Thelma Hulbert Gallery (THG) has restructured their 2021 programme to bring art and nature lovers, gallery goers, artists and NHS and key workers some much-needed creativity to lift spirits at this challenging time.

THG was ready to present a brand new year of exhibitions, workshops and art activities at the gallery and from the touring Creative Cabin before its temporary closure due to lockdown.

As their Creative Cabin is grounded, THG will launch CREATIVE CABIN SHORTS, an inspiring digital programme of art and nature activities, films and workshops. It is hoped that these will offer some enjoyment and light relief for people at this time; with special thought for the 15,000 extraordinary employees across the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon NHS Healthcare Trust, as well as other NHS staff and key workers across the region.

The CREATIVE CABIN SHORTS will connect to nature and the landscapes around us, creatively exploring everything from wild swimming to healing herbs, tidal patterns to tree planting. The films will be created in collaboration with a range of SW artists, rangers and practitioners including photographer Paul Blakemore, artist printmaker Emma Molony, artist/boat builder Gail McGarva, artist/herbalist Belle Benfield, artist/lecturer in sculpture and environmental art Justin Carter and theatre director Tom Bailey.

Following the successful NATURE SHORTS and MAKERS SHORTS series, these will be delivered in partnership with Wild East Devon, the Blackdown Hills and East Devon AONBs.

The Creative Cabin is an outcome of THG’s Culture + Climate 2020 programme, which sought to question our complicated relationship with nature and help identify new ways to coexist. The programme was launched last February with ARTIST ROOMS Richard Long, an exhibition of works by the Turner Prize winning artist, Richard Long, whose acclaimed career at the forefront of conceptual art has investigated the relationship between people and nature. Continuing to explore the themes of the exhibition, the Creative Cabin has been made possible by ARTIST ROOMS with the support of Art Fund, Arts Council England. Additional thanks to Heritage Lottery Community Fund.

This new series will be released to NHS staff and THG’s website and social media every Wednesday, starting 27 January.

Another dose of culture will be offered every Thursday afternoon, starting on 21 January, when Art Historian John Francis will take over as THG’s Guest Editor on social media with his top pick of online art history talks, lectures and virtual exhibitions. This is the prelude to John’s lecture series ‘Art Matters’ which will take place in the gallery from April.

The gallery plans to reopen its doors on 10 April with an exhibition of major new works from The London Group and key works from the THG collection and private loans including works by Walter Sickert and Victor Pasmore:

In Plain Sight: The London Group & Thelma Hulbert and her London Group Friends

Art historian John Francis will deliver a coordinating art history lecture series and Q&A alongside this exhibition.

  • CREATIVE CABIN SHORTS, every Wednesday from 27.01.21:  CREATIVE CABIN SHORTS | Thelma Hulbert Gallery and social media
  • Top Culture Picks by John Francis, every Thursday from 21.01.21: thelmahulbert.com and social media
  • In Plain Sight: The London Group & Thelma Hulbert and her London Group Friends  (10 April – 29 May).

Open: Thursday-Saturday, 10-5. Wednesdays for tours and group bookings only

Visit thelmahulbert.com for more information.

  • Art History talk series starting in April. £10 per session. Bookings to open soon, email: info@thelmahulbert.com to reserve a place.