2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Suffolk born artist, John Constable (1776-1837), who would become one of the most important of all British painters.
To commemorate his life and work Colchester + Ipswich Museums (CIMS) will present Constable 250, at the heart of which will be three landmark exhibitions, featuring major loans from across the UK.
A highlight will be his iconic masterpiece, The Hay Wain (1821, The National Gallery) making its first ever visit to the county it depicts. Ironically, synonymous as it may be with the Suffolk countryside, The Hay Wain was actually painted in Constable’s London studio. In Ipswich, The Hay Wain will be reunited with its preparatory sketches, part of the Ipswich collection.
Councillor Carole Jones, Ipswich Borough Council’s Portfolio Holder for Planning and Museums, said: “Ipswich Borough Council is proud to play a central role in celebrating the life and legacy of John Constable through these landmark exhibitions at Christchurch Mansion – one of our most treasured heritage assets. Constable 250 will bring world-class artworks to Ipswich for the very first time, thanks to CIMS and the generous support of our partners. This collaborative effort reflects our commitment to preserving heritage, supporting cultural tourism, and inspiring future generations through art. Throughout the 250-anniversary year, we’re creating an extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for residents and visitors to experience the landscapes that inspired one of Britain’s greatest painters.”
Constable 250 is made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to explore Constable’s art and legacy through 2026.
The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the Weston Loan Programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.
Today, Constable is hailed for the way he changed how we look at landscape and create art. A legacy of which, is that the area where he was born, grew up, and frequently painted is now known as ‘Constable Country’.
Nevertheless, the rural idyllic location- in which a horse and cart cross the River Stour, with Willy Lott’s House on the left bank - is recognisably Flatford, near Dedham and, much like other views Constable painted of the local landscape, it remains largely unchanged.
So, there is much to celebrate across the coming year, with community events, artists’ responses and learning programmes to create a deeper connection with the natural world Constable depicted.
Located at the beautiful Tudor Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, the three exhibitions will explore Constable’s art and his legacy.
Constable: A Cast of Characters
28 March - 14 June 2026
Constable: A Cast of Characters will introduce visitors to the people who inspired and supported the artist. Drawing on objects within Colchester + Ipswich Museums collections, such as letters and costumes, along with important loans from private collections and the Government Art Collection, the exhibition represents a chance to explore Constable’s portraiture. Many of the objects included have never been on public display before.
It will also showcase new sculptures created by Sasha Constable (b.1970), international sculptor and a direct descendant of the artist himself. A Cast of Characters will also introduce lesser-known artists in the Colchester + Ipswich Museums collections who had links to Constable.
Constable: Walking the landscape
11 July - 4 October 2026
Constable: Walking the landscape brings unprecedented key loans from the National Gallery, Tate, V&A, Royal Academy, National Galleries of Scotland to Suffolk for the very first time to explore the theme of walking.
Historic loans including The Hay Wain and Dedham Vale (1828, National Galleries of Scotland) will be seen alongside Colchester + Ipswich Museum’s own Constable collection, including the two most personal paintings from his childhood home, Golding Constable’s Flower Garden and Golding Constable’s Kitchen Garden (both 1815). Curatorial Advisor for the exhibition is Peter Harrap.
Constable to Contemporary
24 October 2026 - 28 February 2027
The final exhibition of the year-long celebration, Constable to Contemporary juxtaposes Constable’s ongoing artistic and cultural relevancy with contemporary responses to his art, much of it created during the year.
Collectively, the trio of exhibitions will also act as a platform for community engagement work, including a series of events and workshops, all inspired by themes in Constable’s art.
Running from January 2026 and March 2027 the concurrent Constable 250 Learning, Events and Partnerships Programme will feature a wide range of initiatives. Suffolk Community Libraries will be creating an immersive play space for under 5’s that will tour local libraries, while older art lovers can enjoy Suffolk Archives’ Constable on Tour mobile unit, which will provide an opportunity for diverse communities to enjoy Constable 250 through a number of workshops. Aspire Black Suffolk will offer a diverse approach to history through inspiring young people in creative careers and a resource book that reveals a broader range of historical and creative people.
A new sound artwork created by Stuart Bowditch, comprising of field recordings from the locations of Constable’s artworks today will be another exciting addition to the programme, while a two-day symposium organised in conjunction with the University of Suffolk in partnership with the Paul Mellon Centre, based around the theme of landscape and environmental changes, forms part of the broader 12-month schedule of talks and tours of local areas linked with the artworks in the exhibitions.
Emma Roodhouse, Collections & Learning Curator (Art), Colchester + Ipswich Museums said “We have spent years planning for the Constable 250 anniversary, working with a broad range of partners to explore Constable’s legacy and its relevance today. The opportunity to display The Hay Wain for the first time in Constable’s home region has always been an ambition, and to show it alongside significant loans from Tate, the V&A, the Royal Academy and the National Galleries of Scotland make this even more special. It will have real meaning for Ipswich and Suffolk, celebrating the profound impact of his art — a truly joyful moment for us all. Celebrating Constable 250 reaffirms Ipswich’s place at the heart of Constable’s story and his lasting impact on art and culture.”
Christine Riding, National Gallery Director of Collections and Research said “We are so delighted to be partnering with the Colchester + Ipswich Museums, who were such generous lenders to our recent Hay Wain exhibition. This is moment to for us to all come together to celebrate the genius of Constable, one of our most celebrated artists, and the richness of public collections in the UK.”
Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “The Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund empowers regional organisations to bring outstanding art to local audiences, and the first ever display of The Hay Wain in Suffolk is a wonderful example of that ambition. As the programme marks its 10th round of funding next year, we’re delighted to support these landmark loans for this major celebration of 250 years of Constable.”
Sasha Constable, Artist and direct descendant of Constable, said: "It’s wonderful news to hear that The Hay Wain will be on display at Christchurch Mansion as part of the Constable 250 exhibitions in 2026. It’s truly special to welcome this iconic masterpiece back to Suffolk — the very landscape that inspired some of Constable’s most celebrated works.”
Constable 250 is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund grants, Arts Council England, Paul Mellon Centre, Babergh District Council, the Friends of the Ipswich Museums, Kerseys LLP and East Anglia Art Fund.
NOTES TO EDITORS
HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES FOR MEDIA USE CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE
The Hay Wain, John Constable, 1821 (c) The National Gallery, London
About Colchester and Ipswich Museums - Christchurch Mansion is owned and funded by Ipswich Borough Council and run by the Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service partnership. Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service (CIMS) is jointly run by Colchester City Council and Ipswich Borough Council. CIMS was formed in 2007 to provide stronger, more dynamic joint services for each location, and their residents and visitors. CIMS manages three properties belonging to Ipswich Borough Council - Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich Art Gallery and Ipswich Museum. Colchester heritage venues are Colchester Castle, Hollytrees Museum and the Natural History Museum, and the CIMS Resource Centre is based in Colchester. More on Constable 250 here.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund - Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past. Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities. heritagefund.org.uk Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
About the Garfield Weston Foundation: The Garfield Weston Foundation is a family founded grant-maker that gives money to support charities across the UK. The Foundation supports charities operating in a wide variety of sectors that make a positive difference within their communities. The Foundation was established by W. Garfield Weston in 1958, through an endowment of shares in Wittington Investments – which holds a majority stake in Associated British Foods. This successful business model exists to this day. Each year the sum the Foundation has given away has grown: in the most recent financial year 2024-2025 the Foundation gave away almost £130 million to 2,967 charities. Since its establishment, the Foundation has generated funds of nearly £1.7 billion, which have been donated to UK charities.
Art Fund is the national charity for museums and galleries. For over 120 years, it has helped institutions across the UK to develop and share their collections, invest in people and expertise, grow their audiences and inspire the next generation. Art Fund connects museums and people with great art and culture through funding, advocacy and initiatives, because access to art is vital for a healthy society. It champions the sector through the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year Award - the world’s largest museum prize - and supports museum professionals through dedicated training and grant programmes. Independent and people-powered, Art Fund is supported by 142,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, as well as generous contributions from individuals, trusts and foundations. The National Art Pass offers free or discounted entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places in the UK, 50% off major exhibitions, a subscription to Art Quarterly magazine and Art In Your Inbox newsletter. www.artfund.org
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