A new exhibition at the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon is celebrating the 60th anniversary of Resurgence, the North Devon based organisation that began life as a pioneering magazine and has since grown into an educational charity.
The Art of Resurgence: Celebrating 60 Years of Resurgence explores the magazine’s history alongside the artists, writers and visionaries who have shaped its distinctive voice and visual identity. The exhibition opens with a launch event at the museum on Friday 22 May 2026 at 5pm.
The exhibition tells the story of Resurgence through a dedicated display of magazine cover artwork from its archive, dating back to 1966. Visitors will also be able to see artwork by artists who have featured in the publication over the decades, including early works by acclaimed illustrators, Axel Scheffler and Jackie Morris.
Alongside this, the exhibition showcases contemporary craft, with pieces by local ceramicist Sandy Brown and founder of the global Craftivist Collective, Sarah P. Corbett.
As well as visual art, the exhibition highlights the visionaries featured in Resurgence, and the wide range of initiatives that have grown out of the publication. These include Schumacher College, The Schumacher Society, Green Books and The Small School.
The Resurgence Trust, based at The Resurgence Centre in Hartland, hosts an internationally recognised programme of events taking place both locally and online.
The exhibition will be shown in the museum’s Community Gallery, a space dedicated to the celebration of local people, places and organisations. It will be complemented by a programme of ticketed events, including a talk by Satish Kumar, world renowned author, international speaker, and founder of The Resurgence Trust on 5 June 2026, 6.30-8pm. Tickets can be purchased via the museum’s website.
Satish Kumar, founder of The Resurgence Trust, said, “Resurgence has been flying the flag of ecological, spiritual and artistic excellence from North Devon for over 45 years. Resurgence is delighted to co-curate this exhibition with The Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Resurgence. It is my hope that this exhibition will help to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment and deepening our connection with Nature.”
Alison Mills, Director of the Museum of Barnstaple and North Devon, said: “It’s an honour to host this exhibition, which brings together the ideas and artworks that have helped shape a movement that feels more vital today than ever before. We’re delighted to share the inspiring story of Resurgence with our visitors - from our local community to those travelling from further afield - and to celebrate the enduring impact of something that began here on home soil.”
The Art of Resurgence: Celebrating 60 Years of Resurgence runs until 18 July 2026 and is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4.30pm. Admission is free.
Image credits: Mothership by Olivier Leger, olivierleger.com