Visitors to the Ferens Art Gallery are being offered a rare opportunity to experience Hull’s much‑loved art collection as they’ve never seen it before. The Ferens Unpacked Season lifts the lid on the inner workings of a major public gallery, inviting audiences to explore, question, and help shape the future of this cultural landmark as it moves towards its centenary in 2027.
Featuring two major exhibitions, the season brings the hidden life of the gallery into public view – revealing the stories, processes, and people who care for the city’s outstanding art collection.
Fixing for the Future offers a fascinating insight into the ‘alchemy’ of art conservation. A selection of recently restored works from the Ferens collection will be showcased, including Johann Zoffany’s Robert Baddeley as Moses in Sheridan’s ‘The School for Scandal’ (c.1781), a significant painting accepted by HM Government in Lieu of Inheritance Tax and allocated to the Ferens in 2024. Visitors will discover the science, skill, and meticulous craft behind preserving artworks for generations to come.
For the first time, the gallery’s collection stores are being brought directly into the public galleries. Amongst crates, racks, and archival materials, visitors can encounter artworks that have remained unseen for decades. The Into the Stores exhibition invites audiences to step into the role of curator – learning how to ‘read’ a painting, write their own artwork labels, and explore how the Ferens team cares for the city’s cultural treasures.
Complementing the exhibitions is a rich programme of behind the scenes talks, tours and workshops. Highlights include a special talk on painting conservation with Lucia Scalisi, renowned conservator from BBC’s The Repair Shop. Lucia will share stories and discoveries from her extensive career across museums, galleries, private practice, and international projects, offering a rare glimpse into the world of conservation.
Kerri Offord, Curator of Gallery, said: “This season is a rare chance for visitors to step directly into the world we usually inhabit behind closed doors. Every artwork has a story that extends far beyond what you see on the gallery wall, and the Ferens Unpacked season allows us to share those hidden narratives, the challenges, and the joys of caring for the collection.
“We hope visitors will feel inspired to look closer, ask questions, and join us in imagining what the next century of the Ferens could look like.”
Cllr Rob Pritchard, portfolio holder for culture and leisure, said: “The Ferens has always been one of Hull’s greatest cultural assets, and the Ferens Unpacked season gives our residents and visitors an extraordinary chance to see the gallery in a completely new light.
“By opening up the behind the scenes work that usually goes unseen, we’re celebrating not only the city’s remarkable art collection but also the people who care for it.”
The exhibitions are open at the Ferens Art Gallery from Friday 13th February to Monday 4th May. Find out more here.