Visiting the museum allows you the chance to enjoy its stunning collection of paintings and drawings depicting the people, landscapes and horses of a lost way of English, particularly rural, life. Carefully curated displays throughout the rooms of this Tudor and Georgian building give an insight, not only into the immense skill of a painter who, born the son of a Suffolk miller, became President of the Royal Academy, but also into the character of the man himself and the times in which he lived. This season, in addition to the museum’s new-look displays, there are a wide range of workshops and short courses which include oil painting masterclasses, watercolour-painting for both adults and children, a summer art school and a side-saddle riding demonstration.
If you’ve an interest in birdlife, the museum is also hosting an informative and enjoyable bird-walk event through parts of its forty-acre estate. The recently refurbished Garden Café is now open and Hilary Persent and his team look forward to welcoming museum visitors and the general public.
The menu is homemade, featuring locally sourced, seasonal selections and is updated daily. From 10am the café offers coffees and pastries and from 12.30pm a selection of light lunches. Afternoon tea is served from 3pm. In addition, a daily selection of sandwiches, cakes, soft drinks, beers and wine is available.
The Munnings Art Museum shop offers a range of unique gifts, postcards, prints, stationery and a selection of books and DVDs. The museum is open from 1 April to 31 October 2015, Wednesday to Sunday, 2pm to 5pm and Bank Holidays. Its programme of events and workshops can be found online at www.munningsmuseum.org.uk. The museum welcomes group bookings and offers an exclusive out of hours package for groups. Details of the Garden Café can be found at: www.thegardencafeatmunnings.comEntry to the museum is not a requirement of admission to the café.