The Wilson museum and art gallery is launching a free monthly evening event called Wilson Nights, giving Cheltenham residents after-hours access to art, performances, and creative workshops. The first edition, named First Table, opens on 1 July 2026 from 6pm to 9pm and requires no booking.
The inaugural event sets the pattern for a regular series on the first Wednesday of every month at the same time. The museum designed the evenings as a platform for local artists and community groups to test new work and build audiences in a supportive environment. “Entry and all performances are FREE – no need to book,” the venue states.
The Wilson opened in 1899 as the Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum and was renamed in 2013 after polar explorer Edward Wilson, a Cheltenham native who died with Scott in 1912. Governed by The Cheltenham Trust in partnership with the borough council, the museum already offers free daytime admission and houses a noted Arts and Crafts Movement collection. Wilson Nights extends that public access into the evening with artist-led activities that include live music, DJ sets, and hands-on workshops.
An earlier event, The Encore, ran on 6 May 2026 and featured similar programming, and the museum has invited artists and community groups to apply online to take part in future Wilson Nights. The series runs without charge each month, drawing on resident artists and external creatives to shape the sessions.
The event on 1 July marks the start of what the museum hopes will become a regular fixture for Cheltenham’s creative community.
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