Mead Gallery to host British Art Show 10 as landmark exhibition comes to Coventry

The University of Warwick's Mead Gallery will host British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers from Friday 2 October 2026, as the landmark exhibition begins its national tour in Coventry.

Continuing until Sunday 10 January 2027, the exhibition will bring together 37 artists in a vital overview of the most exciting art produced in the UK during the past five years, before travelling to Swansea, Bristol, Sheffield and Newcastle Gateshead. This marks the first time in its history that the British Art Show will tour to five cities across the UK in its most expansive edition to date.

Doreen Foster, Director of Warwick Arts Centre, said: "This is a major moment for Coventry and for the wider region. We're proud to help bring this extraordinary exhibition to local audiences and to connect it to the inspiring artists and organisations that already belong to our city. Together, we celebrate the power of contemporary art to connect people, share experiences and create space for thinking about the world around us."

Developed and produced by Hayward Gallery Touring, the British Art Show has, since 1979, provided an ambitious overview of contemporary art in Britain, introducing generations of artists to audiences nationwide while reflecting the social, cultural and political concerns of its time. Curated by Ekow Eshun, British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers brings together artists working across painting, sculpture, installation, film, photography, performance and sound.

The UK's largest recurring exhibition of contemporary art will explore human connection and the figure of the Other in divided times. It is structured around three overlapping themes inspired by British writers and theorists who have grappled with the tensions between the Individual and the Other.

Ekow Eshun, Curator of British Art Show 10, said: "A Chorus of Strangers explores the ways in which artists are responding to the realities of our time, illuminating connections between inner life and collective experience, between history and memory, and between human society and the natural world. Together, the artists in the exhibition offer compelling visions of what it means to live together amidst uncertainty, difference and change."

The Coventry presentation of British Art Show 10 will take place across three cultural venues, with the exhibition presented at the University of Warwick's Mead Gallery alongside the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and the Delia Derbyshire Building at Coventry University. Together, the venues will give audiences across the city the opportunity to experience contemporary art, showcasing Coventry's continuing role as a centre for artistic innovation and cultural exchange.

Coventry has also gained additional funding from Arts Council England to develop Coventry Art Show, a programme led by Art Riot Collective that reinforces the city's infrastructure for artists and audiences with a focus on access for everyone. Partners in the programme include Coventry Biennial, Coventry-Dresden Exchange and SOMA. Exhibitions, events, workshops and activities will take place across the city parallel to BAS10.

Kyla Craig, Director of Art Riot Collective, said: "A national exhibition of this scale is rare, and it's important that its impact is felt beyond the gallery walls. The Coventry Art Show project is about removing barriers to participation and creating opportunities for people of all backgrounds, experiences and abilities to engage with contemporary art in ways that are meaningful to them. At the same time, we're investing in Coventry's artists, supporting new talent and strengthening the networks that help culture thrive. It's a chance to celebrate what's already happening here while creating new opportunities for the future."

For more information on British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers (2 October 2026 to 10 January 2027, Mead Gallery at Warwick Arts Centre, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum and Coventry University), see:
southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/british-art-show-10-a-chorus-of-strangers/

ENDS

About The University of Warwick

Founded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment and challenge convention to create a better world.

About Warwick Arts Centre

At its heart, Warwick Arts Centre is the largest multi-artform arts centre outside London, bringing together world-class performance, film and visual arts programmes. Home to the Mead Gallery, a leading venue for modern and contemporary art, it has presented work by some of the world's most influential artists since 1974 and commissions new work by established and emerging practitioners. Through exhibitions, performances and collaborative projects, it connects artists and audiences through ambitious cultural programming that reflects the diversity and dynamism of contemporary society.

warwickartscentre.co.uk

About British Art Show

British Art Show is the largest and most significant recurring exhibition of contemporary art in the UK. It is developed and produced by Hayward Gallery Touring, the UK's leading contemporary art organisation producing touring exhibitions, which is part of the Southbank Centre. Taking place every five years, the show is unmatched in its national scope and has reached over 2.3 million people since its launch in 1979. For over four decades, it has defined the trajectory of British art, highlighting new trends and reflecting the evolving cultural landscape of the UK. The exhibition has introduced many of the country's most influential artists to millions of people across the nation, including David Hockney, Bridget Riley, Sonia Boyce, John Akomfrah and Michael Armitage. Now in its tenth iteration, British Art Show 10: A Chorus of Strangers continues this legacy, partnering with cities across the nation to bring the most ambitious contemporary art to regional arts venues.

About Hayward Gallery Touring

Hayward Gallery Touring is the UK's leading contemporary art organisation dedicated to providing access to world-class exhibitions across the nation. As a cornerstone of the Southbank Centre's national programme, we have collaborated with visionary artists, curators, and writers to realise ambitious projects that often sit beyond the scope of a single institution. From museums and libraries to schools and hospitals, our mission is to bring contemporary culture directly to the heart of local communities. Our work - which spans from the landmark British Art Show to intimate monographic exhibitions from Paula Rego and Matisse - reaches hundreds of thousands annually across more than 30 cities and towns.

MEDIA IMAGES

Download press/media images for British Art Show 10:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QwbH2JBBacB66oyeUuBMfpgICwySi87o

For all regional press and media requests relating to BAS10, please contact us: [email protected].

1/10/26