Poster Power!

About

Discover 200 years of British poster design at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath. Poster Power! showcases an exceptional range of British advertising posters from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Reflecting the spirit of the times, the display includes posters promoting events and entertainment, theatre shows, travel and transport, political campaigns and even World War One recruitment.
Many of the posters have links to the Bath area, advertising local events such as Theatre Royal shows, the Bath & West Show, and Bath Festivals through the ages. The oldest and most recent posters in the exhibition are both for the Theatre Royal: one from 1805, when the theatre moved to its current building, and one from 1989.
There is a selection of posters by Bath-based artists Clifford and Rosemary Ellis, who designed iconic posters for London Transport and Shell during the 1930s. Their imagery reveals an overwhelming interest in, and love of, the British countryside and the creatures that inhabit it. They also shared a love of fresh, bright colour and bold design.
The exhibition also features a stunning selection of vintage railway posters designed to entice tourists to Bath, with beautiful images of Georgian architecture and The Roman Baths.
There's a ride-on train for younger visitors to complement the fantastic range of railway posters, and a farm-themed area alongside vintage posters from the Bath & West Show, with books, activities and a fuzzy felt animal wall. Families can also enjoy a free children's trail, as well as craft activities in the school holidays.
A guided tour of the exhibition will take place on Thursdays from 1.30pm to 2pm, free with an exhibition ticket.