The Wilson is now open
The new art gallery and museum: The Wilson, reopened to the public on Saturday after months of redevelopment costing in the region of £6million.
Four new floors will house extensive galleries for temporary exhibitions – for international / national touring shows, special highlights from our collections and fun shows for families – space to discover local heroes and archive collections, including the great Edward Wilson (one of Scott's key men on his 1912 expedition to Antarctica), and a new gallery space in which the internationally renowned Arts & Crafts collection will be shown.
To start the celebrations we will be launching an exciting exhibitions and events programme, from a major retrospective exhibition by the Gloucestershire-based, and internationally-recognised, glass artist Colin Reid, to hosting the exciting Times Newseum, as part of the The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival and welcoming back the open west with their annual open competition and exhibition.
Cheltenham Tourist Information Centre
The Tourist Information Centre will be re-locating to the ground floor at The Wilson – where you will be able to find out what's on, where to stay and where to go in the wider Gloucestershire and Cotswolds area – and at the same time enjoy what the new galleries and facilities have to offer.
The Wilson Café
A new café-bistro will be opening from a new ground floor location on Clarence Street – serving delicious eats from breakfast to light lunches, home-baked cakes and speciality roasted coffee and House of Bath teas. The de Ferrieres (on the first floor mezzanine) will also be available to hire for meetings, functions and events.
The Guild at 51
The Guild at 51 is the new gallery from the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen, whose members continue to produce contemporary craft in the tradition of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Founded in 1933, the Guild seeks to promote the work of its skilled makers and will offer a year long programme of workshops, talks and exhibitions from its new ground floor location at The Wilson.
The Wilson Shop
For a selection of stationery and gifts, information leaflets, walking guides and exhibition catalogues.