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Tuesday 11am - 5pm Wednesday 11am - 5pm Thursday 11am - 5pm Friday 11am - 5pm Saturday 11am - 5pm Sunday 11am - 5pm

Arnolfini

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Free thinking since 1961. Art, performance, literature, music, learning and film. Free entry.

Arnolfini is a centre for contemporary arts located on Bristol’s harbourside in the heart of the city. Woven into the fabric of Bristol since 1961, Arnolfini is a pioneer of interdisciplinary contemporary arts, presenting an ambitious, eclectic programme of visual arts, performance, dance, film, music, workshops and family events, carefully curated to appeal to a broad audience and underpinned by a commitment to a dynamic civic role in the city. An internationally-renowned institution, throughout its history Arnolfini’s programme has welcomed artists from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, supporting and developing their work, investigating their influences and aspirations. Arnolfini has long-standing relationships with a variety of partners and celebrates the heritage and wide-reaching impact of the organisation through sharing a 60 year archive of exhibition slides, publications and artist book collection and continues to build on the multicultural, diverse and inclusive ethos that has prevailed since its inception. Arnolfini remains at the heart of the Bristol community, always mindful of founding director Jeremy Rees’ principle to ‘Enjoy Yourself’, inviting everyone to join in. Find out more at www.arnolfini.org.uk
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28/10/2026

📸 Slow down and see Bristol differently.

Join us at Arnolfini on 20 or 27 November for a gentle Mindful Photography walk around Bristol’s iconic Harbourside.

Beginning with a short tour of Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey, we’ll explore how photography can help us slow down, find moments of calm and connect with the world around us. You’ll also learn the basics of using a 35mm film camera, with cameras kindly provided by Kit Form Darkroom.

No previous experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to see your surroundings in a new light. 🌿

📅 20 & 27 November
⏰ 1pm – 2.30pm
📍 Arnolfini & Bristol Harbourside

🎟️ Book your place: https://buff.ly/RrQyP76

And the creativity doesn’t stop there! Join us in December for a zine-making workshop, transforming images from the walk into handmade publications.

27/10/2026

🎨 Looking for something creative to do with the family this half-term?

Our free, drop-in workshops led by are always buzzing with creativity, with activities inspired by our current exhibitions for children and families to enjoy together. 💛

This half-term, we’re taking inspiration from Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey, exploring printmaking, colour and the everyday objects we treasure.

✨ No booking needed
🎨 Free, family-friendly activities
🖍️ Come along, get creative and make something of your own!

We’re back tomorrow, Wednesday 28 October!
🕚 11am–1pm & 2pm–4pm

Our workshops can get busy, so there are also creative activities available in the Reading Room on the second floor while you wait.

Bring the family, get stuck in and let’s make art together! 💫

CreativeWorkshops

22/10/2026

We’re grateful to be featured in Nearfield magazine in their article highlighting events that make space for grief and loss.

If you’re aged 18–35 and have experienced the death of someone close to you, join us for a Let's Talk About Loss meet-up at Arnolfini.

An informal, welcoming space to share, listen, laugh, cry, or simply be. There’s no pressure to talk, and you don’t have to navigate grief alone.

We’ll also enjoy an after-hours tour of Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey, exploring themes of connection, identity and memory through art.

📍 Arnolfini, Bristol
📅 Wednesday 18 November, 6–8pm

Find out more here: https://buff.ly/kCZiJKp

19/10/2026

A wonderful start for Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey.

We’re so grateful to everyone who joined us for Friday’s preview and helped make the opening such a special occasion.

Bringing together over 150 photographs, films, installations and textile works, the exhibition explores identity, beauty, history and belonging through Joy Gregory’s innovative approach to photography and image-making.

Now open at Arnolfini as part of Bristol Photo Festival, we invite you to spend time with the exhibition and discover Gregory’s extraordinary practice.

📍 Arnolfini, Bristol
🎟️ Free entry, no booking required
📅 Until 7 February 2027

We look forward to welcoming you.

16/10/2026

YOU ARE INVITED! ✨

Join us to celebrate the opening preview of Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey, presented as part of Bristol Photo Festival.

Be among the first to experience this major exhibition exploring identity, beauty, history and belonging through photography, film, textiles and more.

Hear from artist Joy Gregory at the preview and discover her innovative, thought-provoking practice.

📍 Arnolfini, Bristol
🗓️ Tonight, Friday 16 October
🕔 From 5pm
🎟️ FREE ENTRY — everyone is welcome!

Come along and celebrate with us! 🖤

15/10/2026

A little behind the scenes look at the finishing touches…
👀

Be among the first to see Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey, opening at Arnolfini as part of

Join us tomorrow evening from 5pm for the exhibition preview to experience this incredible show exploring identity, beauty, history snd belonging through photography, film, textiles and more.

🗓️ Friday, 16 October
⏰ 5pm - 8pm
🎟️ FREE entry - RSVP via the link in bio

We can’t wait to welcome you!

12/10/2026

✨ Opening this week at Arnolfini: Joy Gregory — Catching Flies with Honey ✨

This Black History Month, we’re celebrating the work of pioneering British artist Joy Gregory, whose practice has challenged conventions and explored questions of race, gender, beauty, migration, language and cultural memory for over four decades.

Opening this week as part of Bristol Photo Festival, Catching Flies with Honey brings together more than 150 photographs, films, installations and textile works, offering a powerful opportunity to encounter Gregory’s extraordinary contribution to photography and contemporary art.

📸 Be among the first to experience the exhibition at our exclusive preview evening on Friday 16 October, 5–8pm, at Arnolfini.

Join us to celebrate Joy Gregory’s work and reflect on the histories, identities and cultural experiences that shape our world.

🎟️ Find out more and book your free preview tickets: https://buff.ly/W9GS7dN

Image credits:
Joy Gregory Autoportrait 1989 – 1990 Silver Gelatin Lith Print © 2025 Joy Gregory. All rights reserved, DACS.
Joy Gregory, Candy Stripe Bathing Costume from the series ‘Girl Thing’ 2002 – 2004 Cyanotype © Joy Gregory
Joy Gregory Eyelashes from the series ‘Objects of Beauty’ 1992 – 1995 Kallitype © Joy Gregory
Joy Gregory Zara from the film ‘Fairest’ 1999 – 2010 Fuji Crystal Archive Print © Joy Gregory

09/10/2026

Congratulations to Joy Gregory, who has been awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal College of Art. 🎉

An RCA alumna, Joy was recognised at the College’s 2026 Convocation alongside this year’s Honorary Doctors and Fellows — the latest recognition of an extraordinary career spanning more than four decades.

And very soon, we’ll be welcoming Joy to Arnolfini for Catching Flies with Honey, her first major retrospective survey, bringing together more than 150 works exploring race, gender, beauty, migration, language and cultural memory across four decades of practice.

Joy Gregory: Catching Flies with Honey
17 October 2026 – 7 February 2027 (Opening night: Friday 16 October, 5–8pm)
At Arnolfini as part of Bristol Photo Festival 2026: Time Machine

Congratulations, Joy – we can’t wait to open the exhibition in Bristol.

Photo credit: Tara Jang

09/10/2026

Last chance for Early Bird tickets! 🎟️

Join us at Arnolfini on Friday 16 October for Time Machine: Bristol Photo Festival Symposium ✨

From alternative histories of photography and the Spanish Civil War to Palestinian archives, family inheritance, motherhood and q***r belonging, we'll explore the stories and ideas behind this year's exhibitions.

THE PROGRAMME

10am | Welcome & introductions
Bristol Photo Festival and UWE Bristol

10.20am | Alternative Histories of Photography
Sergio Valenzuela Escobedo, Annabelle Lacour & Christine Eyene
Chaired by Alejandro Acín

11.15am | Folk tales from the India–Bangladesh border
Akshay Mahajan with Julia Carver

11.50am | Family inheritance
Yuko Edwards & Kelly O’Brien with Diane Smyth

1.10pm | Remembering the Spanish Civil War
Natasha Christia & Anna Jornet with Alejandro Acín

1.45pm | From Armenia to Palestine
Kegham Djeghalian Jr

2.40pm | Motherhood and q***r belonging
Liu Hsing Yu & Annie Wang with Diane Smyth

3.15pm | Catching Flies with Honey
Joy Gregory with Shawn Sobers

📍 Friday 16 October | 10am–4pm | Arnolfini, Bristol

🎟️ Last chance for £20 Early Bird tickets! Standard tickets £25. UWE Bristol students receive a 40% discount.

Book via Headfirst: https://hdfst.uk/e161461

In collaboration with UWE Bristol, British Journal of Photography and FOAM Magazine.

Address

16 Narrow Quay
Bristol
BS14QA

Opening Hours

Tuesday	11am - 5pm
Wednesday	11am - 5pm
Thursday	11am - 5pm
Friday	11am - 5pm
Saturday	11am - 5pm
Sunday	11am - 5pm

Website

http://www.arnolfini.org.uk/

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