[@]Manchester Art Gallery

Wam Bam Photography

Manchester Art Gallery has been at the heart of the city for over 200 years, providing access and appreciation to a range of works of local, national and international significance.

This historic building hosts a rotating display of special exhibitions, which have recently included Grayson’s Art Club, exhibits created by viewers of the hit Channel 4 show and Jarman: Protest! Celebrating the work of acclaimed director Derek Jarman.

Elsewhere within the building there are galleries celebrating work and showcasing key exhibits from the Pre-Raphaelities and Romantic eras, and 18th, 19th and 20th centuries including works by Francis Bacon and George Stubbs. The gallery is proud to feature displays of contemporary art. Pieces on display include fine art, glass, ceramic, costume and more from it’s collection of over 25,000 items.

There are also pieces of local interest on display including Lowry and his mentor Valette, with the chance to get close to iconic artworks. Valette’s evocative misty landscapes of Manchester at the turn of the 20th century bring the area to life, whilst Lowry’s matchstick representations of Manchester’s people continue to speak down the generations.

The gallery’s cafe and shop provide the perfect rest shop to perhaps engage in a spot of urban sketching, or the chance to delve deeper into your favourite artist.

At the other end of the city in the University Quarter, is the Whitworth Art Gallery (Oxford Road, M15 6ER). The extensive refurbishment undertaken to the Whitworth in 2015 makes it the ideal companion for an arty day out. Works on display include historical fine art, contemporary and modern art and an unrivalled textile collection.

The Whitworth’s dynamic programme of exhibitions has an aim to make the Whitworth a culturally relevant place that exposes the relevance of art against the backdrop of modern day society.

For those who are inspired to get arty and feel like taking on the greats, there are two art supply stores in the Northern Quarter, Cass Art on Oldham Street and Fred Aldous in Stephensons Square for all your art supply needs. Numerous vantage points provide a good place to draw - why not paint the Library arches, an urban landscape in the Northern Quarter, or even imagine how Roman Manchester may have looked in Castlefield!

Open Wednesday-Sunday 10am–5pm, free to enter, donations appreciated.

Recommended visit time: 2-3 hours