Schoolchildren sitting around a desk in a room
Schoolchildren at the Tate mobile museum

Artists include David Hockney, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, and Cornelia Parker.

In an unprecedented collaboration, Tate has joined forces with the International Art Foundation, Art Explora and MuMo to take masterpieces from its national collection on a 12-week tour of the Midlands and the North.

With the aim of making great art accessible to everyone, the Art Explora Mobile Museum, which is touring in a specially adapted trailer, is showcasing its specially curated exhibition titled Soup, Socks and Spiders! Art of the Everyday.

Bringing together contemporary and historic works of art from the Tate national collection, the exhibition, which is an exploration of the ‘still life’ genre, presents everyday objects in unexpected ways and encourages viewers to look more closely at the world around us.

Spanning art movements including Cubism, Surrealism, and Pop Art, as well as contemporary photography and digital art, the exhibition features work by 22 artists, including Vanessa Bell, Christo, Fischli and Weiss, Juan Gris, Damien Hirst, David Hockney, Fernand Léger, Roy Lichtenstein, Nam June Paik, Cornelia Parker, Wolfgang Tillmans, Andy Warhol, and Erwin Wurm. 

Bringing works from Tate’s collection directly to communities in the borough, the Mobile Museum has been situated at Pingles Leisure Centre in Nuneaton since Monday, where it has provided schoolchildren and visitors with a first-hand experience of its incredible pieces of art.

In addition to a tour, visitors have also been able to create their own piece of art to share as a memento with their loved ones through the on-site creative workshop sessions.

Families, neighbours, and the local community are invited to visit the Mobile Museum tomorrow, Saturday, 24 February, from 4:00pm to 5:00pm, where they can view the exhibition alongside artworks made during the workshop sessions.

Frédéric Jousset, Founder of Art Explora, said:

“Art Explora is based on the core belief that art should be accessible to everyone. We try to bring art to new places, new audiences, and new communities.

“The Mobile Museum is an opportunity for thousands of people, and especially school children, to experience art for the first time, right on their doorsteps.

“ In this time of crisis for local authorities, with increasing pressures on arts budgets and arts provision on a regional and local level, the Art Explora Mobile Museum is a chance to level up between the children who have access to art and the ones who get left behind.

“It’s about creating social justice and cohesion.”

Cllr Sue Markham, Portfolio Holder for Public Services, said:

“This is a fantastic opportunity for the people of our borough and our schoolchildren to experience the works of iconic artists first-hand.

“The Council is delighted to support this venture, which really does promote inclusivity in the arts for all.

“I hope many of you can visit and enjoy this wonderful immersive experience.”

Published: 23 February 2024