The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum presents: Cheltenham’s BIG museum project

Cheltenham’s BIG Museum Project is inviting you to transform the collections galleries of The Wilson Art Gallery and Museum. Since 2020 the collections galleries have been closed for renovation.

Your Collections Your Stories Your Museum

A collage of images of The Wilson Art Gallery exhibitions.

The Victorian wing, the original part of the building, houses the collections galleries and dates to 1899.  The space is being re-imagined, maintaining the original architectural features to create bright, accessible, and engaging new galleries which will enable the museum to share Cheltenham’s outstanding collections, stories, and heritage. New stores and facilities have been created to ensure that Cheltenham’s collections are cared for and safeguarded for the future.

This exciting project provides a unique opportunity to redisplay Cheltenham’s treasures from over 250,000 amazing objects from art, craft, history, nature, science, costume, and contemporary life.  Stories not heard before will be unlocked with the help of the community.  The BIG Museum Project invites everyone to be part of Cheltenham’s history, sharing knowledge and stories with future generations. 

The Wilson will work directly with community groups across Cheltenham in a series of exciting activities and workshops which will look to the past to inspire and shape the museum for the future. From January 2025, a new interactive exhibition will welcome visitors to experience the collections in a new way and to contribute their ideas and help the museum to identify important themes, histories, and stories.

Using money raised by National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund supports projects that connect people and communities with the UK’s heritage. Cheltenham’s BIG Museum Project is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to create a space that celebrates Cheltenham’s heritage.

Cheltenham’s BIG Museum Project has also been made possible with the support of the, Friends of The Wilson, Museum Development South West, and the generous contribution of individual donors. Every donation, no matter how small, helps the museum to bring heritage and history to life providing learning, education and inspiration for everyone to access and enjoy.

To donate visit the Cheltenham Trust website.