Mutiny brings world renowned art to West Suffolk

02 Jun 2023

Hon Frances Stanley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Horseracing Museum with Cllr Pat Hanlon, Vice Chair and Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council viewing the work of the Connor Brothers at a Mutiny in Colour preview

One of the UK’s biggest and most exciting contemporary art exhibitions will welcome its first visitors when it opens its doors tomorrow (Saturday 3 June).

Featuring the work of Banksy, My Dog Sighs, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Grayson Perry and many more, Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour will give West Suffolk residents the opportunity to see some of the best contemporary art from world renowned artists at three local venues.

The new exhibition follows on from the success of the Moments exhibition which West Suffolk Council held at Moyse’s Hall Museum in Bury St Edmunds in 2021. That led to the council working in partnership with the National Horseracing Museum (NHRM) in Newmarket and Haverhill Arts Centre to deliver the exhibition across more of its towns.

Mutiny in Colour opens at Moyse’s Hall Museum and the National Horseracing Museum from tomorrow while Haverhill Arts Centre will be displaying works from the 15 July. Each venue will display different works so people are encouraged to visit all three to get the most out of the experience.

Among the works on display will be life-size, high-resolution photographs of the seven pieces of work Banksy painted in the Ukraine, some of which have since been destroyed by air strikes. Exhibition goers will be able to donate to the appeal for the Ukraine.

Cllr Pat Hanlon, Vice Chair of West Suffolk Council looks at one of the works Banksy painted in the Ukraine

Entry costs at all three venues are being kept as low as they can while covering costs. 

Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council, said: “This is an exciting and internationally important exhibition that will help make modern art accessible for local residents and visitors alike. That’s why I am delighted, that building on the success of Moments in 2021, West Suffolk Council is working in partnership with the National Horseracing Museum and Haverhill Arts Centre to deliver this fantastic exhibition in three venues across the district. I am fiercely aware of the cost-of-living crisis and so really pleased that admission costs have been kept low to help as many people as possible experience this event.

“Some of this art is fun, some of it is thought provoking and some of it is challenging. But art and our wider mix of leisure and cultural activities is important in helping make West Suffolk such a fantastic place to live and work, and also to our own individual health and wellbeing. 

One of the works of the Conner Brothers on display at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket

“We also expect Mutiny in Colour, just as Moments did, to attract a great many visitors to West Suffolk and benefit the tills of local shops, cafés, restaurants, hotels and other businesses. Importantly, this exhibition offers the chance for each of us to show our solidarity and support for the people of Ukraine, many of whom have become our friends and neighbours here in West Suffolk and raise awareness of the tragedy they have endured.”

A special preview of the exhibition was held for project partners, media and other guests at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket on Thursday evening.

Hon Frances Stanley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Horseracing Museum said: “We are indebted to Brandler Galleries for facilitating this outstanding exhibition to go ahead. We are delighted to be working in partnership with both West Suffolk Council and Haverhill Town Council to organise this, one of the largest, most exciting and important exhibitions of contemporary art that will be taking place in the UK this summer. 

Cllr Pat Hanlon, Vice Chair of West Suffolk Council and Cllr Cliff Waterman, Leader of West Suffolk Council looking at Hula Hooping Girl by Banksy

“Art is made to be enjoyed, to provoke and challenge, to get us all thinking, but most of all to be seen. That is why it’s wonderful to be able to bring the work of internationally important artists to three West Suffolk venues. And it’s why all partners have agreed to keep admission costs as low as we can while covering our overheads. We are sure the exhibition will attract lots of interest from local residents and visitors alike and we cannot wait to open our doors tomorrow. We hope that they will be amazed by what they see.”

Haverhill Arts Centre will be joining the exhibition from 15 July.

Daniel Schumann, creative director of Haverhill Arts Centre said: “When something like this lands in a place like Haverhill, the real power and value of great art in local places delivered accessibly can be seen. Culture both inspires and regenerates – it is no longer an urban myth; it is proven fact. The cultural sector of Norfolk and Suffolk contributes £272 million in GVA per year. It has delivered over 7,000 jobs and helps shape a different kind of economy, based on wellbeing and sustainability. 

 Hon Frances Stanley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the National Horseracing Museum speaks to Daniel Schumann, creative director of Haverhill Arts Centre, at a preview held at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket

“Our high streets and town centres need the regenerative power of the arts more now than ever, and projects like this in places in Haverhill, a hardworking town but one without great wealth or history, shows how by reimagining how we populate town centres and reinvigorating a sense of place, market towns may thrive once more. Great art raises aspirations, creates conversations and brings together communities – that’s why Mutiny in Colour is so welcome in Haverhill.”

John Brandler of Brandler Galleries who worked with the council on the Moments exhibition, is supporting Mutiny in Colour. 

John Brandler of Brandler Galleries worked with West Suffolk Council on the Moments exhibition and is supporting Mutiny in Colour. He spoke at the opening of the preview event

He said: “Following on from the Moments exhibition in 2021, which was such a great success, I’m delighted to be working with West Suffolk Council again on the Urban Frame: Mutiny in Colour exhibition, alongside the National Horseracing Museum and Haverhill Arts Centre.  

“This exhibition across three West Suffolk venues will include over three hundred pieces of art of all sizes and consequently, will be one of the biggest and most exciting contemporary arts exhibitions anywhere in the UK, this summer.  

“It’s been a mammoth undertaking to take on such an extraordinary project, which has taken about a year to pull together.  But working with the expert teams at West Suffolk Council, the National Horseracing Museum and Haverhill Arts Centre has made the project a very enjoyable one.”

A special preview of Mutiny in Colour was held at the National Horseracing Museum in Newmarket on 1 June 2023

Tickets for each venue cost £7 per adult and £3 for children aged between 12-18. Under 12’s go free, but still require a ticket. To book visit www.whatsonwestsuffolk.co.uk/art/the-urban-frame-mutiny-in-colour 


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