Past exhibitions

Past exhibitions

Hands-on history with LEGO. Rheged Centre, Penrith 1920

In our spacious Gallery on the top floor, we host a changing programme of five exhibitions every year which have a connection with our Cumbrian home.

Find out more about our past exhibitions here.

Dinosaur Encounter

DINOSAUR ENCOUNTER

THIS EVENT IS IN THE PAST - WHAT'S ON NOW Wed 12 July - Sun 3 Sept 2017 // Join us on an adventure through dusky prehistoric landscapes and marvel at moving, ROARING dinosaurs in a jaw-dropping exhibition from the Natural History Museum - Dinosaur Encounter! On the way to the Gallery, you will come face to face with the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex, a huge animatronic model 4 metres tall so lifelike you’ll think it’s the real thing! The Dinosaurs Encounter exhibition features…
more
VIEW
A 6386

ARCHIVE – HERDWICK: A PORTRAIT OF LAKELAND

SATURDAY 14 FEBRUARY – SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2015 // This fine art photography exhibition takes a year-round look at the Lake District landscape, the fell farmers who care for it and its much loved native inhabitant, the Herdwick Sheep. Photographer Ian Lawson has spent more than 5 years among the farmers and shepherds who still keep this unique and rugged breed in the high fells of the Lake District. Featuring large format prints that fill the Gallery walls and interpretation by Andrew…
more
VIEW
CumbrianArtistOTYLaunch-3 600

ARCHIVE – C-Art Cumbrian Artist of the Year 2015

SATURDAY 25 APRIL – SUNDAY 28 JUNE 2015 // The inaugural competition and exhibition in Rheged’s main gallery celebrates the breadth and depth of Cumbria's creative talent. Organised as part of C-Art, Cumbria’s largest visual arts event, the competition is open to any artist living and working in Cumbria. The winning artist will receive a cash prize of £2000, sponsored by Rheged. The long list of artists selected to appear in the exhibition will be announced in March. These artists…
more
VIEW
Make IT Rheged 2 600

ARCHIVE – MAKE IT! With Minecraft

WEDNESDAY 8 JULY – SUNDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2015 // CURATED BY ADAM CLARKE, THE UK’S LEADING MINECRAFT ARTIST AND EDUCATOR. We all know a young person who loves Minecraft, a computer game where players learn to construct unlimited fantasy worlds with virtual building blocks. This Summer, Rheged’s Gallery will host a fascinating family exhibition of artworks and activities inspired by the game. It will show how the virtual creativity of Minecraft influences thinking in the real world. You will discover huge paper craft…
more
VIEW
Ian Phillips - Always in Bloom - Lino Cut (Medium)

ARCHIVE – The Great Print Exhibition 2015

FRIDAY 18 SEPTEMBER – SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2015 // Featuring over 300 artworks from more than 60 original printmakers handpicked from across the UK, this packed exhibition will celebrate the breadth of traditional and contemporary prints being produced today, from small individual artist studios, to large print collectives. There will be a range of work available to buy at affordable prices, a chance to understand more about print making, a pop up shop with cards and gifts, and a series…
more
VIEW
Alan Stones - Goatherd 600

ARCHIVE – THE LAKE ARTISTS SOCIETY WINTER EXHIBITION 2015

SATURDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2015 – SUNDAY 31 JANUARY 2016 // The Lake Artists Society was founded more than 100 years ago, by artist W.G.Collingwood, secretary to John Ruskin. The society consists of a range of Cumbrian painters and sculptors working in a variety of styles and mediums. The annual Winter Exhibition is an opportunity to see a large selection of artworks and is an ideal chance to add to your collection at this festive time of year.
more
VIEW
Harris Tweed From the Land

ARCHIVE – Harris Tweed: From the Land

FRIDAY 12 FEBRUARY - SUNDAY 15 MAY 2016 // Cumbrian landscape photographer Ian Lawson and The Harris Tweed Authority, guardians of the iconic Harris Tweed Orb Mark, have come together to create this new exhibition. Set within the context of Ian’s deeply personal narrative, ‘Harris Tweed - From The Land’ is a journey into the very heart of the Scottish Outer Hebrides, the remote and romantic home of the world-famous Harris Tweed cloth. In this stunning exploration of people and…
more
VIEW
A hawksbill sea turtle, a critically endangered species, soars across a stage of barracuda and baitfish in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, a cornerstone of the coral triangle.

ARCHIVE – Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition

FRIDAY 20 MAY - SUNDAY 3 JULY 2016 // Stunning images of the natural world come to life in this exhibition from the Natural History Museum, London. Featuring 100 photographs selected from over 40,000 submissions it’s safe to say that these are the best wildlife photographs in the world. This year the exhibition features a new category for time-lapse photography. The exhibition is accompanied by a beautiful portfolio book featuring all the photos in the exhibition as well as an…
more
VIEW
5. Bricks in Time. Hands-on history with LEGO. Rheged Centre, Penrith. 8m model of the Flying Scotsman, complete with steam!

ARCHIVE – Bricks in Time: Hands on History in LEGO

SATURDAY 9 JULY – SUNDAY 4 SEPTEMBER 2016 // Curated By Bright Bricks, featured In Channel 4’s ‘Inside Lego At Christmas.’ Travel back in time with an interactive LEGO® exhibition brand new for Rheged, and discover models made by professional LEGO Artists which bring to life some of Britain's important historical turning points. Highlights include an exclusive 8 metre long model of The Flying Scotsman, a giant diorama of Saxon life, Beatrix Potter and her creations, Tudor monarchs and a large model…
more
VIEW
Jonathan Trotman - sty head gill 1200px

ARCHIVE – C-Art Cumbrian Artist of the Year 2016

FRIDAY 9 SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY13 NOVEMBER 2016 // An Eden Arts project in partnership with Rheged // The C-Art Cumbrian Artist of the Year returns to the Gallery at Rheged. This year's exhibition, in association with Cumbria Life, showcases an excellent cross section of Cumbrian visual and applied arts. Conrad Atkinson, Margaret Harrison, Maddi Nicholson and Paul Scott have been specially invited to exhibit this year. These artists are widely regarded as some of the most established and internationally renowned artists working in…
more
VIEW