Leader's blog - w/c 25 August 2025
“If you haven’t visited the Museum in the Park in Stratford Park recently, the upcoming exhibition of the work of Alan Evans will be well worth returning for. The Stroud-born artist-blacksmith’s work helped shape a new era of contemporary forged metalwork, and we are extremely proud that we will have many of his stunning forged pieces on display, alongside those of Alan’s contemporaries and exciting young blacksmiths working today, from 6th September to 2nd November as part of ‘Earth Fire Iron: Alan Evans and the New Iron Age’.
The main ‘Earth Fire Iron’ exhibition is accompanied by a great range of exciting events at the museum and other local venues, alongside an inspiring programme of free learning sessions for school groups. Thank you to our funders, the curators, the fantastic wider team of staff and volunteers at the museum, and all those who have lent works to make this special exhibition possible. A new book, ‘Earth Fire Iron’, commemorating the exhibition and published by local press Quickthorn, will be available to buy from the museum shop.
Also on display at the museum (now until 31st August) are successful pieces from the 2024 Cheltenham Illustration Awards. This competition and exhibition, organised by the University of Gloucestershire and Pittville Press, showcases a collection of visual stories by student and emerging illustrators from around the globe. The theme for the 2024 Awards was ‘Future Forecasts’.
Entry to the Museum in the Park and its lovely Walled Garden is free, and all the details for your visit can be found at www.museuminthepark.org.uk – you’ll also find details of the museum’s excellent Friends scheme, which is free to join and will bring news and invitations to events into your inbox once a month.”
Cllr Chloe Turner, Leader of Stroud District Council