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Tuesday 10:30am - 5pm Wednesday 10:30am - 5pm Thursday 10:30am - 5pm Friday 10:30am - 5pm Saturday 10:30am - 5pm

The Museum of East Asian Art

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Connecting cultures through art - Discover over 7,000 years of art and history at the Museum of East Asian Art.

The Museum of East Asian Art is situated just off the Circus in central Bath. We are the only UK museum solely dedicated to the arts and cultures of East and South East Asia. Our collection spans over 7,000 years of artistry and craftsmanship.

06/11/2026

Coming soon – ‘Gifting’ 🪡

Opening on 28 November 2026, ‘Gifting’ is the first public presentation of a project by Young In Hong.

At its core, ‘Gifting’ explores the subjective value of art and its condition as an object. Developed through relationships with people around her – friends, artists, and neighbours – Hong exchanges objects and artworks, documenting the process through embroidered drawings and stitched texts that tell the story of each exchange.

Through the trade of object and art, Hong reflects on systems of value, personal taste, aesthetic judgement, negotiated meaning and the dynamics of human relationships.

In collaboration with the artist, MEAA will present selected works from its collection in response to ‘Gifting’. By bringing objects from MEAA’s collection into dialogue with Hong’s embroidered exchanges, ‘Gifting’ invites viewers to consider the meanings objects carry, the stories they tell and the complex networks of relationships they generate.

The project’s title, ‘Gifting’ is inspired by ‘The Gift’ written by Lewis Hyde.

🗓️ 28 November 2026 – 17 April 2027
📍 Opens Saturday 28 November
🎟️ Find out more via the link in our bio

04/11/2026

Discover how this pink glass s***f bottle has inspired new sculptural works made by artist 👀 ✨

Don’t miss your chance to see ‘Reimaginings’ – open until 14 November 2026!

🖼 Glass s***f bottle with overlapping lotus leaves. BATEA 1726
🖼 Pink coral elephant figure, 17th century. BATEA 1059
🖼 Yixing stoneware brush washer of peach shape, China. Qing dynasty 1644–1911. BATEA 222

To find out more, head to the MEAA website (link in bio).

31/10/2026

To mark Halloween, we’re sharing a few less gruesome details from three framed paintings in our collection, depicting the Ten Courts of Hell.

Rooted in Chinese folk religion, Taoism and Buddhism, these fascinating scenes portray the afterlife as an imperial bureaucracy, where souls pass through ten courts, each presided over by a king or judge, to be assessed for their earthly deeds and receive their karmic punishment before rebirth.

A interesting glimpse into the elaborate and sometimes unsettling imagery of the underworld!

25/10/2026

Looking for something crafty to do this half-term?

Join us at the Museum from 28–31 October for Smashing Pumpkins – a fun, self-led arts and crafts activity inspired by the iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama!

📅 28–31 October 2026
⏰ 10:30–16:30
📍 Museum Galleries
🎟️ Free with Museum admission (children enjoy free admission when accompanied by an adult)
✨ No booking required – just drop in and get creative!

Make this Halloween half-term a little more colourful and unleash your inner Kusama!

For more information, visit our website – www.meaa.org.uk/whats-on/

22/10/2026

The Yuan dynasty brought China under Mongol rule, connecting vast territories through trade, travel and cultural exchange. From 1271 to 1368, it transformed China’s political landscape and left a lasting mark on its art, economy and society.

Visit the museum to discover more!

21/10/2026

Did you know that this s***f bottle by artist was inspired by objects in our collection? 👀 ✨

Don’t miss your chance to see ‘Reimaginings’ – open until 14 November 2026!

🖼 Peking glass cup with white and pink overlay, China. Qing dynasty 1644–1911. BATEA 1149
🖼 Dehua porcelain cup with prunus in relief, China. Qing dynasty 1644–1911. BATEA 725

To find out more, head to the MEAA website (link in bio).

17/10/2026

Find your next read at the Museum Shop!

Explore our selection of popular books at the Museum Shop, featuring fascinating histories, myths, traditional games, and much-loved stories from across East and Southeast Asia. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge, discover new cultural perspectives, or find the perfect gift for a fellow book lover, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

📍 Visit us at the Museum Shop and discover more!

13/10/2026

Get dotty this Halloween half-term!

Pop into the Museum of East Asian Art from 28–31 October for Smashing Pumpkins – a fun, self-led arts and crafts activity inspired by the iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama!

Pick up a pumpkin template and get creative with your own colourful polka dots, inspired by Kusama’s much-loved pumpkin artworks. From paintings to sculptures, pumpkins are a recurring motif in her work – and now it’s your turn to create your own!

📅 28–31 October 2026
⏰ 10:30–16:30
📍 Museum Galleries
🎟️ Free with Museum admission (free admission for children accompanied by an adult)
✨ No booking required – just drop in and get creative!

Make this Halloween half-term a little more colourful and embrace your inner Kusama!

09/10/2026

The Song dynasty was a period of remarkable change and innovation in China. From 960 to 1279, the dynasty saw flourishing cities, expanding trade and major developments in art, technology and culture.

Visit the museum to discover more!

07/10/2026

This spooky season, discover the symbolism of the pumpkin! 🎃 ✨

This Qing bronze pumpkin-shaped water dropper represents prosperity, abundance and generational luck.

In Chinese culture, the round, plump shape and rich colour of the pumpkin signifies a plentiful harvest, bringing wealth, opportunities and good fortune in our lives.

Because pumpkins contain numerous seeds and grow on vigorous vines, they also represent family fertility and successful offspring.

Visit the MEAA to see more incredible objects from our permanent collection!

🖼 Gold and gilt enriched bronze water dropper in form of a pumpkin with squirrel handle, China. Ming dynasty 1368-1644. BATEA 290

Address

12 Bennett Street
Bath
BA12QJ

Opening Hours

Tuesday	10:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	10:30am - 5pm
Thursday	10:30am - 5pm
Friday	10:30am - 5pm
Saturday	10:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+441225464640

Website

http://www.meaa.org.uk/

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