A MAJOR new exhibition exploring the diverse cultural heritage of Somerset has opened at Somerset Rural Life Museum in Glastonbury.

Visitors can explore work by internationally acclaimed artists Candace Bahouth, Helen Cammock and Gladys Paulus in the museum's historic Abbey Barn.

An accompanying Artists in Conversation event on October 10 provides an opportunity to hear directly from the exhibiting artists as they share their experiences, inspirations and perspectives on art and culture.

Cultural Connections is a programme of contemporary art, archaeology and community engagement developed and commissioned by Somerset Art Works.

Opening on September 12, the exhibition is the headline event of this year's Somerset Art Weeks Festival from September 19 to October 4.

In the Museum's Mapstone Gallery, Journeys to Somerset: Exploring Cultural Connections Through Space and Time brings together archaeological objects from the South West Heritage Trust collections alongside work by contemporary Somerset artists.

An accompanying talk by New York Times bestselling-author Charles Foster on October 1 explores what it means to be human.

Candace Bahouth's Ode to the Ancestors features a clay urn, broken china, tesserae and tiles, badges and plastic olive tree.
Candace Bahouth's Ode to the Ancestors features a clay urn, broken china, tesserae and tiles, badges and plastic olive tree. (Somerset Art Works/Hannah Earl)

In the Granary, visitors can discover felted artwork created by women from the Glastonbury Conversation Club, part of Somerset Art Works' community engagement programme, Cultural Conversations.

South West Heritage Trust head of museums, Estelle Gilbert, said: “This new exhibition is a wonderful example of how museums can bring together art, heritage and community to explore the stories that shape our county.

“Through contemporary artworks, archaeological collections and community-created pieces, the exhibition invites visitors to discover Somerset's rich and diverse cultural heritage from fresh perspectives.”

Somerset Art Works creative director Carol Carey added: “Somerset's story has always been one of movement, exchange, belonging and connection.

“This programme reflects the prominence of these ideas in the lives of artists and communities today.”

The Abbey Barn and Cultural Conversations exhibitions will remain open until 31 October 2026, while the Mapstone Gallery exhibition continues until 5 December 2026.