What follows is a chronological list of what is currently planned by way of visits to museums, galleries and other places of interest, gallery talks, Behind the Scenes visits in the city, Saturday afternoon talks and special events where the Friends will have a presence.
Following that is a list of online events that the museum service is organizing.
We hope you will find things to interest you.
Please note: if you book online, the payment receipt from PayPal does not mean that you have secured a place. The organizer receives a weekly update of such payments and will email you to advise when you have a firm booking.
Also, Behind the Scenes visits and gallery tours are usually restricted to groups of around 15. If such an event attracts a larger number of applications, as it often does, the organizer will try to arrange a second (or more) tour(s), which could be at a later time on the advertised day or on a later date. If this occurs, the organizer will contact you to make the appropriate arrangements.
Please note:
Members may take photographs when we are on our trips to illustrate an article about the visit that will appear in the following newsletter.
Please make it clear to the organizer if you do not wish to feature in any such picture.
Finally, although our events are aimed at our membership (and we would strongly urge you to join if you are not already a member) there are times, particularly on day excursions, when there can be free spaces. On these occasions non-members can be accommodated. Please contact the organizer regarding the anticipated size of the party.
10.30am 23rd Sep 2026 Bristol Central Library, Deanery Road
A guided tour of behind the scenes at the Central Library with the opportunity to look at some of the mediaeval manuscripts in the collection with the Heritage Librarian.
Cost: £7.50 per person
This event is fully booked, but there may be space available due to a cancellation.
Contact: Carol Ouvry; carol@ouvry.myzen.co.uk; 0117 302 1039
2.00pm 02nd Oct 2026 - 04th Dec 2026 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Road
The Bristol Tapestry, on display in the ground floor lift hall, was the brainchild of Jean Tanner and Marjorie Bleasdale, designed to record important events in Bristol’s history. Completed in 1976, the project involved 90 local people.
Friends of BMGA member Sheila Dawkins, who worked on the tapestry, will talk about the project and the people.
Cost: £5 per person.
Book online via the museum’s website by clicking here.
7.30 - 9.00pm 08th Oct 2026 M Shed Studio, Prince's Wharf and Online
Join us for the first Winter Lecture of the season to talk about the works of Ray Harryhausen which will be featuring in a major exhibition in 2027.
Most noted for classic films such as The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), Jason and the Argonauts (1963) and Clash of the Titans (1981), Harryhausen is one of the most important filmmakers of the 20th century.
The Ray and Diana Harryhausen Foundation’s Collections Manager, Connor Heaney, will take you on a behind the scenes glimpse into Ray’s world-renowned archive, alongside an exclusive preview of plans for a blockbuster exhibition in Bristol.
To book a place, either in person or online via Zoom, visit the Museum’s website by clicking here.
15th Oct 2026
An opportunity to visit the winner of the Art Fund Museum of the Year 2026 award.
The coach will leave the Henleaze Gardens bus stop, Westbury Road at 7.30; Jacob’s Wells Road top at 7.45; The Bristol Hotel at 8.00 and Nailsea at 8.30am.
An early start and please note the reverse order of pick-ups.
Cost: £49 per person.
To book a place online, use the following link:
A form for postal booking was included in the September newsletter.
Contact: Carol Lear; carolear@btinternet.com; 0117 942 3610.
2.30pm 17th Oct 2026 M Shed Studio, Prince's Wharf
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Do please come along to the AGM as we like to get feedback from our members and this is a good opportunity to give us your views.
Click for a formal notice of the AGM AGM 2026 Notice of meeting and agenda and a nomination form for committee membership AGM 2026 Nomination form. Following the business (which will be kept to a minimum) there will be short presentations from museum staff about some of their current projects.
We’ll conclude with tea and cake.
Election of Executive Committee officers and members
The elected members of the Executive Committee are the trustees of the charity. The current officers are: Sue Thurlow, Chair; Katherine Martin, Secretary; Steve Sparks, Treasurer; and Richard Avery, Membership Secretary.
The remaining elected members of the committee are: Mary Bailey, Ray Barnett, Clive Burlton, Susan Hibberd, Carol Lear and Toby Pinn.
All elected trustees stand down at the AGM and most are likely to stand for re-election. There are vacancies for twelve trustees in all. If you are interested in standing, please complete the nomination form and return it to the Secretary. New trustees are welcome, especially young ones!
10.30am 22nd Oct 2026 St John on the Wall, Broad Street.
We shall have a guided tour of this 14th century church and crypt, the last remaining of the five original churches built into Bristol’s mediaeval city walls.
Cost: £9.00 per person.
To book online, use the following link:
A form for postal booking was included in the September newsletter.
Contact: Sally Dore; sally.dore@cantab.net; 0117 942 2620.
04th Nov 2026
Three venues for the price of one trip to England’s second city.
An interesting and varied day out: the modern Birmingham Library, the Grade II* Museum & Art Gallery and the Coffin Works museum, where we shall have a guided tour.
Cost: £45 per person.
The coach will leave Nailsea at 8.00; The Bristol Hotel 8.30; Jacob’s Wells Road top 8.45 and Westbury Road 9.00am.
When this trip went ‘live’ on Tuesday morning there was a PayPal link issue which meant you were advised that you had booked to visit Tewkesbury. This has now been resolved – book away!
To book online, use the following link:
A form for postal booking was included with the September newsletter.
Contact: Richard Avery; membership@friendsofbmga.org.uk; 0117 329 6656.
11.30am and 2.00pm 13th Nov 2026 Blaise Castle House Museum
Sally Dore will demonstrate how to make an attractive Christmas wreath from old books. She will supply all the materials – just bring some scissors.
There is a choice of times: morning or afternoon.
Cost: £20 per person.
To book online, use the link below:
A form for postal booking was included with the September newsletter.
Contact: Catherine Dixon; blackrockcfd@hotmail.com; 01275 849200.
2.00pm 17th Nov 2026 Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, Queens Road
Julia Carver, Curator of Visual Arts, will guide us in this exhibition of work by Akshay Majahan and Sheida Soleimani as part of Bristol Photo Festival.
Cost: £9.50 per person.
To book online, use the link below:
A form for postal booking was included with the September newsletter.
Contact: Carol Ouvry; carol@ouvry.myzen.co.uk; 0117 302 1039.
