Harley Foundation

About the museum

The Harley Foundation is an educational arts charity on the Welbeck estate in Nottinghamshire. It was set up in 1978 by Ivy, Duchess of Portland, who wanted to encourage creativity and support the practice of arts and crafts. The foundation first made grants and then built craft studios and workshops inside the old walled kitchen garden of the estate, where makers have worked since the 1980s.

As the community of makers grew, the foundation decided it needed a public face, and the Harley Gallery opened to show contemporary art and craft. Alongside it, a museum was created to display the Portland Collection, the art collection built up by the Dukes of Portland and their families, who have owned Welbeck since 1607. The museum display changes about every three years.

Today the site has two parts that are free to enter: the Harley Gallery, with changing exhibitions in two spaces, a gallery shop for contemporary craft and a creative space for children, and the Harley Museum with treasures from the Portland Collection. Other parts of the foundation include artists' studios, a pottery studio, a learning programme and a countryside art trail to Creswell Crags.

Highlights

• Portland Collection with Michelangelo's drawing Madonna del Silenzio
• Van Dyck's portrait of Charles I as a boy and the earring Charles I wore at his execution
• Changing contemporary art and craft exhibitions in the Harley Gallery
• Gallery shop for contemporary craft
• Free creative activities for children
• Art trail to Creswell Crags

Permanent exhibition

• The World's Mine Oyster: Art, Nature and Collecting the Globe – A display in the Harley Museum exploring the stories behind the Portland Collection and how the Cavendish family saw and used the natural world.

Founded

1994

Operated by

The Harley Foundation (registered charity no. 276611)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Entry to the gallery and the museum is free, and parking is free. Guided tours of Welbeck Abbey are a separate offer.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building is wheelchair accessible. The gallery is on two levels with a lift to the upper floor, and the museum is also on two levels. Accessible toilets are on the ground floor and there are 12 Blue Badge spaces in the main car park.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

There are free children's activities every day in the Creative Space of the gallery, and a monthly Discover Art! session for children on the third Saturday. The gallery and museum are breastfeeding friendly and baby changing is available in the museum.

Getting there & parking

The entrance is on the A60, 5 miles south of Worksop; follow the brown signs for Welbeck.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Lockers

The Harley Café, managed by Welbeck Farm Shop, is next door in the Courtyard. The gallery shop sells contemporary craft. Lockers are available downstairs in the museum, and the Welbeck Farm Shop and a garden centre are nearby.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit