The Munnings Art Museum galleries are now closed for the winter and will reopen on Wednesday 1st April 2026.
We will be celebrating the 65th Anniversary of the museum in 2026 with new displays, projects and events.
The office, archives and curatorial department remain open during the winter time, Monday to Friday.
Please contact:
office@munningsmuseum.org.uk, curator@munningsmuseum.org.uk
tearoom@munningsmuseum.org.uk or call 01206 322127 with your enquiry.
To enquire about a group visit in 2026 then please complete the online form.
Address: Munnings Art Museum
Castle House, Castle Hill
Dedham, Colchester, Essex
CO7 6AZ
“Who would have thought I should ever be President of the Royal Academy, or be knighted by the King? ” What a go ! ” as an Essex farmer friend wrote to me in a letter.” – Alfred Munnings
The Munnings Art Museum is 65 years old in 2026.
As part of this anniversary year the museum, in partnership with Dedham Parish Council, is looking to collect memories or stories about Alfred and Violet Munnings, the opening of the museum in 1961 and life in Dedham village between 1920 and 1966 when the Munnings’ were in residence?
Did you or members of your family, past and present, live in Dedham between 1920 and 1966 and can remember or recount stories about village life, the artist Alfred Munnings, his wife Violet or her stuffed dog? – then we are interested in hearing from you.
Our aim is to create an accessible sound archive about Dedham in the mid-twentieth century when Alfred and Violet Munnings lived in the village and when the museum opened. Stories will be used in local exhibitions, online and more widely including deposit at the Essex Records Office.
Whether you live near or far you can register your stories by contacting us here: I HAVE A STORY
We are also looking to recruit volunteers to interview and record the stories of others. Training will be given. If you are interested in helping then please contact us here: I WOULD LIKE TO HELP
If you live locally then you are warmly invited to the Munnings Art Museum on Friday January 16th from 10.00am to 12.00pm to register your stories and / or an interest in becoming an interviewer. Please let us know that you are coming: I WOULD LIKE TO COME ALONG
We will be holding more sessions at the museum in the next few months so please register your interest if you would like to take part later: MAYBE LATER
2026 Calendar
“Horses, my supporters, friends – my destiny, in fact.”
Each month is illustrated with a painting by Sir Alfred Munnings of the horses he owned and loved throughout his life.
Selling Fast! £10 in our January discounts.
About the museum which houses the largest permanent retrospective of paintings by Sir Alfred Munnings
Each year, April to October, the walls of the museum are sumptuously adorned with well-known pictures by Sir Alfred Munnings and lesser seen sketches and studies taken from the artist’s studio when he died in 1959. Thickly painted impressionistic scenes of ponies standing still against the bright East Anglian sunshine jostle for position with smooth and shiny racing thoroughbreds and their jockeys a-blaze in brightly coloured silks. Sir Alfred Munnings’ former working studio, complete with his brushes, paints and easels, stands in the grounds whilst ponies still look on from the paddocks nearby.
Get creative: Learn to paint and draw horses at home with James Power (Society of Equestrian Artists)
This four-part series of pre-recorded workshops will take you through the basic steps needed to successfully draw and paint horses.
Session 1: Basics of Drawing the Horse
Session 2: Adding colour and form to the Horse
Session 3: Looking more closely at the horse’s head.
Session 4: Painting the horse’s head in oils.
Not brave enough to pick up a paintbrush: watch and listen instead
Turf to Turf: The Horseracing World of Sir Alfred Munnings
The Sport of Kings inspired Sir Alfred Munnings to create some of his most famous paintings. See how they were created and how they have travelled the globe inspiring the artists of today. Under the theme Art History: Local to Global we present this short film in partnership with Art Historian, Christopher Garibaldi and the National Sporting Library and Museum, Virginia, USA.
Recorded talk: The life and work of Alfred Munnings
Pre-recorded online event. Recording lasts 41 minutes.
Marcia Whiting, Curatorial Associate, provides an overview of Alfred Munnings’ life and work.
You will be sent a link to play the film via Vimeo (installation not required).
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