From thirteenth-century castles to the most exciting contemporary artists, there is so much culture to soak up in the UK.
For a limited time only our friends at Art Fund, the UK's national fundraising charity for art, are offering a three-month trial of National Art Pass so you too can access all the great museum and gallery experiences the UK has to offer. For just £15, you can get free entry to over 250 museums, galleries and historic sites across the UK, as well as 50% off exhibitions. And, as a Qissa exclusive, you can add a ‘plus one’ for free with promocode 'QISSA'! The perfect way to mix up your summer plans this year!
Together with Art Fund, we highlight our top five experiences to be had, from fashion to football. Read on and then grab your own trial art pass before 30 June to access all this and more.
If Not Now, When? Generations of Women in Sculpture in Britain, 1960-2022, The Hepworth Wakefield, Wakefield
50% off exhibition with National Art Pass
How many female sculptors can you name? Barbara Hepworth maybe? Rachel Whitehead? Louise Bourgeois? Well, this exhibition in Wakefield offers a chance to familiarise yourself with many more, including Kim Lim, Phyllida Barlow and Helen Chadwick. Art historian Griselda Pollock revisits Lorna Green’s 1988 survey of women sculptors in Britain and looks at the continuities and changes in the genre between then and the present day. This exhibition brings together some of the works from both times.
While in Wakefield, why not head to Yorkshire Sculpture Park (free with your National Art Pass) and check out the exhibition on woodwork and printmaking from artists Takahashi McGil and Emma Lawrenson?
Lily Parr: Football’s First Female Superstar, National Football Museum, Manchester
Free entry with National Art Pass
Whether you’ve been a football fan for years or whether your interest was only piqued during the Lionesses win at the Euros last year, this exhibition is sure to offer a fascinating insight into the history of women’s football in the UK. Over a thirty-year career, Lily Parr scored nearly 1,000 goals and played in some of the world’s first women’s international matches. This exhibition shows never before seen photographs of Lily and her teammates which were uncovered in an attic - magical! Be sure to check out Lily Parr’s statue while you’re there.
Darby Houses, Telford, West Midlands
Free entry with National Art Pass
If wandering around beautiful 18th century homes is more your thing, then the Darby Houses in Telford might be the perfect place to while away a few hours. Live your best Bridgerton life (ok, so I’m a century out, let a girl dream!) and explore period rooms packed with original family furniture, china, costumes and memorabilia.
The Offbeat Sari, Design Museum, London
50% off exhibition with National Art Pass
Running until 17 September, The Offbeat Sari explores the complexity of modern day India through the lens of the sari’s ever-changing status. We’ve already checked out this one and we loved the stories behind all the beautiful outfits - from the men who wore them to raise awareness for women in agriculture, to the women fighting for gender equality in the North of India. A gorgeous, thought-provoking and unique exhibition.
Want more fashion crossed with the political? How about Material Power: Palestinian Embroidery in Cambridge which explores labour, gender and displacement.
Quills and Characters, Chawton House, Chawton
50% off entry with National Art Pass
Nowadays it’s all DMs, TikTok notifications and Tweets. All that constant communication and shouts for our attention can be overwhelming, so this exhibition seems like a soothing balm, allowing us to step back in time to explore the world of letter-writing in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Showcasing the inner lives and thoughts of both well-known and lesser-known women, this exhibition displays letters from mathematician Ada Lovelace, abolitionist Amelia Opie and more.
Ok ok, we couldn’t narrow it down to just five! There’s too much good stuff to see. So, here’s three extra exhibitions/museums to check out with your National Art Pass…
Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Free Entry with National Art Pass: Explore one of Wales's greatest heritage sites; a medieval fortress and Gothic Revival mansion boasting almost 2,000 years of history.
Carrie Mae Weems, Barbican Art Gallery, London, 50% off exhibition with National Art Pass: Challenging representations of race, gender and class, Weems is one of the most influential American artists working today.
Traquair House, Peeblesshire, 50% off entry with National Art Pass: Who could turn down an opportunity to nose around Scotland's oldest continually inhabited house? Need we say more.
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So, there we have it, plenty of culture to keep your mate dates interesting, your kids entertained and yourself inspired!
You can get your £15 National Art Pass here. Use the code ‘QISSA’ to add ‘plus one’ for free. This trial offer ends 30 June 2023 so don’t miss out!
This content is brought to you in partnership with Art Fund.
Cover image: Carrie Mae Weems, Cyclorama - The Shape of Things, A Video in 7 Parts, 2021. Video © Carrie Mae Weems. Courtesy of the artist, Jack Shainman Gallery, New York / Galerie Barbara Thumm, Berlin.
