This week's best new events and exhibitions

This article originally appeared on Culture24.

We recommend the best new events and exhibitions to visit this week, ending July 19 2015

Festival of Archaeology, Nationwide
Until July 26

The Council for British Archaeology’s annual festival kicked off this weekend for its 25th year. There’s plenty of time to check out what’s on offer; hundreds of events will be taking place across the country, from finds identification to hands-on archaeological digs. Visit our listings to see what’s going on near you, or visit the festival’s website to find out more.

Quentin Blake: Life Under Water – A Hastings Celebration, Jerwood Gallery, Hastings
Until September 6

Iconic illustrator and Hastings local Quentin Blake has created a set of 24 artworks specifically for the Jerwood Gallery. Interested in the variety of characters that the seaside town has to offer, Blake captures schoolkids, shoppers, pirates and pagans in otherworldly underwater scenes. This celebration of local life won’t be shown anywhere else, so a trip to the seaside is a must.

Joseph Cornell: Wanderlust – Royal Academy of Arts, London
Until September 27

This summer brings the wonderful opportunity to see 80 of Joseph Cornell’s shadow boxes, collages and films at the Royal Academy. Cornell spent most of his life in New York and the strong desire to travel, which gives the show its name, is prevalent in many of the artworks. For some of the pieces this will be their first showing outside of the US.

Rob Ryan: Listen to the World, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, West Yorkshire
Until November 1

Rob Ryan returns to YSP, bringing his charming and incredibly intricate papercut artworks with him. Listen to the World is a showcase of the past six years of Ryan’s work, which so often revolves around themes of love, nature, innocence and happiness. 

The Amazing World of MC Escher, Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh
Until September 27

The Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art is hosting an exhibition of work by Dutch Graphic Artist MC Escher. Instantly recognisable, Escher’s prints often feature impossible objects, mathematical patterns and trompe l'oeil illusions. This exhibition features more than 100 artworks, spanning the whole of the artist’s career.

Last chance to see:
British Wildlife Photography, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Wales
Until July 18

This week is your last chance to see the British Wildlife Photography Awards exhibition tour in Wales before it moves up to its final British show in Scotland. The exhibition highlights the competition entries that have best captured the British Isle’s most loved, rare and occasionally surprising flora and fauna. The annual competition was set up in 2009 to raise awareness about British Heritage and celebrate our natural heritage, and is open to all.

What do you think? Leave a comment below.

This is just a small selection of the thousands of UK cultural events and exhibitions we have on Culture24. Click here to see everything.

Source: http://www.culture24.org.uk/places-to-go/art531478-this-week-best-new-events-and-exhibitions