Wide view of the Historic Dress gallery at Worthing Museum, featuring elegant period garments displayed in illuminated glass cases. A richly embroidered 18th-century-style gown takes centre stage, surrounded by historic dresses, accessories and textiles from different eras. Decorative archways frame the exhibition, while interpretive panels explain the history of dressmaking, Worthing's textile heritage, and the Pavilion Theatre's centenary. The spacious gallery has polished wooden flooring, soft lighting, and a calm, contemporary museum setting.

What's On At The Museum

About our events

Exhibitions

OPEN26

Until Sat 5 Sept
Find out more

Burpham Big Dig

Sat 4 Jul - Sat 17 Oct
Find out more

Walking With The Crow

Sat 31 Oct - Sat 30 Jan
Find out more

Lectures, Talks & Workshops

List of Events

  1. Workshops

    Kids Workshop: Lantern Making with Twigs and Tissue

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Create your own glowing lantern in this fun and creative hands-on workshop. Using willow rods, twigs and colourful…
    More info
  2. Children & Family

    Kids Workshop: Autumn Crafts

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Celebrate the colours of the season in this fun autumn-inspired craft workshop for children. Using leaves, pine cones,…
    More info
  3. Workshops

    Kids Workshop: Spooky Crafts

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Get ready for a frightfully fun creative workshop this Halloween. Make spooky pumpkins, witches, bats and cats using a…
    More info
  4. Black-and-white portrait of Marlene Dietrich wearing a top hat and tailored tuxedo jacket with a white shirt and bow tie. She faces the camera with a confident, slightly playful expression, holding a cigarette near her lips. Dramatic lighting creates soft shadows across her face, highlighting her curled hair and refined features against a dark background.
    Talks

    Talks Revisited: Marlene Dietrich

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Hollywood icon, performer and cultural trailblazerJoin Monika Lind, retired university lecturer in Culture and…
    More info
  5. Talks

    Autumn Lectures: The Archaeology of the Arun Valley

    Richmond Room
    A brand-new talk from our curator, James, looking at the archaeology of the River Arun from the Palaeolithic through to…
    More info
  6. Talks

    Autumn Lectures: The Archaeology of the Adur Valley

    Richmond Room
    A brand new talk from our curator James Sainsbury - looking at the archaeology of the river Adur from the Palaeolithic…
    More info
  7. Talks

    Autumn Lectures: Photographic History of Worthing Part One: 1860-1914

    Richmond Room
    The first of two talks looking at the photography of Worthing. This lecture will feature dozens of photographs from…
    More info
  8. Portrait of an elderly woman artist, Rosa Bonheur, seated in a studio, holding a sheet of paper. She has short, light grey hair and wears a dark, formal jacket. Beside her is an easel with a painting of a dog and a table with paintbrushes, suggesting her work as an animal painter. The background is softly lit in warm brown tones, creating a calm, reflective atmosphere.

    Remarkable Women in the History of Art: Rosa Bonheur

    Museum & Art Gallery
    A pioneering artist of 19th-century FranceJoin Monika Lind, retired university lecturer in Culture and Humanities…
    More info
  9. Talks

    Autumn Lectures: Photographic History of Worthing Part Two: 1914-1960

    Richmond Room
    This talk will look at Worthing through the lens of photography from 1914-1960, showing the homefront in both World…
    More info
  10. Workshops

    Adult Workshop: Wreath Making

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Get creative this festive season in our annual Wreath Making workshop. Learn how to weave a traditional willow wreath…
    More info
  11. Portrait of Audrey Hepburn wearing an elegant white lace dress and a wide-brimmed black-and-white striped hat adorned with pink flowers, looking directly at the camera. A flowing black ribbon wraps around her against a clean white background, creating a striking, stylised composition.
    Talks

    Talks Revisited: Audrey Hepburn

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Film legend, fashion icon and humanitarianJoin Monika Lind, retired university lecturer in Culture and Humanities…
    More info
  12. Children & Family

    Family Workshop: Christmas Decorations

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Get creative together in this fun, festive family workshop, making a selection of Christmas decorations using a mix of…
    More info
  13. Black-and-white oval portrait of a young Victorian woman looking directly at the camera. She has dark hair swept up in a neat updo and wears a high-collared dress with a patterned shoulder detail. The formal studio portrait is set against a plain light background.
    Talks

    Lady Butler: Defying Victorian Conventions

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the remarkable story of Elizabeth Thompson (1846–1933), later known as Lady Butler, whose powerful paintings…
    More info
  14. Black-and-white portrait of physicist and chemist Marie Curie looking directly at the camera. She wears a dark high-necked dress, with her hair swept back in a loose updo. The softly lit studio portrait highlights her calm, thoughtful expression against a plain, dark background.
    Talks

    Talks Revisited: Marie Curie

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the extraordinary story of Marie Curie, the pioneering scientist whose groundbreaking research transformed…
    More info
  15. A flat lay of handmade nature-inspired artwork and creative materials arranged on a white surface. The display includes botanical cyanotype prints, stitched paper art, fabric samples, pressed plant designs, a handmade nature journal, feathers, natural pigments, bark, shells and other found objects, creating a colourful collage celebrating creativity and the natural world.
    Workshops

    Paper Collage and Screen Print on Paper with Zoe Burt

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Create beautiful, layered artwork inspired by the collections at Worthing Museum in this creative workshop with artist…
    More info
  16. Talks

    Monika Lind Talk: Berthe, Morisot, Mary Cassatt and the Impressionists

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the remarkable stories of Berthe Morisot and Mary Cassatt, two pioneering artists who helped shape the…
    More info
  17. Black-and-white portrait of singer Édith Piaf in a dramatic performance pose. Wearing a dark dress against a black background, she tilts her head back with eyes half closed and one hand raised to her chest, capturing the emotion and intensity of her stage presence.
    Talks

    Talks Revisited: Edith Piaf

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the remarkable story of Édith Piaf, the legendary French singer whose powerful voice and unforgettable songs…
    More info
  18. A black-and-white portrait of Suzanne Valadon as a young woman. She faces the camera with a calm, serious expression, wearing a dark dress with a gathered neckline. Her shoulder-length hair is parted in the middle and softly curled, set against a plain dark background.
    Talks

    Suzanne Valadon: Model, Painter, Rebel

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the remarkable story of Suzanne Valadon, one of the most original and pioneering artists of the late 19th and…
    More info
  19. Workshops

    Mono-printing with Gary Goodman

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the creative possibilities of mono-printing in this inspiring hands-on workshop with artist Gary Goodman.Learn…
    More info
  20. A sepia-toned portrait of Helen Keller as a young woman, seated in profile while gently smelling a rose. She wears a high-necked white blouse with a large bow at the collar, and a vase of blooming roses sits beside her, creating a calm and reflective scene.
    Talks

    Talks Revisited: Helen Keller with Monika Lind

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the extraordinary life of Helen Keller, one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century, in this…
    More info
  21. Two black-and-white lino-cut prints displayed side by side on white paper. The left print depicts a snowy mountain landscape with pine trees beneath a bright star in the night sky. The right print features a stylised owl perched on a branch, rendered with bold carved lines and high-contrast black and white shapes.
    Workshops

    Black & White Lino Printing with Gary Goodman

    Museum & Art Gallery
    Discover the timeless art of black and white lino printing in this practical workshop with artist Gary Goodman.Learn…
    More info