Exhibitions and Engagement

We offer an exciting programme of collection led exhibitions, talks and events at Western Bank Library and other venues.
All our exhibitions and events are free and open to the public.

An image of visitors looking at display cases of a Library exhibition.

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The Special Collections, Heritage, and Archives Team work with our academics and communities to create a dynamic, accessible and engaging exhibition programme to showcase our unique and fascinating collections.

Current Exhibition

The Power of Creativeness: Champernowne, Withymead, Jung

This exhibition explores the archive of Irene Champernowne which was donated by the Champernowne Trust to Special Collections.

Monday 23rd January - Sunday 25th June 2023

Opening times: Monday—Friday 9am to 7pm. Saturday—Sunday 12pm to 6pm

Irene Champernowne (1901-1976) was a leading psychotherapist in the UK, who pioneered the integrating power of creativeness to improve mental health and whose vision was to make psychotherapy available to all. Influenced by Carl Jung’s psychoanalytic theories, Champernowne pioneered art therapy as a source of treatment which is still used in today’s therapeutic practices.

This exhibition tells the story of Champernowne’s journey, the stories of communities and the people who supported and influenced her, and the ongoing legacy of her work through current and new creativity.

Showcasing some of Champernowne’s archive, donated by The Champernowne Trust, a charity who continue holding events and workshops, influenced by the powerful creative legacy which Champernowne has left.

Click here to download the exhibition flyer

Below is a short video introduction to The Power of Creativeness by Professor Brendan Stone from the School of English.

Video of Prof. Brendan Stone introducing The Power of Creativeness

Previous Exhibition

24 January – 11 June 2022

Engineering Fun: The Story of Orton & Spooner

An exhibition of over two hundred original drawings, plans and photographs from the Orton and Spooner Collection, made possible by a grant from the National Manuscripts Conservation Trust (NMCT) and the University of Sheffield Library.

George Orton, Sons & Spooner Ltd were one of the most significant fairground ride and equipment manufacturers in Britain between the Victorian era and the middle of the twentieth century. The exhibition explores the history of the company, the evolution of fairground rides, fairground architecture, physics and engineering and fairground art.

Take a 360 tour of the Orton & Spooner exhibition to discover highlights of the collections on display by clicking on the hotspots.

Click here to view the Orton & Spooner online exhibition

Exhibition proposals

If you would like to host an exhibition with us, please read our Aims of the Exhibition and Display Programme and email us with your interest:

Aims of the Exhibition and Display Programme

exhibitions@sheffield.ac.uk

Our exhibitions programme is planned in advance and approved by the Library Exhibitions Group.

Engagement and outreach

The Library’s Special Collections, Heritage, and Archives Team works with a diverse range of academics, creatives and communities on many different projects and events throughout the area.

We undertake a variety of outreach and engagement activities such as teaching sessions, attending fairs and festivals, and local community workshops.

University Heritage Collection and Festival of the Mind Project:

The University Heritage Collections and Department of Chemistry collaborated and took part in the Festival of the Mind 2022.

‘Kunststoff: Plastic – The Material of Art’ is a project initiated by Professor Tony Ryan from the Department of Chemistry and the Heritage Collections Manager, collaborated with local sculptor Anthony Bennett, to create a new artwork by repurposing of redundant plastic materials generated from the restoration project of the ‘Graduation’ textile artwork by Diana Springall which is part of the University Heritage Collection.

Find out more about Kunststoff and Festival of the Mind 2022.