Museums Sheffield: Millennium Gallery

Millennium Gallery
Arundel Gate
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S1 2PP
England

logo: Designated as an Outstanding Collection

Website

www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

E-mail

info@museums-sheffield.org.uk

Telephone

Main Reception

0114 278 2600

Bookings for Tours, Talks, Events and School Trips

0114 278 2655

All information is drawn or provided by the venues themselves and every effort is made to ensure it is correct. Please remember to double check opening hours with the venue concerned before making a special visit.
A photo of a modern building in a city centre
baby changing facilities icon Food icon Shop icon Study area icon Visual disability facilities icon Wheelchair access icon

Step into one of Sheffield’s architectural treasures, the award winning Millennium Gallery, an inspiring venue in the heart of the city centre.

Venue Type:

Museum, Gallery, Industrial heritage site, Garden, parklands or rural site

Opening hours

Mon - Sat 10.00-17.00
Sun 11.00-16.00

Admission charges

Admission to Millennium Gallery is free, except for some special exhibitions.

Additional info

See website for details

The Metalwork Gallery is home to Sheffield's Designated Collection of metalwork, which hads been recognised for its national significance.

The collection is made up of cutlery, flatware and hollowware made in the city, together with an outstanding selection of comparative material from Europe and many parts of Africa and Asia. It includes silver, pewter, stainless steel and Old Sheffield Plate and is the best collection of its kind in this country and almost certainly the world. The collection dates from the 14th century to the present day and includes unique, handcrafted one-off pieces and examples of the mass-produced cutlery for which Sheffield has an international reputation.

Also housed at the Millennium Gallery, The Ruskin Collection reopened in spring 2011 following a major redevelopment programme which has transformed the Ruskin displays.

The collection was brought together by John Ruskin (1819 - 1900), a renowned Victorian writer, artist, and critic who had a major impact on nineteenth century thinking. In 1875 Ruskin established a small museum in Sheffield so that the ‘working men’ would be able to enjoy and benefit from seeing this wide-ranging collection. Since then the Ruskin Gallery has had various homes in Sheffield; Meersbrook Park, the Hays building on Norfolk Street and since 2001 has been shown at the Millennium Gallery.

The four month redevelopment programme has seen a total redesign of the gallery space, new display cases and lighting, as well as improved access to the collection. The new displays include the chance to explore ‘Ruskin’s Desk’, a new interactive telling the story of the collection, brand new audio visual interpretation and the addition of new comfy seating.

Owned by the Guild of St. George, the collection contains an array of paintings, drawings, photographs, books, and minerals, all of which illustrate the beauty of the natural world or the skill of craftsman and artists. An exquisite painting of St Mark’s in Venice by J.W. Bunney, medieval illuminated manuscripts and detailed botanical drawings can be seen in the gallery alongside large plaster casts of architectural features from ancient buildings and beautiful minerals such as opal and ameythyst.

Collection details

Fine Art, Film and Media, Design, Decorative and Applied Art, Costume and Textiles, Archives

Key artists and exhibits

  • The Millennium Gallery has two temporary exhibition spaces. The Special Exhibition Gallery shows blockbuster exhibitions from national galleries and museums such as the V&A, Tate and the National Portrait Gallery. The craft and Design Gallery shows the best in contemporary craft and design.
  • Designated Collection
Exhibition details are listed below, you may need to scroll down to see them all.

Little Gems

29 April — 29 May 2013 *on now

This retrospective display looks back at some of the Little Gems created in those years, while this year's designs can be seen in the Gallery foyer. Part of Galvanize Festival 2013

Suitable for

  • 11-13
  • 16-17
  • 18+
  • 14-15

Force of Nature: Picturing Ruskin’s Landscape

15 December 2012 — 23 June 2013 *on now

Our planet, in all its contrasting power and fragility, has been a constant source of inspiration and wonder for artists. This brand new exhibition, curated by Museums Sheffield, takes on the huge theme of landscape, as reflected in the thoughts and opinions of John Ruskin. Drawn mainly from Sheffield’s own Ruskin and art collections, the exhibition also includes paintings by Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites, alongside contemporary artists such as Julian Opie and George Shaw. Funded by the Guild of St George, an organisation founded by Ruskin in 1871 with the broad aim of making the world a better place for humankind.

Admission

Free Entry

Force of Nature: Picturing Ruskin's Landscape

29 January — 26 June 2013 *on now

Our planet, in all its contrasting power and fragility, has been a constant source of inspiration and wonder for artists. This brand new exhibition, curated by Museums Sheffield, takes on the huge theme of landscape, as reflected in the thoughts and opinions of John Ruskin. Drawn mainly from Sheffield's own Ruskin and art collections, the exhibition also includes paintings by Turner and the Pre-Raphaelites, alongside contemporary artists such as Julian Opie and George Shaw.

Suitable for

  • Family friendly

Designed to Shine – 100 years of Stainless Steel

16 February — 13 October 2013 *on now

In 1913, 'rustless' steel was discovered in the UK by Sheffield's Harry Brearley. Over the following 100 years the production of stainless steel, in particular cutlery, reaffirmed Sheffield’s age-old reputation for quality metal wares.

Despite huge changes to the industry and loss of jobs, Sheffield remains an important centre for specialist steel production.

This brand new exhibition, part of a city-wide celebration of 100 years of stainless steel, explores a century of design and innovation, showcasing the diversity and quality of products made in stainless steel in Sheffield and beyond.

Open Monday-Saturday 10am–5pm, Sunday 11am–4pm.

Suitable for

  • Any age

Repository – Bespoke cutting-edge Sheffield

16 February — 13 October 2013 *on now

Brian Alcock is Sheffield's last professional knife grinder and his retirement may mean the end of more than 600 years of grinding in the city. Repository, a sculpture made of 'swarf' (the by product of grinding) depicts Brian and is part of a series of artworks created by Sheffield sculptor Anthony Bennett to illustrate the plight of the grinder

Suitable for

  • Family friendly
Events details are listed below. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all. For events that don't have a specific date see the 'Resources' tab above.
Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

24 May 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Explorer’s Society Performance

1 June 2013

Local band Explorer’s Society will be bringing the Force of Nature exhibition to life by creating a lush guitar soundscape, carefully fused with piano and cello melodies.

Suitable for

When

1-4pm

Admission

Free, no need to book

Craft Club

3 June 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

7 June 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

10 June 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Picture frame

Lunchtime Talk: Ruskin and Landscape

13 June 2013

Join Howard Hull, Director of Brantwood, John Ruskin’s Lake District home, for an illustrated talk inspired by Ruskin’s views on landscape art and the Force of Nature exhibition.

Suitable for

  • 18+
  • 16-17

When

1-1:45pm

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

14 June 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

17 June 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

21 June 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

24 June 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Get Hands-On with Sheffield’s Metalwork Collection

27 June 2013

Sheffield is renowned for innovative metalwork and in 2013 the city celebrates 100 years of Stainless Steel. Join us for a hands-on exploration of inventions, discovery and design.

Suitable for

When

12:30-2pm

Admission

Free, no need to book

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

28 June 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

1 July 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

5 July 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

8 July 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

12 July 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

15 July 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

19 July 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Craft Club

22 July 2013

Get involved in making and creating using knitting, stitching and crochet in a laid back, creative atmosphere.
Free, no need to book
Suitable for all ages and abilities

Suitable for

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

Free

Artist mannequin

Life Drawing

26 July 2013

Develop your drawing skills working from a nude model with support from one of our regular artist tutors. The Museum Sheffield collection includes paintings featured on the Your Paintings website.

Suitable for

  • 16-17
  • 18+

When

10:30am-12:30pm

Admission

£8.00. £7.20 concessions.

Resources listed here may include websites, bookable tours and workshops, books, loan boxes and more. You may need to scroll down or click on headers to see them all.
Digital and online resources

Metalwork Gallery Animations: Moustache Tablespoon

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=397

An animation about how a Moustache Tablespoon made in 1883 was used to prevent a gentleman’s moustache from being soiled when eating soup.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Contemporary Metalwork in Sheffield - Living Metal

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=423

Explore the skills and knowledge of today's metalworkers in Sheffield. Discover the products made and find out more about the people who make them. Explore the skills and knowledge that people and companies use in the production.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Culture Quake: Interpreting a gallery creatively

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=510

Downloadable lesson plans providing ideas for using a gallery or museum with music, writing and art & design. The worksheets can be used with any gallery collection.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Exploring Nature and Pattern Through Art

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=318

Investigating the theme of nature and art through the work of John Ruskin.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Metalwork Gallery Animations: Cigarette box

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=396

A beautiful animation showing how a stylised silver 1930's cigarette box by Joyce Himsworth was made and how it was used.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Metalwork Gallery Animations: Ear trumpet

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=398

An animation showing how an ear trumpet made in the 1820s would be used by those who were hard of hearing to amplify sound directly into the ear.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Metalwork Gallery Animations: Pea knife

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=399

An animation about the use of a 1930s Pea knife, designed to assist a diner to eat peas. The peas were balanced along the central slot, enabling them to be raised to mouth without rolling off the blade. It is possible that this knife was designed to be used by children.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Metalwork Gallery Animations: Turtle soup tureen

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=395

An animation about how a 1800s turtle soup tureen was made and used. The tureen could hold up to six litres of soup in its body and was used to serve soup made from green turtles imported from the West Indies. Turtle soup and mock turtle soup were very popular dishes in Victorian times.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Metalwork in Sheffield

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=117

Learn about the history of Sheffield's metalwork, read interviews with metalworkers and watch short video clips of metalworkers in action.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Ruskin and Nature - explore the gallery with your class

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=528

A resource about the importance John Ruskin placed on nature and his belief that we should never take our environment for granted. His collection which inspired the craftsmen of Sheffield is founded on these beliefs and contains many references to nature - good images.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.

Thomas´s Metalwork Trail, Millennium Gallery, Sheffield

http://www.mylearning.org/overview.asp?journeyid=165

A gallery trail for three to six year olds with Thomas the Soup Tureen, plus good images and information about objects in Sheffield's Metalwork Gallery including tea urns, ivory handles, unusual cutlery and mythical beasts.

Publisher

  • This resource was produced as part of the MLA-funded My Learning project.
advertisement