformed through moving imagery in an engaging visual experience at Mansfield Museum. More details coming soon.

Voices Raised aims to amplify the voices of people with Parkinson’s and similar conditions before they are lost forever. The project includes a new 50-minute touring play, a companion book and exhibition, and a short documentary film. Co-created with people with Parkinson’s and similar conditions in Mansfield, Broxtowe and across the East Midlands.

Bayeux Around Britain comes to Mansfield Museum in April 2027.Created in partnership with the British Museum and supported by WorldQuant, this exciting exhibition will bring the story of the Norman Conquest to life through an immersive projection of the full Bayeux Tapestry, alongside a documentary, interactive digital experiences and creative responses from our local community.

Permanent exhibitions

Three of our galleries host our permanent exhibitions. Here you will find key pieces of the museum’s collection, such as our Buxton watercolours and our ‘Made in Mansfield’ story.

Have you ever heard of a Bornean Bristlehead or a Rhinoceros Hornbill? If not, you can now meet them face to face at Mansfield Museum's newly opened natural history gallery, which celebrates feathered friends from around the globe.

The permanent display, A World of Birds, reinterprets the museum’s rich and internationally significant Joseph Whitaker bird collection. This collection contains 3,000 bird specimens, including some species that are critically endangered and on the brink of extinction.

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MADE IN MANSFIELD

Made in Mansfield celebrates the town’s rich industrial past and present through objects, photographs and oral recordings from Metal Box, Mansfield Brewery, Shoe Co. and other significant local companies. Showcasing the skills, stories and working lives behind these industries, the exhibition highlights the businesses that shaped Mansfield’s identity and the legacy they continue to leave on the community today.

My Favourite Tree

My Favourite Tree explores Mansfield’s deep connections to nature and heritage, from its ancient forest roots to its industrial past. Created with local artists and community groups, the exhibition celebrates the trees that shape our daily lives through new artworks and rarely seen pieces from the museum collection. A relaxed children’s area and interactive sensory wall invite visitors of all ages to pause, explore and reflect.

Past Exhibitions

Find out more about some of our past exhibitions.