The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum

About

The Burton at Bideford Art Gallery and Museum is a vibrant and family-friendly cultural hub situated within the picturesque setting of Victoria Park in the historic port town of Bideford, North Devon.

Entrance to the gallery and Museum is free. Donations are welcome and help support our work.

The Burton is over 65 years old and is run by a friendly team of staff and volunteers. It has been celebrating, exhibiting and nurturing all kinds of artists since the gallery opened on 31 October 1951 by local businessperson, Thomas Burton, and the successful artist, Hubert Coop.

The building was purpose-built as a gallery to commemorate the sad and untimely death of Thomas Burton’s daughter, Mary, who died in 1949 at the age of just 44. She was a talented artist in her own right and her father wanted the gallery to be a lasting memorial to her. In 1994, the gallery was extended and refurbished to increase its capacity to four times its original size.

The Burton now has three exhibition spaces and it hosts the Bideford town Museum as well as a successful Craft Gallery, showcasing the best of contemporary craft, a thriving shop, a Tourist Information Centre, and an ever popular café. There is also a dedicated education and engagement space, from which courses for aspiring artists of all ages are delivered throughout the year.

The Burton at Bideford is a company limited by guarantee with charity status. It is generously supported by Torridge District Council and the Arts Council of England, and has been an Arts Council National Portfolio Organisation since 2018.

The Burton is well-known in the South West as a community venue for everyone to love and access freely. It strives for excellence in being a creative destination that can both inspire and challenge.

You are warmly invited to pay a visit!