Poole Museum

01/06/2026

It’s Volunteers’ Week! ⭐

If you’ve visited the museum recently, chances are you’ve met one of our volunteers – the friendly faces ready with a story, a recommendation, or a helping hand right when you need it 👋

Every day, they’re busy creating a warm welcome, bringing our collections and stories to life, and helping visitors feel right at home. Whether it’s sharing a fascinating fact, sparking a great conversation, or pointing you towards a hidden gem, they help make every visit a little bit special.

Our volunteers are also some of our biggest champions 💙 By spreading the word, encouraging others to visit, and sharing why the museum matters, they help keep Poole Museum a vibrant, free and welcoming space for everyone.

From supporting events to inspiring return visits, the impact they have is huge (even if they’re too modest to say so themselves!)

But don’t just take our word for it…hear what some of our team love most about volunteering with us 😍

We genuinely couldn’t do it without them – and we feel very lucky to have such a dedicated, enthusiastic team! 🙌

Fancy joining the fun? Find out more about our opportunities here 👉 https://www.poolemuseum.org.uk/support-us/become-a-volunteer

BCP Council

30/05/2026

Lucian Freud’s painting of Sue Tilley, 'Sleeping by the Lion Carpet' is tipped to fetch millions when it goes to auction at Sothebys this June 💥

If that price tag is a little out of your range, don't worry - you can still get up close to Sue Tilley right here in Poole, in our current exhibition - Lucian Freud Etchings: A Creative Collaboration 🙌

Book your free entry tickets now! 👉 poolemuseum.org.uk/lucian-freud

27/05/2026

Need a break from the heat? 🥵

Step into the shade at Scaplen’s Court - kept refreshingly cool by its thick stone walls, peaceful, and the perfect escape from the sun. While you’re there, it’s an ideal time to explore our temporary exhibition as part of Dorset Art Weeks! 🎨

Make the most of your visit and enjoy:
❄️ Floor 4 & the Shipwreck! Gallery: fully climate-controlled for a proper cool-down
🌬️ The terrace on Floor 3: catch a breeze and try out our NEW giant deckchair

Come for the cool, stay for the stories! Book your FREE ticket now 👉 https://poolemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/ticketsplease

26/05/2026

Looking for a gentle, creative way to take some time for yourself? 💛

Join CoCreate at Poole Museum for a FREE 8-week course, where you’ll turn inspiration from the museum’s maritime collection into your own mini paper museum!

Starting next Tuesday 2 June - get ready to slow things down, create at your own pace, and connect with a welcoming group. Learn more and register your interest here 👉 https://www.cocreate.org.uk/courses/create-connect-poole-museum

Join CoCreate this Summer as we launch our very first Create:Connect courses with Poole Museum!

Our first 8 week course takes inspiration from Poole Museum's Maritime Collection, and will take you on a creative journey as you develop your very own Paper Museum in Miniature.

Sign up link in comments.

Create:Connect courses are open to people who identify as having lived experience of poor mental health and/or have a mental health diagnosis.

CoCreate @ Poole Museum is a CoCreate partnership project with Poole Museum

24/05/2026

Make it a bank holiday to remember by visiting Poole Museum!

We’re open everyday, with plenty to keep you busy over the half term...

🏛️ Guided tours: Take a walk with a storyteller around our galleries
🖼️ Lucian Freud Etchings: A Creative Collaboration: Discover detailed, expressive printmaking up close
🎨 Dorset Art Week exhibition - Textural Form I Atmospheric Colour I History: A striking mix of ceramics and painting, celebrating two local artists
🐚 Clay Modelling Drop-In - Sea Creatures and Fossil Clay Tiles: Get hands-on and shape your own creations
⚓ Family-friendly Interactive Talk: Across the Water - Dunkirk and the Women of Brownsea: Hear powerful stories from local history

Looks like your week just got an upgrade! Book your tickets now, we can't wait to see you 👉 https://poolemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/tickets

22/05/2026

Opening tomorrow at Scaplen’s Court! 🎉

From 23 May to 7 June 2026, step into Textural Form I Atmospheric Colour I History - a striking new exhibition bringing together ceramic sculpture and painting from Poole-based artists David Pointer and Kathryn Thomas🏺

Think striking ceramics inspired by Dorset’s rugged coastline, paired with rich, atmospheric paintings that play with light, energy and mood - all housed within the historic surroundings of Scaplen’s Court.

Running as part of Dorset Art Weeks, this is your chance to dive into one of the area’s biggest celebrations of visual art - with exhibitions, open studios and events happening across the county!

Click here to explore the exhibition in more detail before your visit 👉https://www.poolemuseum.org.uk/discover/exhibitions/textural-form-atmospheric-colour-and-history

20/05/2026

It’s set to be a scorcher this half term - so if you’re hunting for somewhere cool (in every sense of the word 😉) to keep the kids entertained, look no further…

🎭 Bank Holiday Sunday and Monday
Step into our galleries for fun, interactive family tours, brought to life by performer Louise Jordan. Expect stories, surprises, and a whole new way to explore our collections. It’s history…but not as you know it. We've got pay-what-you-can tickets available, so everyone can join the fun!

🎨 Wednesday 27 May – Clay-tastic creativity!
Drop in for our ever-popular clay modelling sessions, this time with a sea creatures & fossil theme 🐚🦕 Get stuck in, get a little messy, and create something amazing to take home and proudly display (next to all the other masterpieces, of course!)

🚢 Thursday 28 May – A Dunkirk adventure
Travel back in time through an immersive, family-friendly experience exploring the story of Dunkirk and WWII. Find out the incredible stories of the women of Brownsea Island, who supported refugees in their time of need. This isn’t just a talk, it’s a chance to listen, ask questions, and step into the past together, perfect for curious minds of all ages.

🎟️ With FREE entry to the museum, come down, cool down, and make some unforgettable half term memories with us 👉 poolemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/category/73110

18/05/2026

🏛️ From building site to shared space…

This International Museum Day - ICOM, we’re celebrating the theme 'Museums Uniting a Divided World' - and here at Poole Museum, we've been through a major transformation. Not just as a building, but as a place where people come together 🙌

From hard hats to heartfelt conversations, our galleries have been shaped for connection, curiosity, and community.

We wanted the new museum experience to be one of access and inclusion - ‘Poole for All’. A space where everyone feels welcome, where different perspectives can be shared, and where stories belong to all of us ✨️

BCP Council The National Lottery Heritage Fund

17/05/2026

Making your half-term plans already? Need to line up some brilliant days out to keep the kids entertained? We’ve got you covered…

We've got hands-on fun, creative workshops and family-friendly adventures to keep little explorers busy (and happy) 🙌

Here’s what’s on:

🗣️ Storytelling Tours – lively, interactive tours that bring our collections to life
🔥 Interactive family Dunkirk Talk – discover powerful stories of the heroic women of Brownsea Island
🎨 Sea Creatures and Fossil Clay Tiles – get messy and creative making your own masterpieces

Whether they're into crafting, storytelling, or exploring something new, there’s something for every mini adventurer.

Spaces fill fast, so don't miss out - book your half-term fun now 👉 poolemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/category/73110

Poole BID

16/05/2026

Will you be up bright and early this Sunday for the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride at Poole Quay? 🏍️🎩

If you are, we’ve got you covered…

☕ The Old Town The Salt Pig at Scaplen’s Court will be open from 7:30am to dish out those much-needed caffeine hits (because let’s be honest...it early on a Sunday 😉).

🏛️ And our Operations Manager John, is sacrificing his lie-in to open up parts of Poole Museum around 8am - so make sure you swing by and say hello to him! 👋

Get ahead of the ride and book your FREE entry tickets now 👉 poolemuseum.digitickets.co.uk/event-tickets/71891?catID=67599&

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride is a charity ride for prostate cancer research and men's mental health charities 🙌

Poole BID BCP Council