Celts: art and identity tickets

Come on a journey tracing what it means to be Celtic. The more you look, the more you’ll see…

This is the first major exhibition to examine the full history of Celtic art and identity, and is organised in partnership with National Museums Scotland. The story unfolds over 2,500 years, from the first recorded mention of ‘Celts’ to an exploration of contemporary Celtic influences. Discover how this identity has been revived and reinvented over the centuries, across Britain, Europe and beyond.

Around 500 BC, the peoples first referred to as Celts lived across much of Europe north of the Alps. They made objects decorated with intricate patterns and fantastic animals, rich with hidden meanings, which were used for feasting, religious ceremonies, adornment and warfare. Over time, their distinctive abstract art style transformed and took on new influences, through Roman conquest, the spread of Christianity, shifting national politics, right up to the present. Throughout the long story of the different Celtic peoples, unique art, languages, cultures and traditions have set these communities apart.

Many objects in the exhibition provide clues to and raise questions about Celtic identity. From the depths of the River Thames come magnificent Iron Age treasures such as the Waterloo helmet and Battersea shield. Roman jewellery, early medieval manuscripts and crosses, a Liberty tea set and even a modern football shirt tell a constantly evolving British and Irish story. Major loans, such as the spectacular Gundestrup cauldron, reveal profound cultural connections with Europe.

The fascinating art and history explored in the exhibition have deep resonances for those in Britain, Ireland and the global Celtic diaspora today, influencing everything from sport to spirituality.