Gallery Oldham

About the museum

Gallery Oldham brought the town's museum and gallery services together in one building designed by the architects Pringle Richards Sharratt, which was completed in its first form in 2002. A new extension for Oldham Library and the Lifelong Learning Centre followed in 2006. The gallery looks after the civic collection of Oldham and much of the wider borough's collection.

The collection combines art, social history and natural history. It includes work by local artists such as Helen Bradley and William Stott and by British artists including L. S. Lowry, John William Waterhouse and Bridget Riley, and since 2007 the gallery has also built a collection of studio pottery with Heritage Lottery funding. Its displays include Cotton Stories, which explores Oldham's past as the world's leading cotton-spinning town.

A bridge links the gallery to the neighbouring J R Clynes building, the former Oldham Library, Art Gallery and Museum, where three restored galleries reopened as the 1883 Art Gallery. The gallery also runs exhibitions of contemporary art and community projects, including dementia-friendly and sensory sessions for young children.

Highlights

• Restored 1883 Art Gallery with the Oldham Panorama
• Cotton Stories on Oldham's textile history
• Our Beautiful Oldham nature display with hands-on elements for young children
• Studio ceramics collection with pieces visitors can touch
• Works by L. S. Lowry, Waterhouse and Bridget Riley
• Natural history displays with Brendel plant models and taxidermy

Permanent exhibitions

• Our Beautiful Oldham – A permanent display on Oldham's parks, woods, meadows, water and moors, with hands-on elements for young children.
• 1883 Art Gallery – Three restored Victorian gallery rooms in the J R Clynes building, reached by a bridge from the gallery, showing works from the art collection and the Oldham Panorama.
• Cotton Stories – A display on Oldham's history as the cotton-spinning capital of the world.

Founded

2002

Operated by

Oldham Council (Heritage, Libraries and Arts)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

Admission is free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Large lifts serve the galleries, usually on both sides of the building. Wheelchairs can be borrowed from the information desk and accessible toilets are in the gallery. Eight accessible parking spaces are on the Southgate Street car park, with access to the gallery across the street. The gallery is autism friendly, with quieter spaces and quieter visiting times available by telephone, and dementia friendly, with a dementia trail and reminiscence boxes to borrow. Some studio ceramics on the first floor can be touched.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Baby changing facilities

The permanent display Our Beautiful Oldham has hands-on elements for young children, and free GoBaby sensory play sessions for babies who are not yet walking and their families run on selected Thursday mornings without booking. Baby changing facilities are available and breastfeeding is welcome.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit