2025: Year In Review

As our team works diligently to bring you events, exhibitions and more in 2026, we’d like to take a moment to reflect on the year just gone.

2025 at the Harley Foundation was shaped by everyone who visited, learned something new, supported an artist, brought a school group, liked a social media post, or spent time being creative with us.

Thank you for being a part of it!

2025 at a Glance

6 exhibitions across the year
136,493 visitors through our doors
233 pottery classes held, with 2,010 people attending
210 artists and makers supported through our gallery shop
564 school children welcomed from 15 schools
50,000 people interacted with us on social media

On the walls

Our exhibitions were varied this year. From shows exploring what we consider ‘art’ or ‘craft’, to traditional basketry, art about dogs, and children’s book illustrations, we hope we sparked conversation, curiosity, and creativity.

In the Museum, Unseen Treasures of the Portland Collection continued, alongside a temporary showcase of an 18th century book of medicinal recipes. You might also have spotted us on Reddit, in a viral post about the 5th Duke of Portland.

People's Art at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Scott Merrylees.

Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Alex Wilkinson.

A Dog's Life at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Alex Wilkinson.

Unseen Treasures of the Portland Collection at the Harley Museum. Photograph by Scott Merrylees.

Helen Oxenbury: We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Other Adventures at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Alex Wilkinson.

Basketry: Rescuing, Reviving, Retaining at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Alex Wilkinson.

A Dog's Life at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Alex Wilkinson.

Helen Oxenbury: We're Going on a Bear Hunt and Other Adventures at the Harley Gallery. Photograph by Alex Wilkinson.

In the studios

Our studios remained busy throughout the year, and we hosted Studio Discovery Days – giving visitors the chance to see the Harley Studio artists in action, making work in response to the treasures in our museum.

In the pottery studio, over 2,000 of you joined our sessions. From self-guided sessions and 6-week introductory courses to classes designed to help you build your skills, it’s been a year of making, learning, and growing in confidence.

Young Creatives

We worked with 15 schools this year to welcome 564 pupils to our exhibitions. Thank you to the parents, group leaders, and teachers who make these visits possible.

Beyond school visits, we were joined by 542 young people aged 0–15 at our events in 2025. They worked with exhibiting artists, got creative in our pottery studio, giggled and wiggled in musical sessions with Becki Bops, and joined us for our two-week Make + Play programme during the summer holidays.

Who’s new

In February, we welcomed a new Director, Bryony Bond, following the retirement of Lisa Gee, who led the Harley Foundation for over 25 years.

We were also delighted to welcome Grace, Sam and Jasmine to our team of talented Gallery Coordinators, along with two new studio artists: scientific glassblower Daniel Jackson and furniture maker Thomas Veryard.

All about you (and what’s next)

Your support – visiting, booking, shopping, sharing, and cheering us on – helps creativity thrive here every day.

Over 130,000 of you visited across our galleries in 2025 and we hope to welcome you again in 2026. Stay tuned to learn more about what we’ve got coming up, including a brand new museum display, the Harley Open exhibition, plus contemporary shows exploring mining and mythology.

Want to visit us again? See what’s on…

What’s On