Museums Sheffield: Millennium Gallery
Millennium Gallery
Arundel Gate
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S1 2PP
England
Website
Telephone
Main Reception
0114 278 2600
Bookings for Tours, Talks, Events and School Trips
0114 278 2655
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
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
Designed to Shine – 100 years of Stainless Steel
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
Little Gems
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
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
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
Repository – Bespoke cutting-edge Sheffield
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
Life Drawing
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
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
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
Life Drawing
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
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
Lunchtime Talk: Ruskin and Landscape
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
Life Drawing
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
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
Life Drawing
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
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
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
Life Drawing
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
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
Life Drawing
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
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
Life Drawing
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
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
Life Drawing
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
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
Life Drawing
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.
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