Behind the scenes with Arthur Berry at V&A Wedgwood Collection, followed by art and wine lunch

The Lunar Art and Wine Society is collaborating with the V&A Wedgwood Collection and Barewall Art Gallery to host a special Art and Wine lunchtime event on Thursday 26 February, running from 11.00am to 2.30pm.

Taking place at the V&A Wedgwood Collection in Barlaston, the event offers a rare behind the scenes tour of newly rediscovered works by Arthur Berry, followed by a two course lunch with wine at Lunar.

The event forms part of the extended Arthur Berry 100 centenary celebrations and gives audiences a unique opportunity to experience Berry’s work within a national museum setting, before enjoying seasonal dining at one of Stoke-on-Trent’s leading restaurants.

Exclusive Museum Access

Guests will be taken into the museum stores to explore Berry’s newly catalogued artworks, led by Kate Turner, Curator of the V&A Wedgwood Collection, alongside Assistant Curator Michael Ruddy. The visit will then move into the galleries to explore the historic and cultural connections between Wedgwood and Burslem.

The V&A session will last approximately one hour and 15 minutes, beginning at 11.30am, and will be followed by lunch at Lunar, finishing at 2.30pm.

This special visit also offers insight into how museums care for, interpret and preserve collections, while celebrating Berry’s enduring legacy and his place within Staffordshire’s creative heritage.

“This is an exciting opportunity for the V&A Wedgwood Collection to join the celebration of Arthur Berry's works. We look forward to welcoming people into our galleries and behind the scenes to get up close with these wonderful artworks.”

— Kate Turner, Curator of the V&A Wedgwood Collection

The Search for Lost Art

The event forms part of a national search and rediscovery project led by Barewall Art Gallery, which has brought dozens of previously lost Berry works back into the public record during the centenary year of Stoke-on-Trent and Arthur Berry.

Alongside the event, Barewall Art Gallery continues its appeal to trace and rediscover further lost artworks by Arthur Berry. While extensive cataloguing and a new digital archive have already been created, many of Berry’s paintings remain undocumented or held in private collections.

The gallery is calling on members of the public who may own original Arthur Berry works, particularly paintings created before 1985 or sold or gifted prior to 2012, to come forward and help complete the record of one of Britain’s most distinctive working class artists.

The appeal is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and has already led to several lost works being rediscovered, authenticated and catalogued.

Event & Contact Details

• Tickets: £35 per person (includes tour, two-course lunch, and wine). Must be purchased in advance via Eventbrite.
• Barewall Exhibition: A Sense of Place runs until 8 February 2026 at Barewall Art Gallery, Market Place, Burslem.
• Art Search Contact: Anyone with information is asked to contact Barewall Art Gallery via email at shop@barewall.co.uk, by telephone on 07932 717718, or via www.barewall.co.uk.