Coming Soon: National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery has been selected as one of just four partners to host the National Gallery’s Masterpiece Tour, a three-year transformative opportunity to bring world-class art to the North East.

In early 2026, the museum will exhibit Monet’s masterpiece, The Petit Bras of the Seine at Argenteuil (1872), which has only left the National Gallery once in the past 20 years.

The painting will be displayed in the museum's art gallery space, complemented by works from its own collection and artworks co-created by EBSA young people, teachers, and local organisations. The exhibition will focus on the power of art and nature, exploring themes of calm, retreat, and resilience.

The painting will visit South Shields Museum & Art Gallery from 17 January - 25 March 2026