Exhibitions

Enlightenment: Discovering the World in the 18th Century is a new permanent exhibition, designed in-house, opening on 12 December.

Venue: The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1.

From 15 December until 5 January, a 6m-high Crystal Christmas Tree by fashion designer Alexander McQueen and light designer Tord Boontje will be on show, comprised of clear Swarovski crystals.

Venue: Victoria & Albert Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7.

The work of ceramic designer Julia Carter Preston, including this Bird plate with daffodils (left) is on show until 3 January.

Venue: Bluecoat Display Centre, School Lane, Liverpool L1 3BX.

Lightness At The Lighthouse, from 13 December to 1 February, is an exhibition featuring the work of third year students from the Glasgow School of Art’s Product Design course. It looks beyond a narrow consumerist approach to imagine lighter ways of living.

Venue: The Lighthouse, 11 Mitchell Lane, Glasgow G1 3LX.

New British Painting: Part 1 introduces a young generation of artists and celebrates contemporary painting through their work. The exhibition runs until 31 January.

Venue: John Hansard Gallery, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ.