Preston Park Museum's new exhibition space to open with host of exciting exhibitions celebrating the railway
A breathtaking installation by an internationally acclaimed artist and interactive playscape for children are some of the exhibitions set to launch Preston Park Museum's new exhibition space.
Following a multi-million pound extension and investment into wider park improvements, Preston Park will be showcasing a range of exhibitions in the museum's new exhibition space throughout 2025, all looking at the stories of the railways.
S&DR200, the international festival celebrating the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, will present the series of exhibitions called 'Tracks of Change' which will allow visitors to play and learn while exploring the impact and legacy of the birth of modern railways.
All Aboard, Corridors, Gateway to the World and then later Perfume make up the Tracks of Change series.
All exhibitions in 2025 to 2026 will be free to attend as part of museum admission.
Corridors
Corridors is a breathtaking new installation by internationally acclaimed artist Rebecca Louise Law.
Suspended delicately from the ceiling, thousands of preserved flowers, many of which have been grown in the museum's own Walled Garden, come together in an immersive display which takes inspiration from the fact that the original Stockton and Darlington Railway line ran through Preston Park.
The installation explores the shared human need to connect with each other and how that need can impact the land we inhabit and how these connections shape the natural world. Visitors will be invited to pause and wander through this extraordinary, suspended floral garden offering a tranquil moment to contemplate.
Made in collaboration with Preston Park volunteers and local community groups and in partnership with Network Rail's Biodiversity Team, the installation reflects the artists' commitment to collaborative art.
Corridors will open on Saturday, 13 September.
All Aboard
Step inside and explore Preston Park Museum's new, interactive exhibition which is specially created for children. Little designers, engineers and drivers will be able to get hands-on with wheels to turn, coal to shovel and pistons to pump in the giant replica train and themed play zones.
Families will be able to take part in a journey of discovery through play to understand the important story of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
All Aboard will open on Saturday, 13 September.
Gateway to the World
A collection of nationally significant paintings will go on display together for the first time at Preston Park Museum. This powerful exhibition will highlight the important role that the birth of the railway played in creating tourism through day trips and travel opportunities for all, regardless of class.
Gateway to the World is expected to open in September.
Keep tuned to the museum's website and social media for more information.
Perfume
Internationally renowned, contemporary visual artist Yann Nguema is planning an exciting installation for the new exhibition space. Known for his innovative approach of blending light, sound and technology, Nguema's work pushes the boundaries of this new art form and creates a sensory experience. Look out for more details about this major commission, which will take an immersive look at scent and is inspired by the seed distribution and pollination when trains travel through the countryside.
Perfume is scheduled for January 2026.
Memory of a Journey
Throughout 2025 community groups, school pupils, care home residents and visitors to S&DR200 festival venues across Tees Valley and County Durham have been involved in a mass participation art project decorating peg dolls, representing their favourite train journey. Thousands of the designs will be showcased in a unique exhibition which will open at Preston Park Museum on Saturday, 13 September and run until the 12 October 2025.
Councillor Nigel Cooke, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for the Environment, Leisure and Culture, said: "We are thrilled to be launching the multi million pound museum exhibition space with a series of beautiful and interactive exhibitions which celebrate the groundbreaking achievements of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
"Opening the new exhibition space with Corridors by Rebecca Louise Law, an internationally acclaimed artist, who has shown her work globally and in prestigious UK venues such as the Saatchi Gallery and Kew Gardens sets out our ambition for the future of the museum.
"And with a fun and adventurous new play scape, All Aboard, part of our opening offer, we hope there's something to entertain people of all ages.
"The new exhibition space will offer people the chance to see national and touring exhibitions on their doorstep, saving people the cost and hassle of travelling far and wide to enjoy different cultural experiences.
"Not only do we want visitors to discover the international significance of our railway heritage through these exhibitions, but we want people to come to Preston Park to enjoy the new space, visit the cafes, soak up the atmosphere, wander through the beautiful grounds and have a lovely day out."
Niccy Hallifax, S&DR200 Festival Director, said: "It's fantastic to see both internationally renowned and national artists featured in this ambitious exhibition series at Preston Park Museum. Combining major creative talent with contributions from local artists and community groups brings real depth and meaning to Tracks of Change.
"From powerful new commissions to historically important paintings that reveal how the railways shaped the world we live in; this is a celebration of innovation past and present.
"We hope the series will inspire the next generation of creatives, inventors, and engineers - while showcasing the Museum's new state of the art exhibition space."
Alongside the new exhibition space, visitors can enjoy a new museum café, The Spence Café with terrace, improved gift shop and explore the new Open Store, where rarely seen objects will be on display. The space also offers a behind-the-scenes look at how the museum cares for its collection.
Wider park improvements, including the refurbishment of the Aviary, have also started with plans announced for a S&DR200 mural inside the much-loved structure which will be created by visual artist, painter and former musician, Kate Jackson.
An Improved play area, toilets and park café, with new seating, a new entrance and an outdoor seating area, are now complete and open.
A new car park, offering almost 100 extra spaces has also been completed.
For a full list of what else is happening across the region as part of the S&DR200 Festival, visit S&DR200 - Stockton and Darlington Railway.
The transformation of Preston Park is being funded after the Council secured £20million of funding for work in Yarm and Eaglescliffe from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
The Tracks of Change exhibition series has been made possible thanks to funding secured through the S&DR 200 Festival Programme in partnership with Darlington Borough Council, Durham County Council and Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council.
Major funders include Arts Council England, Tees Valley Combined Authority.
For more information about Preston Park visit the Preston Park Museum and Grounds website.
