The Grundy Art Gallery in Blackpool shows a year round programme of contemporary and visual art exhibitions and events. Including solo and group displays together with talks, events and educational activities. Take a look at what’s coming up in Spring 2026.

Opening Times

• Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 4.45pm.
• Please note: last entry to the gallery is 4.20pm.
• Closed Sunday, Monday and Bank Holidays
• Admission is Free
• More about facilities here

Spring Exhibitions: Monet masterpiece unveiled at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery!

Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery celebrated a landmark cultural moment on Friday 27 March 2026. It welcomed local dignitaries, cultural leaders and invited guests to an exclusive preview event to mark the arrival of a rare Monet masterpiece.

The exclusive Claude Monet exhibition showcases the artist’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872). It’s thanks to an extraordinary loan from the National Gallery as part of its exciting Masterpiece Tour 2025–2027.

The National Gallery selected the Grundy from over 30 UK venues as one of just four hosts to take part in the exhibition tour. Further artworks will follow this prestigious piece during the three-year project. It’s part of The National Gallery’s ongoing commitment to sharing its collection across the UK. Previous exhibitions have featured major artists such as L. S. Lowry, J. M. W. Turner and Roy Lichtenstein. Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry.

More about the Monet

Guests at the launch were given a first look at the celebrated painting, part of a group of Monet works. Made in Argenteuil in 1872, which was a defining moment in the development of Impressionism. The arrival also marks a major cultural milestone for Blackpool. The iconic piece is now on public display in the North West for the very first time.

Paulette Brien is Curator at Grundy Art Gallery. She said at the event “The presentation of the Monet on loan from National Gallery shows Grundy’s determination to celebrate the very best of art and culture, and to make that accessible to residents and visitors alike. It’s also testament to our collaborative working with local, regional and national partners and evidence of Grundy’s ambition.”

Claude Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) captures a serene winter scene along the Seine at Argenteuil. There, the famous French artist focuses on nature’s stillness, despite the encroaching signs of industrial life. His delicate handling of light and reflection offers visitors an intimate glimpse into a transformative period in his career.

• The stunning oil on canvas is now available for free public view until Saturday 13th June.
• For an in-depth explanation from the National Gallery of Claude Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) please click here.

‘The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration’ – Claude Monet

We were there at the launch event, watch our video here:

What the Masterpiece Means to Blackpool

It isn’t just about one extraordinary painting – it’s about what it represents. Bringing a work of this significance to Blackpool shows that world-class culture can thrive in places people might not expect. It’s about opening up access and inspiring pride in our town. Giving residents and visitors the opportunity to experience something truly special on their doorstep.

As part of the Masterpiece Tour, Grundy Art Gallery will also invite every Blackpool school to view the Monet. There will also be a schools’ exhibition following interactive workshops responding to the themes of Monet’s work. The painting has also inspired young people from Blackpool’s Young People’s charity, The Magic Club. Working with artist, Kelly Jayne Jones, they’ve produced a new sound work in response to their experience of Monet’s work, ensuring the impact of this historic exhibition extends far beyond the gallery walls.

Per Rumberg is the Jacob Rothschild Head of The Curatorial Department at The National Gallery. He also attended Friday’s launch and said: “The National Gallery’s collection belongs to everyone, everywhere. We are very proud to collaborate with Grundy Art Gallery as part of the Masterpiece Tour. Art speaks differently in different places and we are excited to see Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil in Blackpool.”

Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to view a masterpiece up close at Grundy Art Gallery this Spring…

Claude Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872) is on public display until Saturday 13th June at Grundy Art Gallery, Queen Street, Blackpool as part of The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2025-2027.

Spring Exhibitions: Louise Giovanelli – From Here to Here to Here

The Monet exhibition is accompanied by a major solo exhibition from the internationally recognised contemporary painter Louise Giovanelli.

Louise Giovanelli is one of the most celebrated painters of her generation: she returns to The Grundy after showing here 10 years ago. Her major new exhibition, From Here to Here to Here is a rare opportunity to see how Giovanelli evolved artistically and professionally to become the artist that she is today. Rarely seen paintings and drawings are on show in the exhibition which runs until Saturday 27 June.

The exhibition charts her career. From art school graduate, to international commercial representation and solo exhibitions taking place around the world. To her present-day position as an artist in receipt of large-scale public commissions. In a full circle moment, From Here to Here to Here, concludes with Giovanelli handing over the Grundy exhibition baton to the next generation of emerging painters. Her exhibition includes work by graduates of Apollo Painting School, the training programme that she co-founded in 2023.

Louise Giovanelli’s exhibition and the presentation of work by emerging painters demonstrates Grundy’s commitment to talent development. From working with artists in the early stages of their career, to welcoming back established artists. Grundy Art Gallery recognises the role that it can play in galvanising artists careers and giving visitors the opportunity to see the very newest of contemporary art.

Look Inside the Grundy Art Gallery

The Spring 2025 exhibition featured exhibitions that celebrate our hobbies, from making and modifying to collecting. We went to take a look around inside…

Monet painting to be exhibited at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery

Blackpool Council is delighted to announce that The National Gallery, London has selected Grundy Art Gallery to be one of four museums and galleries from across the country to take part in the prestigious The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2025-27.

The National Gallery’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil by Monet will be displayed at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery in spring 2026 (28 March -13 June).  Blackpool was chosen as one of four locations from over 30 museum and galleries that submitted an application to be part of The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2025-27.

This project will also see Grundy Art Gallery host other artworks in the future of art historical and art world significance from The National Gallery Collection.

The work selected for the first year is Monet’s The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872), a work which has left the Gallery only once in the last 20 years. Monet depicts a tranquil scene of a winter day on the outskirts of the small suburban town of Argenteuil, not far from Paris. Although the town was already partly industrialised and a popular location for sailing and leisure boating, Monet only hints at this developing bustle with a few scattered buildings behind a screen of trees. Instead, he focuses on an intimate moment by the river. The orderly composition, variety of brushstrokes and reflection in the water are all regular features of Monet’s work.

Hosting Monet in Blackpool continues Grundy’s ambition to bring world-class art to the town, and follows recent displays of work by art world greats such as LS Lowry, JMW Turner, Roy Lichtenstein, Louise Bourgeois, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry.

To accompany Monet…

Grundy Art Gallery will use its expertise in hosting contemporary art exhibitions to combine the display of Monet with a solo exhibition by the contemporary Northwest based painter Louise Giovanelli. Recognised as one of the most compelling artists of her generation, Giovanelli’s luminous paintings display her own mastery of materials and her expert skill at capturing light, reflection and shadow. Spring 2026 marks ten years since Giovanelli had her first solo exhibition at the Grundy, an occasion that was also the first solo exhibition of her career.

There will also be a schools’ exhibition at Blackpool’s Grundy Art Gallery following workshops responding to Monet’s work, and Monet’s painting will inspire Grundy’s programme of work with the pARTnership, a creative and professional development project for adults with a learning disability.

Sir Gabriele Finaldi is National Gallery Director. He said: “The National Gallery’s collection belongs to all of us. It is part of our duty and our honour to look after these paintings and to bring them to where people are, not just expect them to come to us. Partnering on touring exhibitions does so much more than bring beloved paintings from the collection to other places in the UK. It supports the whole country’s cultural ecosystem, connecting people with paintings that belong to us all. It allows us to learn and expand our own practices and interpretations through the creativity of our partner organisations and their communities. That over one million people have visited these exhibitions in the last decade proves the desire to engage with our collection is growing. We look forward to welcoming the next million visitors across the UK.”

Grundy Art Gallery’s work recognised by increased funding

In November 2022, Grundy Art Gallery announced that it’s to remain part of Arts Council England’s National Portfolio programme 2023-2026 – to the value of £249,000 over the three years.

This funding will support the development and delivery of an exciting year-round programme of relevant, meaningful and high quality contemporary art exhibitions and events, taking place on and off-site.

Image credits, left to right:

• Chila Kumari Singh Burman, Blackpool Light of My Life (2021), Grundy Art Gallery Co-commission with Blackpool Illuminations and Lightpool Festival Photo: Jonathan Lynch, © the artist, Courtesy Grundy Art Gallery
• The pARTnership exhibition banner at Grundy Art Gallery, 2022. Photo Matt Wilkinson. Courtesy Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool Council
• Chloe MacFarlane, copyright the artist, Private Collection, Photo Matt Wilkson. Courtesy Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool Council

Grundy will continue its founding mission to show the best art of the day to the people of Blackpool and beyond. The programme will enable the gallery to enact its vision to be a beacon for contemporary art in the North West.

Grundy Art Gallery is also delighted to receive an uplift on previous years’ NPO funding, specifically to support the development and delivery of the pARTnership.

It’s delivered via a collaboration between Grundy Art Gallery, The New Langdale (Blackpool Council’s daytime service for people with a Learning Disability), Venture Arts in Manchester and Fylde-Coast based artist Tina Dempsey. This project provides bespoke professional development to artists with a Learning Disability to enable them to develop their own individual creativity. The project also presents this work in professional contemporary art settings. Recent exhibitions of this work have taken place at Grundy Art Gallery and Abingdon Studios in Blackpool. And at The Horsfall and The Manchester Contemporary in Manchester.

Grundy newsletter

To keep up to date and find out more about the Grundy’s exhibitions and events sign up to the Grundy newsletter via the Grundy website www.thegrundy.org. Also keep an eye on the website and watch out for posts via Grundy’s social media channels.

Grundy Art Gallery celebrates 110 years

Grundy Art Gallery unveiled an exciting calendar of events to commemorate its 110th anniversary in 2021. 

The gallery and its collection established in 1911. It came via a financial gift and donation of over 30 paintings by local brothers John and Cuthbert Grundy. 2021 therefore marks the 110th Anniversary of the gallery opening its doors to the people of Blackpool and beyond.

• Explore the history of Grundy Art Gallery

The Blackpool coat of arms – emblazoned with ‘Progress’ – is embedded in brickwork above the front door. Guided by this motto, the gallery continues to honour its founding ethos. It shows a year-round programme of high quality contemporary art exhibitions and events. Despite the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, 2021 was no exception.  

110th Anniversary Logo 

Grundy Art Gallery’s 110th anniversary logo was inspired by an ink stamp, historically used to identify items brought into Grundy’s permanent collection. It also echoes the design of Blackpool’s world famous sticks of rock.

Curator of Grundy Art Gallery

Paulette Terry Brien became the gallery’s curator in November 2017.

Paulette has more than 25 years of experience working within contemporary visual art. She’s well known for raising the profile of the North West region, on a national and international level.

Paulette is co-founder and co-director of The International 3, a contemporary art gallery based in Salford. There, she delivered a year round programme of exhibitions and events. Plus being instrumental in developing projects such as Manchester’s annual contemporary art fair, The Manchester Contemporary.

Paulette comes to the Grundy with a strong track record of identifying and nurturing emerging talent, commissioning and curating high quality contemporary art exhibitions for both gallery and non-gallery settings. Over the years, her wealth of experience has supported hundreds of emerging artists. Many of whom have gone on to achieve regional, national and international recognition.

As well as providing peer support, Paulette has also been successful on many occasions in brokering the acquisition of work by regional artists into major public and private collections, such as the Arts Council Collection and Whitworth Art Gallery’s collection.

Paulette is thrilled to be the new curator of the Grundy. She’s keen to continue to champion regional artists from the North West.

More about Grundy Art Gallery

Grundy Art Gallery is Blackpool’s art gallery. It offers a year round programme of contemporary and visual art exhibitions and events. There are solo and group exhibitions together with talks, workshops and educational activities.

Brothers John and Cuthbert Grundy founded The Grundy Art Gallery in 1908. Now displayed in a Grade II listed Carnegie building. It’s been at the centre of cultural and artistic life in the town for over 100 years. It began with the ambition to show the best art of the day to the people of Blackpool. This sentiment remains at the heart of today, as a leading contemporary art gallery in the North West.

• Explore the history of Grundy Art Gallery

Today it includes works by established artists such as Martin Creed, Tracey Emin and Laura Ford. Gilbert and George, Brian Griffiths, Augustus John, Haroon Mirza and Eric Ravilious. It also has works by regionally based emerging talent such as Joe Fletcher Orr and Louise Giovanelli.

The Grundy aims to inspire audiences through an ambitious and varied year-round exhibitions programme. It draws on the unique and invigorating context and heritage of Blackpool. For instance exploring the space between contemporary art, entertainment and popular culture.

The Grundy Collection

Exhibitions and displays frequently incorporate pieces from our collection. It began with a bequest by the founding brothers and contains an eclectic range of art and other items. From furniture to ceramics, to netsuke ornaments to Victorian oil paintings. Artists include Craigie Aitchison, Ruth Claxton and Martin Creed. Laura Ford, Augustus John, Eric Ravilious and Gilbert and George amongst others.

Grundy is part of Blackpool Council’s Arts Service. It develops and delivers arts projects which engage Blackpool’s residents, communities and visitors in the arts. The service supports the town’s arts community, placing the arts the core of Blackpool’s unique and important cultural environment.

The gallery is an Accredited Museum. It also receives funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation and from the John Ellerman Foundation.