A new art display from the Beds Urban Sketchers group opens on 30 June 2023 at The Higgins Bedford. It’s a captivating collection of sketches from different areas of The Higgins Bedford, depicting many of the fascinating exhibits as well as the building itself. The display runs until the end of February 2024 and admission is free to all visitors.
Showcasing the work of seventeen talented members of the group, the display features the works of artists of differing abilities, from beginners to professional artists, of all ages and backgrounds.
Councillor Sarah Gallagher, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture, said, “This is a fabulous opportunity to see all sorts of wonderful scenes from Bedford Borough drawn by this community group.
“We’re so lucky to have groups such as this that welcome people of all ages and abilities to make new friends and share a common interest. I encourage everyone that can, to visit The Higgins Bedford and view the display.”
Beds Urban Sketchers are a sketching group that meets once a month in a different location in and around Bedford. The group is the local chapter of a global organisation of Urban Sketchers, a non-profit dedicated to fostering a global community of artists who practice on-location drawing.
The display comes from work that was created during a monthly meet up in December 2022 at The Higgins Bedford and was organised with the help of Talia Giles, founder of Pride Of Place Bedford and co-manager of Bedford Flea, Affordable Art & Local Produce Market. The group chose to document lots of different parts of the museum, from sweeping scenes of the gallery to the resident stuffed platypus, Kevin.
All of the meet ups (or "sketch crawls") are free and people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities are welcome along. To join the Bedford Urban Sketchers group and become part of a growing community, email at bedsurbansketchers@gmail.com, or search Facebook for the ‘Beds Urban Sketchers’ group.
The Higgins Bedford, MK40 3XD, can be found behind the Castle Mound on Bedford’s Embankment. It unites the three previous venues of Bedford Museum, Bedford Gallery, and the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery. Explore their website at www.thehigginsbedford.org.uk/Home.aspx.