Unpeeling The Past: Decolonising the Fruit Salad
Royal Pavilion
Wednesday 7 May, 6pm
Tickets £20
Join Brighton & Hove Museums for a refreshing take on…fruit!
This unique talk peels back the layers of our favourite fruits to explore their complex histories and colonial roots. Learn how everyday flavours carry stories of trade, power, and migration.
Come hungry for knowledge and leave with plenty to chew on – this isn’t your usual fruit salad!
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The In Crowd: Mod Fashion and Style 1958-1966
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
10 May 2025 – 4 January 2026
The Mods were an incredible 1960s youth sub-culture. Mod life provided an opportunity to rebel against the older generation and for young people to use their newfound financial and creative independence to escape into an identity based around music, fashion and drugs.
Although taking their look from a diverse range of sources, Mods were quintessentially British in style and resolutely modern in attitude. The Mod look has remained a staple in the world of fashion for both men and women.
This fashion exhibition focuses on the years 1958 to 1966, considering the influences on Mod look, its impact on youth culture and the enduring appeal of Mod style. Alongside full outfits, clothing and accessories, the exhibition will also include contemporary photography, film and ephemera tracing the origins, development and enduring appeal of the Mods.
Roger K Burton, former Mod and founder of The Contemporary Wardrobe Collection is curating the exhibition in collaboration with Martin Pel, Curator of Textiles & Costume, Brighton & Hove Museums.
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An Evening with Professor Hakim Adi: “African and Caribbean People in Britain”
Royal Pavilion
Wednesday 14 May, 6.15pm
Tickets £27
The History of African and Caribbean people in Britain did not start with the arrival of a certain ship in 1948. It could be argued that Africans were in Britain before the English migrants.
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Royal Pavilion, where celebrated historian Professor Hakim Adi will bring these hidden histories to life. In a captivating, illustrated presentation inspired by his acclaimed book, African and Caribbean People in Britain: A History, Professor Adi unveils the untold stories, invaluable contributions, and resilient spirit that have helped shape modern Britain.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to engage with a pioneering scholar and gain a fresh perspective on Britain’s rich, diverse history.
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An Evening of Drawing at the Booth Museum of Natural History
Booth Museum of Natural History
Thursday 15 May, 6:30-9pm, Age18+
Tickets £25
Join us for an evening of drawing in the wonderful setting of our museum. There will be three artist-led sessions for you to take part in throughout the evening. Get up close with some of our skeleton collections to draw and handle. See Edward Booth’s original drawing and painting collection – not currently on display – and take part in some quick drawing games. Have a go at drawing a bird still life by candlelight. You can rotate around activities or you can stay doing one all evening. Enjoy refreshments at our paying bar and unwind as you unleash your creativity.
Materials will be provided or bring your own. For protection of our nationally significant collections please do not bring acrylic or oil paint, oil pastels, or charcoal.
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Colonialism and Country Houses: The Making of the English Landowning Class
Royal Pavilion
Wednesday 21 May, 6pm
Tickets £22
Discover the hidden history of England’s landowning class. Unlock the secrets of England’s grand estates and their surprising colonial connections.
Join Gurminder K Bhambra, Professor of Historical Sociology at the University of Sussex and author of the award-winning Rethinking Modernity: Postcolonialism and the Sociological Imagination, for an eye-opening talk that delves into the transformation of land ownership in England, revealing its deep ties to overseas colonial wealth.
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Arms After Hours: A Rare Display of Historic Firearms
Brighton Museum & Art Gallery
Thursday 22 May, 6pm. Age 18+
Tickets: £35 | £30 Members
Step into Brighton Museum & Art Gallery after dark for an adults-only evening exploring some of our firearms and their complex histories. Discover how these weapons played roles in both colonisation and power shifts.
Evening Highlights:
Insightful talks on firearms and their impact
Close-up display of antique firearms
Paid bar open for drinks
Museum shop open for after-hours browsing
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Styling a Revolution: Mods fashion in the making
The Old Courtroom
Saturday 24 May 2025, 11am-12pm
Tickets £15
Roger K Burton, curator of The In Crowd: Mods Fashion and Style 1958-1966 in conversation with Martin Pel, Curator of Textiles & Costume at Brighton & Hove Museums. Roger is a costume designer, stylist, author, original Leicester mod and owner of The Contemporary Wardrobe, supplying street fashion for films, including Quadrophenia. Roger and Martin will discuss how Mod style revolutionized fashion in the 1950s and ‘60s and its lasting legacy on street fashion.
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Opium: Nature’s Remedy, History’s Curse
Royal Pavilion
Wednesday 28 May, 6pm
Tickets £20
Explore the fascinating journey of opium through the ages, from ancient medicine to Victorian addiction.
Join Lee Ismail, Head of Natural Sciences and Curator of the Booth Museum, as he reveals the natural history of the opium poppy and traces its powerful impact across centuries. Discover how this mysterious plant shaped cultures and left its mark on medicine and society – for better and worse.
This one-night event promises an intriguing look into the world of opium, past and present. Tickets are limited, so book now to secure your place!
