Burton Constable Hall, a magnificent Elizabethan country house nestled in the heart of East Yorkshire's Holderness countryside, has announced an exciting partnership with East Riding Artists (ERA), one of northern England's largest art organizations. The collaboration will see ERA take complete control of the hall's prestigious Stables Gallery throughout 2026, organizing nine consecutive themed exhibitions exclusively for the group's members.
The historic mansion, which welcomes approximately 40,000 visitors annually from around the globe, is renowned for its exceptional collection of Chippendale furniture and its unique Cabinet of Curiosities. This remarkable assemblage features scientific instruments, antiquities, and natural history specimens that constitute the most significant surviving collection of its kind in any English country house. The partnership represents a major cultural initiative that will blend the venue's rich heritage with contemporary artistic expression.
Following extensive negotiations between ERA chairman Larry Malkin and committee member Jane Higgins with Alasdair Hutson, chief executive of the Burton Constable Foundation (BCF), the foundation has agreed to hand over management of the spacious Stables Gallery—currently known as the Community Gallery—to ERA from February 2026 through January 2027. "We are delighted to be working in partnership with East Riding Artists to bring a full year of creative programming into the Stables Gallery," Hutson explained. "Burton Constable Hall has always been a place where history, heritage and culture meet, and this collaboration will give visitors the opportunity to enjoy an ever-changing series of exhibitions by some of the region's most talented artists."
Burton Constable Hall has served as the ancestral home of the Constable family for more than 700 years. The Burton Constable Foundation was established in 1992 following complex negotiations between the Chichester-Constable family, the National Heritage Memorial Fund, and Leeds City Council to secure the property's long-term preservation. While the foundation now oversees the house and parklands, descendants of the original family continue to own the surrounding agricultural estate and reside in the hall's south wing.
The partnership offers significant opportunities for ERA's extensive membership base. "This amazing opportunity will give ERA members a chance to showcase their work at one of East Yorkshire's most well-known historic venues," said Larry Malkin. More than 60 full members will participate in the ongoing rotating exhibition program featuring both two-dimensional and three-dimensional works throughout the year. Additionally, associate members will have the opportunity to submit pieces for a special two-week open exhibition scheduled during the peak summer season.
ERA has built an impressive reputation as a proactive and highly respected art organization, having mounted exhibitions at numerous prestigious Yorkshire venues including Nunnington Hall, the Brynmor Jones Gallery at the University of Hull, Beverley Minster, and Selby Abbey. The inaugural six-week exhibition, titled "Changing Season," will launch in February 2026, followed by "A Moment in Time," which will commemorate the 250th anniversary of John Harrison's death in 1776. Harrison created the revolutionary marine chronometer that solved the longitude problem for maritime navigation. The third exhibition, "Surface and Structure," will explore artistic concepts of texture, relief, and layered compositions.
East Riding Artists serves as a dynamic platform for painters, ceramicists, jewelry makers, sculptors, and mixed-media creators who live and work across this expansive and scenic region of Yorkshire. The organization's territory stretches from Bridlington to Spurn Point along the eastern coast, extends west to Stamford Bridge, and reaches south to Howden and Goole at the Humber estuary's terminus. This vast area encompasses 950 square miles of diverse landscapes including coastline, Yorkshire Wolds, and historic market towns that provide constant inspiration for local artists.
Managed entirely by dedicated volunteers, ERA supports and encourages visual artists throughout East Yorkshire through comprehensive programs of events, exhibitions, and networking opportunities. The organization maintains an extensive website and produces an annual full-color directory that is distributed throughout East Yorkshire and neighboring regions. As a not-for-profit organization, ERA's primary mission focuses on raising the profile of regional artists and makers while promoting economic growth within the creative community.
Visitors to Burton Constable Hall can explore 30 magnificent rooms filled with fine art, exquisite period furniture, and decorative treasures that span centuries of collecting. The surrounding parkland, designed by the famous landscape architect Capability Brown, offers scenic woodland trails, peaceful lakeside walks, and opportunities to observe abundant wildlife in their natural habitat. The historic stables complex adds another fascinating dimension to the visitor experience, featuring Billy the stable boy's preserved bedroom and the extraordinary 60-foot sperm whale skeleton that was famously referenced in Herman Melville's classic novel "Moby-Dick." After exploring the house and grounds, guests can relax and enjoy refreshments in the welcoming Stables Kitchen, making their visit a complete cultural experience.
