Next stop for The Bobeam Tree – Lowry in Salford!

Lowry in Salford is welcoming the Bobeam Tree, an imaginative early‑years installation created in partnership with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and the National Portrait Gallery.

Open from now until Sunday 14 June 2026, Lowry invites babies, young children, and their families to explore, play, and connect through gentle, creative experiences.

The installation is inspired by the Centre for Early Childhood’s Shaping Us Framework.

First introduced in 2025 as part of a special trail opened by Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales at the National Portrait Gallery, the Bobeam Tree is touring a number of museums and galleries across the UK.

It arrives in Salford following a recent stop at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA) and will continue its tour of the UK later this year.

During its time in Salford, families can explore sensory Baby Explorer packs and follow a simple trail inspired by Jack the Dog – a small character from LS Lowry’s 1959 watercolour, Group of People. Each point along the trail offers a tactile or visual prompt to support children’s early curiosity and encourage shared moments of discovery. Weekly storytelling sessions beneath the Tree also provide opportunities for families and early‑years groups to enjoy quiet, imaginative time together.

Lowry is working with partners across Salford’s early‑years networks to reach families who may benefit most from cultural engagement, recognising the role creativity can play in early development and wellbeing. Alongside the installation, Lowry is launching a Creative Families Collective to help embed family perspectives into future planning and ensure that its early‑years offer continues to develop in line with community needs.

Jennifer Riding, Director of Learning and Engagement at Lowry, said,

“We are proud to be welcoming the Bobeam Tree to Lowry and working with The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and the National Portrait Gallery this Spring. By embracing the ethos behind the Bobeam Tree we will embed family voices at the heart of our programme and create a legacy that extends well beyond the installation.”