Temporary exhibitions and events
Discover Hidden Island Treasures at the Festival of Archaeology!
Step into the past and uncover the Isle of Wight’s rich heritage at a free family-friendly event hosted by the Museum of Island History in Newport’s Guildhall.
As part of the national Festival of Archaeology,
the museum will open its doors on
- Saturday, 19 July 2025
- 10am to 1pm
- Free Entry
- All ages welcome!
Event Highlights:
Brand-new display of rare artefacts unearthed by The Vectis Searchers the Island’s long-standing metal detecting club. Which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Bring along your own archaeological discoveries and have our expert - Isle of Wight’s finds liaison officer (FLO) help identify your finds.
Hands-on activities and a free museum trail for families.
Learn about the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) and why it records archaeological finds made by the public.
Why Visit?
This is a rare chance to see fascinating objects usually kept in private collections, connect with local history, and take part in a national celebration of archaeology.
Don’t miss this special day of exploration and history - right in the heart of Newport!
The Festival of Archaeology, organised by the
Council for British Archaeology, runs from 19 July to 3 August 2025. It features
hundreds of events across the UK, both in-person and online.
This event is part of this nationwide celebration of heritage and discovery.
Heritage events throughout the year
The Heritage service holds many community days at its sites. These include
- free and reduced entry days
- activities, talks and tours
- heritage open days
- the Festival of Archaeology
- the Family Learning Festival
Heritage service staff may also be able to assist with your event with a museum themed display, talk or activity.
Contact us or follow us on our social media channels.
Contact our Exhibitions and Museums Officer
- call 01983 823433
- email museums@iow.gov.uk
Museum loans and displays
Cowes Maritime Museum has an exhibition area that allows a changing display of images from the maritime collection.
The Museum of Island History has an exhibition about the history of Newport and its shops.
Library displays
The libraries at Ventnor, Ryde and Newport (Lord Louis Library) have a display screen for slideshows and a small case for changing displays. These are changed regularly and are available for community lead or partnership exhibitions.
Loan of museum material
The Heritage service loans many artefacts to other organisations to allow these items to be enjoyed by as many people as possible. Whether museum material can be loaned depends on the needs of each object. Museum staff can arrange a visit to discuss possible loans and the requirements for the items concerned, such as security and environmental conditions.
If we cannot loan you the original artefact, we may be able to provide photographs, images or replicas to supplement your display.
What does the Heritage service do?
The Heritage service cares for a large collection of artefacts and images relating to the history of the Isle of Wight.
The collection is displayed within our three museums and every opportunity is taken to make them available more widely through temporary exhibitions and loans to other organisations.