On Sunday 1 December 2024 over 2,200 arts, heritage and cultural attractions worldwide will be coming together to celebrate Museum Shop Sunday, showcasing their fantastic shops, gorgeous gifts and brilliant designer makers with festive events and seasonal treats.
Museum Shop Sunday encourages consumers to Shop with Purpose – not just on one day of the year either, but all year round! When you choose to shop at a cultural venue, you’re not just buying a gift – you’re actively contributing to the future success of that organisation, as well as supporting small business, local suppliers and independent makers. From stylish homewares and quirky artisan gifts to beautiful books and sustainable, locally sourced treasures—there’s something for everyone.
Now in its eighth year, Museum Shop Sunday has become an established date in the cultural calendar, creating a focal point and a platform for cultural organisations to increase awareness, boost sales and reach new audiences in the busy run-up to Christmas.
Over 100 cultural organisations across the UK and Europe are set to take part in this year’s event, with museums, galleries, theatres, libraries, cathedrals and historic houses all putting on special events and promotions to showcase their beautiful unique products and encourage consumers to shop with purpose.
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford Upon Avon will be celebrating illustrator Emily Sutton’s beautiful artwork for Shakespeare’s First Folio: All The Plays: A Children’s Edition. Visitors will be able to see a selection of Emily’s original illustrations for the book and shop for exclusive Shakespeare’s First Folio gifts.
At Royal Ballet & Opera you can discover the truly beautiful Cinderella Christmas Collection. Inspired by the magical ballroom clock scene, artist Elena Deshmukh has created an enchanting range of celestial themed gifts, just perfect for Christmas.
Looking for an unusual gift? Bow Street Police Museum will be getting customers to use their detective skills by gifting a blind date with a book! Follow the clues to guess what’s under the wrapping – perfect for any budding sleuth. Or for the car lover in your life, head over to the British Motor Museum where you can adopt a car in their collection. You’ll get a digital adoption certificate and have your name displayed on the Online Collections record for the car.
Shetland Museum & Archives will be offering a lovely festive Museum Shop Sunday afternoon, with seasonal refreshments, mince pies and music. Visitors can meet the makers, watch how they craft their products and have a go at lino printing, paper cut design, needle felting and straw craft – a truly unique way to understand the incredible talent behind their products.
Cultural Enterprises CEO, Gordon Morrison said, “Museum Shop Sunday provides a unique platform for cultural venues to highlight their retail offerings, driving sales and increasing visibility. It also enables consumers to support their favourite cultural venues while finding unique and meaningful gifts. By shopping with purpose, they are directly contributing to the sustainability and success of these vital institutions. It’s a win-win all round!”.
Museum Shop Sunday is a fantastic opportunity to show the world just how brilliant our cultural shops are and what wonderful unique and creative gifts you can find when you shop with purpose. It’s free to take part and there are lots of ways to get involved, from posting on social with the hashtags #MuseumShopSunday and #ShopwithPurpose to hosting an in store event or online promotion.
Let’s get everyone shopping with purpose this Christmas! Discover what’s on near you and online, and how you can get involved. Find out more
