A new exhibition featuring sculptures made from recycled materials and discarded books is opening at Kirkby Gallery this spring. The show, titled ECHO, will run from 13 April to 14 August 2026 and marks the first solo exhibition in a decade for environmental artist Julie Dodd.
Located on the first floor of The Kirkby Centre on Norwich Way, the gallery remains free for all visitors to attend. The exhibition highlights Dodd’s work with reclaimed paper and everyday objects, focusing on themes of environmental responsibility and how waste can be reimagined through art.
ECHO replaces the current exhibition, The Sacred Memory Bank by artists Mike Badger and Jeff Young, which concludes on 27 March 2026. Alongside the main display, the Entrance Gallery will host a companion exhibition titled Supporting Households in Crisis by artist Patricia McDonald-Holmes. This project, developed in partnership with the University of Liverpool, explores local experiences regarding food insecurity and community resilience.
To support the new exhibition, the gallery has planned two family-friendly creative days. Families are invited to take part in activities such as crafting paper coral reefs and sculpting butterflies on 3 August and 6 August 2026.
The programming is part of a broader effort to expand cultural opportunities in the area. This includes the This Place This Stage initiative, which is backed by 650,000 GBP in funding from Arts Council England to boost youth engagement through 2028. Local community arts are also supported by the charity Heart of Glass, which receives ongoing investment to help bring creative programmes to residents across the borough.
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