Museum lan Galeri Seni Derby wiwitan buka saka tahun 1879, barengan karo Perpustakaan Pusat Derby, ing gedung anyar sing dirancang karo Richard Knill Freeman terus diwenehna Derby saka Michael Thomas Bass. Koleksi nang muséum ana lukisan Joseph Wright; uga ana pajangan Royal Crown Derby lan porselin liyane saka Derby lan sak ubenge. Pajangan liyane uga koleksi arkéologi, sajarah alam, géologi lan koleksi militer. Galeri Seni wiwit buka saking tahun 1882.
Sak liyane koleksi Wright, uga ana karya William Frederick Austin, Ernest Ellis Clark, Harold Gresley, Alfred John Keene, George Bailey, William Edwin Mosley, David Payne, George Turner, William Wood, Ernest Townsend, George Francis Yarnell, Samuel lan Louise Rayner.