The Isle of Man Arts Council and Manx National Heritage collaborated to bring to life a vibrant and engaging exhibition at the House of Manannan in early 2026. Art Adventures for Beginners showcased a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity and curiosity, inspired by the Arts Council’s vibrant Modern and Contemporary Loan Collection.
There were over 6,000 visitors to the exhibition for the 18 weeks the doors were open to the public, from from 14th February – 7th June 2026.
The art work in the exhibition was from the Isle of Man Arts Council Modern and Contemporary Loan Collection. It was selected to fit into four broad themes: Animals in Art, Storytelling, Colours and Shapes and Extraordinary to Extraordinary. Designed to be hands-on, relatable, and packed with playful prompts, the exhibition encouraged all ages to explore, imagine, and create.
The creative teams at the Isle of Man Arts Council and Manx National Heritage worked collaboratively to transform the gallery into an inviting, informal space where art can be explored in an engaging and accessible way. The artwork was hung lower than the usual 'adult' level, meaning the eye line was more accessible for children. The opening and closing panels were bi-lingual in Gaelg (Manx) and English to compliment Blein ny Gaelgey in 2026 but also to demonstrate the Manx language can be used to talk about non Manx subjects - like modern and contemporary art.
To compliment the exhibition there was a wide mix of creative, hands on sessions for children. Working with partners such as Drama Tots, Mini Musicians and Art Reach for events that explored the artworks in engaging and new ways was a highlight of the programme.
The free Primary Schools learning sessions saw over 250 children take part in workshops run in conjunction with the Manx National Heritage Learning Team. The participants were encouraged to spark their imaginations, fill their hearts and notice interesting details. The facilitators of the sessions were repeatedly impressed with the engagement and creativity of the primary School Students.
My class really enjoyed the experience, getting to explore different genres of art that they wouldn’t necessarily get the chance to view. The activities were organised beautifully with quality resources. A thoroughly enjoyable morning!
Year 4 Class Teacher
Suzanne Walker, Arts Project Co-ordinator for the Isle of Man Arts Council, said: “I was pleased to see the artwork from the Loan Collection reach so many people of all ages, though this exhibition. Education and access to the art have always been a core purpose of why we look after this amazing body of work. The exhibition succeeded to deliver on this to the audience and we are looking forward to showing more of the work in public buildings in due course."
The Isle of Man Arts Council’s Loan Collection began in 1993, thanks to artist and teacher David Fletcher, who, together with fellow artist Eileen Schaer identified the need and potential for the people of the Isle of Man to have a collection of contemporary art in the Island. The collection features work by household names such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, Anthony Gormley, Sir Michael Craig-Martin and Dame Paula Rego, alongside Manx and UK artists who challenge the way we see the world. It has been digitised and can be seen in full at www.iomarts.com/loan
