Read on for news and current art events – things happening now with a short date (or today only!) are in bold.
A new Love Rugby festival has been recently announced, to take place 14th June to 6th July. It will coincide with Warwickshire Open Studios Summer Art Weeks, Rugby School’s Festival on the Close and Rugby Art Gallery & Museum’s 25th anniversary celebrations. Local organisations and sports clubs may apply for funding (by 30th April) to take part in the Love Rugby festival. ACT NOW if you are interested in Love Rugby funding and would like advice as the Creative Counsel Community Gathering session TODAY, April 24th, 4-5pm will include advice: book on the adult learning section of the website.
Rugby Art Gallery and Museum’s anniversary celebrations involve a commission for a new interactive public art piece (deadline passed), children’s self-portraits for an exhibition (deadline 2nd June), and a commission for new shop stock. (by 28th April). The 25th anniversary brochure can be found here.
Rugby Yarnbombers’ Alice in Wonderland themed extravaganza will follow in July. Their creations so far are truly amazing and it promises to look wonderful. There is still time to get involved and it’s not only knitters needed.
Art at The Alex has lots going on as always. Full details are on their website and/or in their newsletter.
Rugby First asked the Alex to run Easter holiday sessions at the Alex and these are underway with the next sessions on the afternoons of Thursday 24th TODAY (milk bottle doves with Kate), Friday 25th (painted bunny magnets with Aish) and Saturday 26th (watercolour cupcakes with Sam).
Also in the diary is a storytelling event on 2nd May, with afternoon workshop and evening performance.
The Alex has a full schedule of exhibitions for the year, with only November available for artist exhibitions other than the open calls. The current and next exhibitions are:
- April: Eyeful at the Alex: Debra Wenlock, Helen Button, Jane Tilley, Jane Archer and Daventry artist Peter Martin. On now until 26th April.
- May: By invitation … all new artists to the Alex. Ross Edwards, Joseph Ryan, Garima Dhawan, Melissa Keskinkilinc (Alex 3D prize winner in the Rugby Open), Jill Shepherd and Anita Davies.
- June: Rugby Artists and Makers, “Transformations”. A call for this exhibition is now live on the Rugby Artists and Makers private Facebook group.
The Alex is taking part in both Warwickshire Open Studios (WOS) and Northants and Rutland Open Studios this year, as well as Heritage Open Days. Look out for The Alex and its artists in WOS promotional videos as WOS will be popping in for filming this weekend.
The Alex was a finalist in the Coventry and Warwickshire Business and Community awards in the Community and Cultural Activator category. Click here to see The Alex appear in this video of the judges doing their rounds.
RA&M exhibition activities
The next RA&M exhibition, “Transformations”, will be at The Alex in June. Members can find further information in the private Facebook group.
The next RA&M exhibition at Floor One, Rugby Art Gallery and Museum, will be 2 – 16 February 2026.
Recently, RA&M members have held their own exhibitions at Floor One: Rock, Paper, Scissors show (John T, Clare and Vikki) was followed by Sue Phan’s show ‘Flourishing’, during which she was interviewed for a local podcast.
The current exhibition in Floor One, until 3rd May, is Rugby Artists Group (RAG) and involves several RA&M artists.
Other local arts news
Lorimer Art Gallery is open in its new location and looking good with frequent changes of display. John Thompson is one of their artists.
Brinklow Marina has its Moor to Art event on 3-5th May bank holiday weekend with stalls and also a number of workshops available to book.
Solstice Coffee Shop and Nursery has long stocked the work of local artists and hosted craft fairs. Sadly, they will be closing in the summer with their last craft fair taking place on the 1st of June (stalls available).
Hatty Bakewell’s cafe and The Studio by Teapot Flowers are still hosting local artists and makers as, of course, is The Alex.
And further afield:
- Coventry Open is underway but note there is now an admission fee at The Herbert.
- Also in Coventry, the LTB’s new venue Priory Visitor Centre (PVC) has the exhibition “Flux” until the end of the month. Coventry Council has asked for expressions of interest to manage the PVC and those behind the LTB have put in a bid.
- LSA Art Room (Leamington) has moved to its new location inside the Royal Priors shopping centre and its gallery space is open, with separate adjacent studio unit to follow.
The next RA&M network meeting date: 15th May at the Alex.
Rugby Artists and Makers 