The Box has been selected as Museum in Residence at Downing Street for 2026, bringing Plymouth's remarkable artistic and maritime heritage to the nation's most iconic address.

The prestigious partnership with the Government Art Collection will see nine paintings from The Box displayed in Downing Street throughout the year, introducing world leaders, government officials, and distinguished visitors to the breadth of Plymouth's acclaimed art collection.

The works have been chosen for the stories they tell about British innovation, resilience, and creativity through Plymouth's unique lens:

Maritime engineering and innovation

• Henry Andrews Luscombe (The Opening of the New Eddystone Lighthouse, 1882) – Celebrating one of Britain's greatest engineering triumphs and Plymouth's pivotal role in maritime safety.

Artistic excellence

• Alfred Wallis (Two Masted Schooner, Ketch, early-mid 20th century) – The celebrated St Ives artist whose distinctive work influenced British modernism.
• Stanley Spencer (Hoe Garden Nursery, 1955) – A rare Plymouth work by one of Britain's most important 20th-century artists.
• Charles Ginner (Plymouth Pier from The Hoe, 1923) – The Camden Town Group artist's Post-Impressionist vision of Britain's Ocean City.

Industrial and urban transformation

• Robert Borlase Smart (Construction of Burrator Reservoir, early 20th century and Plymouth Pier at Night, early 20th century) – Documenting infrastructure development and atmospheric nocturnal scenes.
• Jack Pickup (Citadel Road, 1960 and New Power Station from Turnchapel, mid-20th century) – Post-war Britain's reconstruction captured through Plymouth's evolving landscapes.
• Reginald Brill (A Byway in Plymouth, mid-20th century) – Intimate scenes of everyday British life.

The Museum in Residence appointment recognises Plymouth's unique significance in British history:
• Maritime heritage: Departure point for the Mayflower (1620), Captain Cook's voyages, and Sir Francis Drake's circumnavigation
• Naval power: Britain's principal naval base for over 400 years, defending the nation through centuries of conflict
• Engineering innovation: The Eddystone Lighthouse, Smeaton's Tower, and groundbreaking maritime technology
• Post-war reconstruction: One of Britain's most heavily bombed cities, rebuilt with determination and vision
• Contemporary culture: Growing reputation for contemporary art, digital innovation, and cultural programming

The Box's collections include over two million objects, and the art collection spans old masters to cutting-edge contemporary work, with particular strengths in maritime art, Plymouth topography, and 20th-century British art.

The Museum in Residence programme introduces government officials, diplomats, and international visitors to collections rarely seen outside the Southwest, demonstrating that regional museums hold treasures of genuine national indeed international importance.

The appointment reflects growing recognition that cultural excellence exists throughout Britain, not just in the capital. The Box's success demonstrates what's possible when regional cities invest boldly in culture:
• Over £100 million in health and wellbeing benefits delivered to communities since opening
• 89% of Plymouth schools engaged through education programmes
• Strategic partnerships supporting local economy (72% of capital investment to South West suppliers)
• Free admission ensuring cultural access for all

As part of the Museum in Residence partnership, over 60 works from the Government Art Collection have been selected for display at The Box this summer (20 June–20 September 2026). Shaped through a series of conversations and workshops with a diverse group of teenagers and young adults from across Plymouth, the exhibition will feature powerful artworks from the Government Art Collection, including by artists such as Alvaro Barrington, Barbara Hepworth and Alberta Whittle.