Mining Art Gallery
Gallery in Bishop Auckland with art and objects about coal-mining life in County Durham, centred on the Gemini Collection.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Mining Art Gallery opened in 2017 in the market place of Bishop Auckland. It was created in partnership with Dr Robert McManners OBE and Mrs Gillian Wales, whose Gemini Collection forms the core of the displays. The gallery is part of The Auckland Project, a charity that works to regenerate the town and run several visitor attractions.
The collection of around 420 works by artists from mining communities records the life, work and culture of the North East coalfield. The paintings and objects show conditions underground as well as family and community life above ground, including the Durham Miners’ Gala. Well-known artists in the collection include Tom McGuinness and Norman Cornish.
The gallery has three permanent rooms and one space for changing displays on the ground floor.
Highlights
- Gemini Collection of about 420 works by mining artists
- Pitmen at Play by Henry Perlee Parker (1838), the oldest painting on display
- Big Meeting by Tom McGuinness, set at the Durham Miners’ Gala
- Testing for Gas by Ted Holloway (1956), a miner’s view of work underground
- Berriman’s Chip Van by Norman Cornish
Permanent exhibition
- Gemini Collection – Paintings and objects by mining artists show working life underground and community life in the County Durham coalfield, in three permanent rooms.
- Founded
- 2017
- Operated by
- The Auckland Project
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | £5free up to age 4 · Child ticket for ages 5 to 15. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Visitors with disabilities can get a free carer ticket; proof of ID is required. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –Pre-booked groups of 10 or more receive discounted rates; the group booking team gives the prices. |
| Families | –Family tickets are offered as part of the annual passes: Family 1 is one adult with up to four children aged 4 to 15, Family 2 is two adults with up to four children. |
| Annual Pass – adult | £30Covers The Auckland Project venues including the gallery. |
| Annual Pass – child | £13.50 |
| Annual Pass – Family 1 | £45 |
| Annual Pass – Family 2 | £75 |
| Local Annual Pass – adult | £24For postcodes DL4, DL5 and DL13 to DL17; proof of address needed and the pass can only be bought in person. Child £10.80, Family 1 £36, Family 2 £60. |
Friends of The Auckland Project and holders of an Arts Pass enter free. The Historic Houses ticket does not cover the gallery.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The gallery is described as accessible to wheelchair users, with a lift to each floor and an accessible toilet. A hearing loop is available at the welcome desk and a small number of manual wheelchairs can be borrowed on request. Verified assistance dogs are welcome. A detailed access guide is available from AccessAble.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 4 |
|---|
Children aged 4 and under enter free and family tickets are available as part of the annual passes.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Bishop Auckland station · 15-min walk
Bishop Auckland railway station is about a 15-minute walk from Market Place. Go North East runs The Castles Express bus from Newcastle to Bishop Auckland. The nearest main-line station is Darlington, with hourly trains to Bishop Auckland.
By car
Paid parking
North Bondgate car park (DL14 7PG) charges £1 for up to two hours and £4 for a full day, 24 hours a day including Bank Holidays. It has electric vehicle charging points.
There are bike racks in Market Place. Visitors who arrive by train or bus with a valid ticket for the day can get a discount on the Annual Pass.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
The Auckland Project runs restaurants in the town, including Bishop’s Kitchen and El Castillo Tapas Restaurant. The gallery page does not list a café or shop of its own.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| School programs | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | School programmes for all key stages are offered by The Auckland Project education team, and a hazard checklist for the Mining Art Gallery is available for teachers. Group visits are arranged through the group booking team. |
