Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends is bringing back its popular Art Week from Tuesday, 3 November to Saturday, 7 November, hosted at the Basement @ Bunyan on Mill Street. Open daily from 11am to 4pm, the free-to-enter exhibition features a creative selection of donated artwork and handcrafted pieces.
Every penny raised through sales and event tickets will go directly towards the charity’s £150,000 fundraising target to upgrade the Nuclear Medicine Department’s new Gamma Camera with specialist imaging and analysis accessories.
As with all of our initiatives, every pound raised stays right here to benefit patients, carers, and staff at Bedford Hospital. Bedford Hospital Charity & Friends is managed entirely by unpaid volunteer trustees and committee members, ensuring every donation goes directly to hospital improvements without administrative deductions.
Equipping our local medical team with advanced diagnostic technology means patients in Bedford can continue to receive state-of-the-art care close to home.
The exhibition features pieces donated by generous local creators and supporters. Visitors can browse a variety of items, including traditional paintings, ceramics, metalwork sculptures, stained glass, bonsai trees, and handmade jewellery by local makers like Molly, as well as festive Christmas cards and even artwork made from cake.
Cream Teas and crafts
We extend our warm thanks to all contributing artists, as well as local supporters including the Bedford Clanger, for helping to support and share the news.
Alongside the daily gallery, three special events are taking place during the week:
- Tuesday, 3 November (10am–12pm): A free drop-in coffee morning to browse the collection with a hot drink in hand.
- Thursday, 5 November (2pm–4pm): A traditional Cornish Cream Tea for £10, strictly serving jam first before clotted cream. Space is capped at 40 places.
- Friday, 6 November (2pm–4pm): A needle felting workshop led by local artist Anne-Marie Abbate for £15. Participants will craft felted mice in cups, with all materials provided for the 15 available places.
Event organiser and BHC&F committee member Amanda Brookes highlighted the variety on show this year: “This year we have tried to incorporate as many types of ‘ART’ as we can. From traditional to modern, with handmade items, wood, pottery, glass, Christmas cards, and jewellery.
“To encourage you to come along and sample the ‘ART’ of baking, we have a coffee morning on Tuesday & a Cornish Afternoon Tea on Thursday. There is a needle felting workshop on the Friday afternoon with Anne-Marie. Please do get your tickets soon; they will sell out fast.”
The Basement @ Bunyan is located on Mill Street (MK40 3EU), accessible via the church garden on St Cuthbert’s Street or directly from the pavement near the roundabout. Whether you are hoping to find an original piece of art, learn a new craft, or enjoy afternoon tea, your support directly helps fund crucial medical equipment for our hospital.
To book tickets for Thursday’s cream tea or Friday’s needle felting workshop, please call the charity team on 01234 404248. You can also scan the QR code on our event posters to donate or find out more about supporting our local appeal.
