More than forty members' events a year.

A membership is not only a key to the museums — it is a year of cultural life. The society runs a programme of more than forty events a year: curator-led tours that go behind the labels, talks by people who know their subject deeply, cultural evenings, and family days for younger members. Many are open to members only; all give members priority booking and reduced or free entry. This page shows the kinds of events we run and how booking works.

What we run

Four kinds of event, all year round.

The programme, designed by Hisham, mixes four kinds of event so there is always something for every sort of member, whether you want depth, company, or a good afternoon out with the children.

Curator-led tours

A curator or specialist walks a small group of members through a collection or a single great object, telling the story behind the labels. These go quickly, which is why member priority booking matters.

Expert talks

Evening talks by archaeologists, historians and conservators on the region's heritage — substantial, genuine lectures rather than light entertainment, followed by questions and conversation.

Cultural evenings

Members' evenings that bring the community together — a museum opened after hours, music, a shared meal, the simple pleasure of being among people who care about the same things you do.

Family days

Days built for younger members and families, turning a museum visit into discovery and play rather than a hush-and-don't-touch ordeal. Part of the family membership.

How booking works

Priority for members, simply.

Each event opens for member booking ahead of any general release, and members pay a reduced rate or nothing at all depending on the event. You book through your membership — a quick message or call to the member-care team, or your member account — and your place is held. Popular events, especially the curator-led tours with their small group sizes, fill fast, which is precisely why member priority is one of the benefits that members come to value most. We keep group sizes deliberately small for the tours and talks, because an event where you can actually hear the curator and ask a question is worth more than a crowded one.

The full live calendar of dates is shared with members and updated through the year; we keep this page to the shape of the programme rather than a list of dates that would go stale. When you join, you receive the current calendar and can start booking at once. The programme runs across the whole museum network, so wherever you are in the region there are events within reach. Booking, like everything else, is handled by a real person on the member-care team.

A curator leading a small group of members through a gallery

Event questions

About the programme.

Are events included in membership?

Members get priority booking on every event and reduced or free entry; some events are entirely free to members, others carry a small members' rate to cover costs. Either way, members pay far less than any non-member could, and many events are members-only.

How do I find out what's coming up?

When you join you receive the current calendar and updates through the year. We keep the live dates with members rather than on this public page, so what you get is always current rather than a stale list.

Can I bring a guest to an event?

Often, yes, depending on the event and the space — many events welcome a member's guest at a guest rate. The booking confirmation will say. Your general guest privileges are on the benefits page.

Are events held across the whole network?

Yes — the programme moves around the network through the year, so wherever you are in the canal region or the wider network there are events within reach rather than all of them clustered in one city. The calendar you receive on joining shows where each one is held.

A year of events, included.

Join the society and the calendar — and the priority booking — are yours.

Become a member All the benefits