Learning / Artsmark

Our Museums, Collections and Experiences

Museums Northumberland comprises four museums located within four inspiring and unique Northumberland heritage sites; Woodhorn Museum, Berwick Museum and Art Gallery, Hexham Old Gaol and Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum.

Our heritage sites, collections and temporary events and exhibitions celebrate creativity, and include particularly strong links to visual arts, performing arts and music.

• Woodhorn Museum is a colliery heritage site located near Ashington in South East Northumberland. Woodhorn Museum in home to one of the North East’s most important art collections, The Ashington Group Collection, also known as the Pitmen Painters.
• Berwick Museum and Art Gallery houses the most significant collection of art in public ownership in Northumberland, the Burrell Collection. The Burrell Collection includes fine and decorative arts including works by Degas, Boudin and Maris, ancient Roman and Venetian glass, Japanese pottery and Ming porcelain.
• Hexham Old Gaol is home to the Border Library Collection, made up of music, photographs, poetry and books related to the area. This collection also includes hand written copies of Border Ballads, traditional songs sung by local families.
• Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum houses an incredible collection of Northumbrian Pipes, Northumberland’s unique musical instrument. The Bagpipe Museum is also home to regular practice & performance by local piping groups.

In addition to the permanent museum exhibitions and collections described above, Museums Northumberland also presents an exciting programme of temporary art events and exhibitions. You can find out more about all the creative things you can see and do at our museums in the ‘what’s on’ pages of this website.

To plan a visit, arrange a workshop or to just chat through an idea, please contact our Learning team using the form below.