Feed at The Harris | 30 September 2026 to 4 April 2027 | First Floor Balcony

A national public art project exploring the experiences of feeding and caring for babies outside of the home is coming to The Harris this autumn. The project features a unique artwork alongside a programme of free creative workshops and events for parents and families.

As part of its UK tour, Feed will be at The Harris from 30 September 2026 to 4 April 2027. The project centres around Feeding Chair, a specially designed chair and collaborative artwork that invites people to feed their babies and young children in museums and other public places.

Located on the first-floor balcony of The Harris, Feeding Chair creates a welcoming space for families while encouraging conversations about breastfeeding and caring for children outside of the home.

The chair features artwork by Jerwood Drawing Prize-winning artist Jade de Montserrat and includes an integrated tablet and speakers through which visitors can explore audio artworks by artists including Preston-based Krissi Musiol and Magda Stawarska, alongside videos about infant feeding.

Developed by In Certain Places at the University of Lancashire, Feed brings together artists, researchers, parents and communities to explore how our public spaces and venues can better support people caring for babies and young children. The project responds to the challenges many mothers experience, including stigma around breastfeeding in public, and seeks to create more inclusive and welcoming environments through art and creativity.

The Harris will also host a series of free workshops and events inviting visitors to explore themes of motherhood and public space, using objects from The Harris collection, alongside architectural design and performance. 

Photo credit: Fiona Finchett, modelled by Meysa and Razan, featuring artwork by Jade de Montserrat.

Programme Highlights

Motherhood at the Museum

Thursday 8 October and Wednesday 14 October 2026, 10.30am to 12.30pm

University of Lancashire researchers Carole Hunt and Marie-Clare Balaam will lead interactive workshops exploring motherhood through objects from The Harris collection. Participants will discover stories behind maternal artefacts and fashion and share their own stories in a relaxed show-and-tell session celebrating the everyday objects that shape motherhood, past and present.

Care Fix

Monday 5 October, Monday 12 October and Monday 2 November 2026, 10.30am to 12.30pm

Architectural designers Ecaterina Stefanescu and Sam Eadington will lead a series of practical workshops reimagining Preston city centre as a more welcoming place for people feeding and caring for babies. Through creative mapping, model-making and hands-on construction, participants will test small-scale changes and additions to public spaces around The Harris.

Feed at The Harris

Sunday 22 November 2026, 11am to 3.30pm

A celebratory drop-in event bringing together creative activities, artworks and performances developed with local communities as part of Feed. The event welcomes parents, carers, babies, children and anyone interested in exploring themes of motherhood, infant feeding and care.

All workshops and events are free to attend. Babies and young children are welcome, and refreshments will be provided at workshop sessions.

Information, including booking details at: https://www.feedproject.art/theharris

Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member of Culture and Arts at Preston City Council, said: “The Feeding Chair is a really positive addition to The Harris and an important reminder that families should feel comfortable in our public spaces. The Feed project creates a welcoming space where families can feed their children while also experiencing art and culture. It is fantastic to see The Harris working with artists and In Certain Places to explore themes of care and motherhood in such an accessible and thought-provoking way. I hope families across Preston will come along, make use of The Feeding Chair and join the workshops.”

Steve Morton, Consultant in Public Health (Maternity, Children, Families and Wider Determinants), Lancashire County Council said:  “Supporting babies and families to have the best start in life is a key public health priority in Lancashire.  The Feeding Chair creates an important opportunity to encourage conversations, parenting and the experiences of families in our communities.  We hope it will encourage greater understanding and visibility of infant feeding helping to normalise feeding in public spaces and support parents to feel more confident feeding their babies wherever they choose to do so and highlight the collective responsibility we all share in creating welcoming and supportive environments for parents and carers”.