Just over the Gloucestershire border in Warwickshire, contemporary and fine art gallery, Compton Verney, is encouraging visitors to 'step out of the ordinary' with a day out that's full of art, nature and colour.
As part of its Summer of Colour programme, internationally-renowned artist Morag Myerscough has created two installations at Compton Verney - one transforming the historic house and one outside in the Old Town Meadow.
Designed to bring a sense of joy and belonging, each piece is 'overwhelming with colour and sound', creating a truly engaging experience for everyone, regardless of age, race, gender or background - with both installations included within the price of admission.
There's also an adorable Bee Village to visit until Sunday 4 September 2022, made by 150 young carers with leftover materials from Myerscough's installations and waste plastic bottles - and also involved a tree-planting scheme inspired by the Queen's Green Canopy initiative.
The man behind the 'Museum of the Moon' and 'Gaia', Luke Jerram, presents 'Crossings', an immersive installation commissioned by Compton Verney which allows visitors to row out onto the lake while listening to a fascinating 30-minute audio journey designed to 'quite literally take you away.'
Each boat holds four passengers and can be pre-booked online for visits on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays until Sunday 4 September 2022, with the experience included in the price of admission.
Officially opening on Saturday 10 September 2022, a brand-new display with highlights from the Grantchester Miniatures Collection will be available to see for the first time, with over 40 intriguing miniatures from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, featuring work by artists including Richard Cosway, George Engleheart, Isaac Oliver and John Smart.
Experience cinema under the stars at Compton Verney's Movies by Moonlight events from Friday 22 to Sunday 25 September 2022, with showings of American Werewolf in London; The Greatest Showman; Encanto; and West Side Story plus incredible street food from Birmingham's Digbeth Dining Club.
Tickets for Movies by Moonlight cost £17 per adult and £8 per child, with moviegoers encouraged to bring camping chairs, blankets and torches. Well-behaved dogs are welcome, too.
The first large-scale survey exhibition of work by Scottish artist, David Batchelor, is at Compton Verney until Sunday 2 October 2022, reflecting on his colourful 30-year career with a variety of pieces including sculpture, installation, drawing, painting, photography and animation - with many of the works from Batchelor's own personal studio which have never been on public display before.
See intimate photos of incredible artists at work, including Yayoi Kusama, Pablo Picasso, Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol and Francis Bacon, in a fascinating exhibition from the world-renowned Magnum photography agency, available to see until Sunday 16 October 2022.
Then After Hours takes place on Friday 4 November 2022, inviting visitors to explore Compton Verney after dark for an in-depth look at volcanos, their destructive power and their ability to create fertile land and new life - with demonstrations, VR experiences and live music throughout the evening.
Tickets to After Hours cost £15 for non-member adults, £12 for members and £9 for children under 18.
There's plenty for families to do on a visit to Compton Verney, too, with Shape It! Drop-in sculpture play sessions taking place until Thursday 1 September 2022; weekly Get Mucky, Get Making sessions for the littlest artists every Thursday during the summer holidays and October half term; an interactive Leap Then Look event exploring colour, shape, pattern and movement in Morag Myerscough's installation on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 October 2022; and a Halloween art club, taking place during the October half term.
Compton Verney is open every Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm and boasts beautiful grounds to explore, alongside its programme of exciting indoor and outdoor exhibitions.
Children and members can enter for free, with adult admission costing £17. Tickets can be booked online in advance, but visitors are welcome to buy tickets when they arrive, too.
