Nine works from The Box art collection, including pieces by Stanley Spencer and Alfred Wallis, grouped by theme and shown free of charge.
Art Collection Highlights is on at The Box from 6 October 2026 to 21 February 2027, bringing nine works from the museum's own collection back to Plymouth after a stint in London. It's a small, focused show that runs throughout the autumn and winter, so you've got plenty of time to fit it in.
These nine pieces were chosen for the stories they tell about British innovation, resilience and creativity, all seen through Plymouth's particular lens. For the last few months, they've been on display in Downing Street as part of the Government Art Collection's 'Museum in Residence' scheme. While they were there, they were shown to world leaders, government officials and distinguished visitors as an introduction to the breadth of the city's art collection. Now that they're back home, they've been grouped by theme and hung at The Box.
There are some big names in the mix. You'll find Henry Andrews Luscombe's The Opening of the New Eddystone Lighthouse (1882), Alfred Wallis's Two Masted Schooner, Ketch from the early-to-mid 20th century, Stanley Spencer's Hoe Garden Nursery (1955), and Charles Ginner's Plymouth Pier from The Hoe (1923). The rest of the selection includes works by Robert Borlase Smart, Jack Pickup and Reginald Brill. It's a proper cross-section of the collection, with the city's own landmarks and maritime history running through it.
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Entry is free and you don't need to book, though donations are welcome. The Box is open 10:00 to 17:00 daily, so it's an easy one to drop into whenever you're around Tavistock Place.
