The Magic of Middle-Earth

Saturday 9 July – Saturday 17 September 2022 (closed Sundays) | Worcester City Art Gallery and Museum

From the collector who brought you May The Toys Be With You comes The Magic of Middle-Earth! Journey beyond the books to discover the artistic legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s incredible fantasy world.

This major new exhibition celebrates the fantasy world brought to life by Tolkien, and the generations of writers, artists, musicians, film makers, environmentalists and game designers it has influenced. Discover a magical treasure trove of over 200 rare objects and artworks.

See first-edition copies of the books, incredible artworks and objects from across the decades including stunning paintings of Dragons, Ents and Elves, dramatic models and dioramas including The Battle Of Helms Deep, and Middle-earth inspired video games and Lego sets.

Regarded as the “father” of modern fantasy literature, Tolkien has inspired creative minds of all types, from artists, musicians and film makers to environmentalists and game designers. Tolkien himself took inspiration from Worcestershire’s landscape and was a regular visitor to the Malvern Hills in the 1930s with fellow writer CS Lewis.

This exhibition comes from collector Matt Fox, who has previously broken visitor attendance records around the country with his Star Wars-themed exhibition May The Toys Be With You which was on show at Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum in 2019.

As well as marvelling at the amazing collection, visitors will be able to enjoy craft activities, dress up as their favourite Tolkien character, take a selfie in the Hobbit chair and follow a Mystical Quest family trail through the museum.

The Magic of Middle Earth provides fun for all ages, from little halflings to wizened wizards!

What’s on?

Celebrate on the opening day! Saturday 9 July, 10.30am – 12noon. Step into the magic of Middle-earth to celebrate the opening of the summer exhibition. Meet Tolkien-inspired characters – including orcs and elves – around the gallery, and come dressed up too if you like!

Sunrise: Quiet Time at the Gallery: Wednesdays 13 and 27 July, 9.30 – 10.30am. Enjoy a visit to the exhibition in a sensory-friendly hour before the gallery opens to the general public. The session is suitable for those who would benefit from a quieter atmosphere.

Museum After Hours: Friday 15 July, 5.30 – 8pm. Drop in for a fun evening: enjoy a themed cocktail, music from DJ Ed Steelefox, and dress up as your favourite Lord of the Rings character if you should so wish.

Family Trail: explore the museum with the Mystical Quest trail, just £1 from the museum shop.

Summer holiday fun: exciting activities every Thursday in the holidays.

Bite-size Talk: Tolkien and Worcestershire: Saturday 6 August, 1.30 – 2pm. Tolkien-specialist Dr Bradley Wells will explore the author’s local connections in this Bite-size Talk.

Image; The One Ring, image © Matt Fox.

Statement from collector Matt Fox: This exhibition has not been prepared, approved or licensed by the estate of J.R.R Tolkien or any of its assignees. This is not an official exhibition. The exhibitor recognises that some words, names and designations mentioned within are the property of the trademark holder. They are used for identification purposes only.

This exhibition supports the Woodland Trust to protect and plant trees.