CONSTABLE 250
2026 marks the 250th anniversary of John Constable’s birth – find out how Brantham is getting involved.
Brantham will be taking part in the celebrations planned to mark the birth of local painter John Constable 250 years ago as part of major 15-month county-wide events programme.
Plans are currently underway for Brantham to host talks, art sessions, walking groups and a village art exhibition as part of the local celebrations whilst the wider programme includes community workshops, school holiday activities, artist led sessions, talks, tours and a mobile exhibition with Suffolk Archives.
Brantham Events
Constable and Brantham Map – a map showing local locations captured by Constable as well as his locations for painting them is in production.
Constable themed walks – Working with the mapped locations there will be some scheduled walks following Constables own footprints around the village
23rd and 24th May – Celebrating Constable Weekend at Brantham Village Hall:
Local art and craft exhibition – submissions welcome for Brantham’s very own art and craft exhibition, whether you enjoy sketching, painting, sewing, photography we look forward to seeing your creations and pieces.
Free art session with Rebecca Turbitt – come and create your own piece of art with Rebecca from BLC art group.
250 years on: John Constable, the Man and his Landscape
Wednesday 27th May 7pm doors – Talk 7.30pm
Join one of the expert guides from the National Trust at Flatford for a talk marking 250 years since the birth of John Constable. Using well-known paintings and sketches, the talk explores Constable’s development as an artist and looks at Flatford today. Discover how his work grew from local landscapes to become internationally celebrated and iconic images of the English countryside. Tickets: £3.
Events in the larger programme include 3 exhibitions at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich:
Constable: A Cast of Characters (28 March to 14 June 2026) – Introducing those who inspired and supported the artist, featuring personal letters, period costume, historical artefacts and influential artwork.
Constable: Walking the Landscape (11 July to 4 October 2026) – A celebration of Constable’s deep connection to the Suffolk countryside, including rarely seen works and personal paintings from his childhood home.
Constable to Contemporary (24 October 2026 to 28 February 2027) – A dynamic exhibition exploring modern responses to Constable’s legacy.
The East Bergholt Society also have a centralised calendar to compile the wider programme: https://www.eastbergholt.org/in-our-view/
What a fantastic space. A real gem of a village hall. Beautifully built and spacious.
Google Review
Nice sized village hall. Impressive.
Rich 777497 – Google Review
Nicely kept village hall with stage. Great for multipurpose use with toilets, two kitchens a main hall and several side rooms
Ryan Lenney – Google Review