Who Are We?
MOTE (Museum of the Environment) is a community-led museum and creative space in the heart of Ipswich, where art, science and the environment come together.
Through exhibitions, workshops, talks and community projects, we explore our relationship with the natural world, creating opportunities for people of all ages to learn, connect and take positive action.
Whether you’re visiting an exhibition, attending a workshop or simply stopping by to discover something new, MOTE is a place where curiosity is celebrated and everyone is welcome.
Peter Gwizdala. Co-Founder
Peter has spent many years campaigning for the environment. His first campaign, in 1989, was PARC (People Against the River Crossing), formed to oppose a proposed “cut and cover” tunnel that would have destroyed ancient woodland in Oxleas Woods in South East London.
That early experience showed him the impact that simple, direct action can have in protecting the environment. The proposed tunnel has never been built, and the woodland remains standing today.
Alicia Doel. Curator and Exhibitions Officer
Alicia Doel is a Curator and Exhibitions Officer at the Museum of the Environment (MOTE) with a BA (Hons) in Art Curation. Alongside her role at MOTE she has curated multiple exhibitions, including one featuring 35 local artists and also works a local radio interviewer, where she has championed the work of artists and creatives across the region. Passionate about community engagement, Alicia’s work aims to bring together art, education, and environmental awareness through accessible exhibitions and public programmes.
Check out The Shape of Change
Our Mission…
At MOTE, we believe creativity has the power to inspire change.
Our mission is to use art, culture and education to make environmental learning engaging, accessible and meaningful. By bringing together artists, researchers, educators, environmental organisations and local communities, we create experiences that encourage curiosity, spark conversation and empower positive action.
As a volunteer-led museum, we’re committed to supporting creativity while creating opportunities for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn, collaborate and contribute. We want MOTE to be a place where ideas are shared, perspectives are challenged and visitors leave feeling inspired to make a difference—whether through everyday choices or wider community action.
Our ambition is not simply to exhibit work, but to build a creative community that helps shape a more sustainable future.
Our Story
Our home has been inspiring curiosity for almost two centuries.
Built in 1847, the building originally opened as the first Ipswich Museum, becoming a centre for science, natural history and education. It welcomed distinguished speakers, including the Reverend John Stevens Henslow—botanist, educator and mentor to Charles Darwin—and played an important role in the intellectual and cultural life of the town.
When the museum later relocated, the building entered a new chapter as the much-loved Arlingtons restaurant, where generations of visitors came together to celebrate, connect and create lasting memories.
Today, MOTE is honoured to continue that legacy.
As the Museum of the Environment, we are reimagining this historic building as a vibrant cultural hub where creativity, science and environmental learning intersect. While the building’s purpose has certainly changed over the last 180 years, its heart has remained the same!
It has ALWAYS been a place where people gather to learn, discover, question and connect.
We look forward to welcoming you as we write the next chapter of its story together.