Our current exhibitions
Stuff: things that make us human
25 January to 30 March 2025
For a long time, people thought that making tools is what separates humans from other animals. History books used to talk about ‘man the toolmaker’, but we have discovered that many other animals – not just apes – also make and use tools. And the phrase doesn’t even include women!
What makes humans different? We have attachments to our things that no other animal seems to: we give it meaning and it holds memories. We can love it, and we use it to show who we are, Humanity’s unique behaviour is all based around our stuff.
This exhibition draws from all the Museum’s collections, from art to archaeology, from costume to natural history. Expect the unexpected!
Future exhibitions
For upcoming exhibitions, please see here.
Museum Talks
For more information and to book tickets click here to go to Art Tickets, have a look at the events on our Facebook page or ask at the Museum reception and we can book it for you.
Are you part of a local group or society?
We offer a number of bookable talks given by our expert museum staff. The talks need to be pre-booked and cost £65. Talks can be held at the Museum or at your own venue; if your venue is outside the district, we have to charge travelling expenses.
They can be for up to 40 people. The talks usually last an hour and can be daytime or evening.
It is also possible to arrange online talks using platforms such as Zoom. Please ask for further details.
For more information or to book a talk please email Rebecca Barkus.
To see a full list of available talks, please click here.