A treasure trove of objects, new displays on the horizon and a community story hunt are set to shape a busy month at the Museum, with free admission and plenty of ways for people to get involved.
The Museum's current headline exhibition, Treasures of North Devon, brings together notable objects from local and national collections, including items loaned by the British Museum and the V&A. The display spans prehistory through to later eras and highlights silver, ceramics and books made or used in North Devon. It runs until 11 October 2025. Full details are at www.barnstaplemuseum.org.uk.
Alongside it, Digging Deeper: Celebrating the work of volunteers in North Devon's archaeology -- co-curated with members of the North Devon Archaeological Society -- continues until 4 October 2025. The show outlines plans for a new project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. More information is available via the Museum's What's On page at https://barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/whatson/digging-deeper-celebrating-the-work-of-volunteers-in-north-devons-archaeology/.
Two further exhibitions are slated for the autumn. Earth Action North Devon: Explorers Create! will occupy the Community Gallery from 11 October to 22 November 2025, with a launch event on Saturday, 11 October, 2pm-4pm. North Devon Innovates then follows from 25 October 2025 to 3 January 2026, showcasing pioneering local businesses with global reach. Exhibition listings are at https://barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/whatson/earth-action-north-devon-explorers-create/.
A Heritage Open Day activity will take place at the Pannier Market on Saturday, 13 September, 10am-4pm. The Museum team will collect personal memories and anecdotes about specific places for inclusion on the Humap "100 stories" online trail. Details are at https://barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/whatson/call-for-stories-help-us-map-the-heart-of-barnstaple/.
The Museum has also opened recruitment for a Project Archaeologist to support post-excavation analysis of digs undertaken in the 1970s and 1980s. Applications close on 12 September 2025, with interviews on Thursday, 2 October, and Friday, 3 October 2025. Job information is available at https://www.northdevon.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/work-with-us/. Background on the project funding can be found on the Council's news page.
Photographers are invited to enter the next Documentary Photography Open Exhibition, themed "This is me", with submissions accepted from 1 December 2025 to 11 April 2026 for display from 23 May to 4 July 2026. A new Young Digital Documentary Open for those aged fourteen to eighteen will run to the same timetable, with selected work exhibited digitally on site and online. Entry information is at https://barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/whatson/call-for-entries-documentary-photography-open-2026/.
The Museum is also seeking short-term exhibition invigilators and long-term volunteers across collections and visitor services, with application details at https://barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-with-us/. Those interested in supporting the venue can join the Friends of the Museum via https://barnstaplemuseum.org.uk/join-the-friends/. General information, opening hours (Monday to Saturday, 10am-4.30pm) and contact details ( [email protected], 01271 346747) are available at www.barnstaplemuseum.org.uk. Admission is free.