Latest News | 30 July 2025
New campaign shows Derby has the Wright stuff for a culture break





Derby Museums has launched a new campaign aimed at attracting visitors on ‘culture breaks’ to the city.
With the backing of several partners, the charitable trust has launched ‘Enlighten Yourself. Make it Derby’.
Derby Museums cares for the finest collection of work by the 18th century artist Joseph Wright of Derby, who was viewed as a figurehead of the Enlightenment, a period of scientific, philosophical and artistic development.
The new culture break campaign coincides with the museums’ ‘Year of Wright’.
This will see a new exhibition, Life on Paper, at Derby Museum and Art Gallery alongside a major exhibition Wright of Derby: From the Shadows opening at the National Gallery in London this autumn.
Tony Butler OBE, executive director of Derby Museums, said: “The Year of Wright is a great opportunity for us to showcase the immense culture and heritage offer we have in Derby.
“Alongside the Derwent Valley Mills being part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, the city boasts so much creative energy with modern day makers continuing to innovate, building on the legacy of the Enlightenment.
“We’re immensely excited about our Year of Wright and now is the perfect time for visitors to explore and experience the wonder of Derby and all it offers.”

The culture break campaign features a visitor itinerary of suggested attractions and activities.
It acknowledges both the history of the Enlightenment, through key locations including Derby Cathedral and Pickford’s House, the latter of which is an elegant townhouse designed by Enlightenment architect Joseph Pickford, alongside the museums’ collections, notably Joseph Wright works.
It also celebrates the spirit of making, which is still evident in the city today.
Visitors are invited to throw a pot with locally sourced clay at Denby Pottery Village or participate in a screen-printing workshop at Green Door Printmaking Studio.
They could meet the makers at Banks Mill, a refurbished landmark managed by University of Derby, providing studios to creatives and hosting a monthly Makers’ Market.
And with plenty of creative inspiration at the three museums in the city centre a weekend can easily be filled with culture.
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, said: “We’re really pleased to be working in partnership with Derby Museums to highlight our cultural offer in the city.
“Derby is going from strength to strength with new and regenerated projects, including Derby Market Hall and Vaillant Live, which really put the city on the map as a cultural destination.
“We look forward to welcoming new visitors to explore our pioneering city this summer and throughout the Year of Wright.”
The National Gallery show will be the first major exhibition dedicated to the British artist’s candlelight paintings and features several of his masterpieces.
It will explore how Wright conjures these sublime pictures of discovery and learning through the interplay of light and darkness. Derby Museums will be loaning a total of 17 artworks.
The touring exhibition will arrive at Derby Museum and Art Gallery in 2026 reuniting two of Wright’s most famous works, An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump (1768) and A Philosopher giving that Lecture on the Orrery in which a lamp is put in place of the Sun (1766), back to his hometown for the first time in almost 80 years.
Peter Knott, area director at Arts Council England, said: “Derby is known for its rich heritage of making, and this history is captured by Joseph Wright in his many and varied works of art.
“It’s great to be joining Derby Museums in celebrating the ‘Year of Wright’, a campaign highlighting the artist’s impact locally alongside supporting his work further afield.”
To find out more about the ‘Enlighten Yourself. Make it Derby’ campaign, visit https://derbymuseums.org/enlighten-yourself-make-it-derby.
A new promotional video has also been created as part of the campaign. View it below, or by clicking here.