Ipswich chosen as centrepiece for national Constable celebrations

Why it matters: Ipswich will take centre stage in a prestigious national celebration, bringing world-famous artworks to Christchurch Mansion and making the town the focal point for John Constable's 250th anniversary.

The big picture: Three exhibitions will run from March 2026 to February 2027, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, Arts Council England, and other key partners.

These will showcase rare and internationally significant artworks on loan from the Tate, Victoria & Albert Museum, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland, and the Government Art Collection.

The details: The celebrations will unfold through three distinct exhibitions at Christchurch Mansion:

• Constable: A Cast of Characters will run from 28 March to 14 June 2026, introducing those who inspired and supported the artist through personal letters, period costume, and historical artefacts. The exhibition will feature works from private collections alongside pieces from the Colchester and Ipswich collections by artists with links to Constable, plus new sculpture by artist and descendant, Sasha Constable.

• Constable: Walking the Landscape will celebrate the artist's deep connection to the Suffolk countryside from 11 July to 4 October 2026, including rarely seen works on loan and in Suffolk for the first time, alongside his most personal paintings from his childhood home.

• Constable to Contemporary will explore modern responses to Constable's legacy from 24 October 2026 to 28 February 2027, featuring new works by local artists and community groups.

What's next: A comprehensive community programme will run from January 2026 to March 2027, including creative workshops for families and schools across six school holidays, talks and tours of local areas, and extensive collaborations.

Partners include Aspire Black Suffolk for inclusive storytelling and youth engagement, Suffolk Community Libraries for immersive play experiences for under-fives, Suffolk Archives for Constable on Tour mobile exhibitions across the county, CHIp for young artists to explore Constable's contemporary relevance, and Suffolk Artlink/Brave Art for a countywide programme involving learning disabled and neurodivergent artists.

Additional elements include an Unconventional Constable mixed reality pop-up exhibition and a sound artwork by artist Stuart Bowditch featuring field recordings from locations of Constable's artworks today.

What they're saying: Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said: "Through three stunning exhibitions, our Museums team are bringing world-famous artworks to Ipswich. Seen alongside many pieces from the Ipswich Museums' Constable collection, these once-in-a-lifetime loans will tell the story of our own Suffolk-born artist, whose radical approach revolutionised landscape painting."

Eleanor Root, Cultural Partnerships Lead at Suffolk Community Libraries, said: "We hope this project will ignite a love for Constable's landscapes in our youngest library users."

Tonia, Director of Learning and Development at Aspire Black Suffolk, said: "We're proud to be partnering once again with Colchester and Ipswich Museums on the Constable 250 programme. This partnership reflects our continued commitment to reframing historical narratives and increasing access for our global majority communities."

The bottom line: Ipswich will take centre stage for celebrating one of Britain's greatest artists, bringing prestigious cultural events and world-renowned artworks directly to the town while showcasing its connection to Suffolk's artistic heritage.