Exhibitions
We are proud to host many fascinating and thought-provoking exhibitions throughout the year in our John Richard Baker Exhibition Hall.
Current Exhibition
Rivers4Life
6 June – 27 September 2026
Our family-friendly Rivers4Life summer exhibition showcases the work of the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, and includes art produced in the Rivers4Life schools and community workshops, photography, artefacts, sound stations, films and interactives!
The exhibition is open to the public from Saturday 6th June to Sunday 27th September 2026, 10am to 5pm, last admission 4pm. Rivers4Life is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Here’s what some of our visitors have said about the exhibition so far………….
“An exhibition that makes sense to young and old. My girls and I have spent ages here and we will be back! Well done for including young people, who are our future.”
“What a comprehensive exhibition – the way it all linked together like a seamless flow was so impressive. And the fact that you’ve involved so many children and young people in it was marvellous – as they are the future custodians of our rivers. The whole experience is really enjoyable.”
“Incredible display. Inspiring, practical – a real lesson on conservation and sense of place.”
Upcoming Exhibitions
Green Spaces, Shared Places
03 October – 03 January 2027
This exhibition has been co-created through the Going Places project by The Young Creatives, a group of young people based at the Dales Countryside Museum have been exploring and connecting with nature through the museum collections and creative workshops. Focusing on themes of green spaces as shared places, the exhibition shares new stories and places young community voices at the heart of the conversation. Going Places is an Art Fund programme made possible with major support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals.
Young Creatives use heritage to explore green spaces
A group of young creatives is transforming the way we see nature, blending heritage, environment and creativity to explore green spaces and shared places.
The project is part of Going Places, a nationwide celebration of collections, heritage and community from Art Fund, the national charity for museums and galleries. Going Places brings together 20 museums across the UK to share their collections through touring exhibitions co-created with local communities, made possible with generous support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and The Julia Rausing Trust, with additional support from a generous group of trusts, foundations and individuals.
Launched in 2025, the project will see young people exploring and connecting with nature through museum collections and creative activities and share their voice through co-created touring exhibitions.
Eight young creatives, aged 18-30, are working with the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, engaging in monthly in-person meet ups led by Museum staff and the Authority’s Access & Engagement Project Officer alongside external creative practitioners.
Museum Manager Fiona Rosher said: “The project is proving to be a great way to engage young people with our collections and encourage them to explore themes linked with the environment and rural life. We’re looking forward to seeing where the conversations take us and to help them share their voices through the exhibition in creative ways that will connect with other young people.”
The initiative aims to strengthen the relationship between local museums and their communities through consultation and collaboration, while also engaging and providing opportunities for those who are under-represented and underserved.
The young creatives have been exploring the Museum’s collections and considering potential themes to co-create the first touring exhibition. This will open at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in July 2026, before being launched at the Dales Countryside Museum in October.
