Gallery Oldham is situated on Greaves Street, just behind the Central Library and a ten minute walk from Oldham Mumps railway station. There is a bus stop in front of the gallery by the newly landscaped Union Street gardens.
Q. When is Gallery Oldham open?
Gallery Oldham is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 5pm.
Q. What exhibitions are on at the Gallery?
Exhibitions at the Gallery change regularly. They include traditional and contemporary art, items from the Museum collection, and touring exhibitions. Consult our brochure or website, or contact the Gallery for detailed information.
Q. Is admission to Gallery Oldham free?
Admission to Gallery Oldham is free.
Q. What has happened to Oldham Museum?
The old museum building is now home to Oldham Arts and Events. Oldham Museum staff and collections are now based at Gallery Oldham. Gallery Oldham will host exhibitions featuring museum items, and museum staff are available to answer enquiries and accept donated items.
Q. What will happen to the rest of the old gallery?
In the long term, it is planned to build a new Library and Lifelong Learning Centre. The old library building will then house additional space for Museum and Gallery exhibitions, and for Oldham Local Studies and Archives.
Q. What has happened to ‘the Street’?
The Street will be redeveloped in the new exhibition space in the old library building.
Q. What sort of activities or talks does the Gallery offer?
Gallery Oldham offers a huge range of activities and talks. These include:
Regular talks on the first Thursday of every month on a local theme or on gems from the Museum and Gallery collections.
Special talks relating to new exhibitions on occasional Saturdays.
Workshops for children and adults throughout the year. Extra events are programmed for children during the school holidays.
Look out for Gallery publicity, check our website, or contact the Gallery for more detailed information.
Q. Can the Gallery accommodate group visits?
The Gallery is happy to accommodate group visits and the Gallery Education Officer will lay on special activities on request.
Q. When is the café open at the Gallery?
The café is open Monday to Friday 11am to 4pm and Saturday 12pm to 4pm. It is open in the evening until 2am on Friday and Saturday and can be hired for special events in the evening during the week. The café’s phone number is 0161 620 2626.
Q. What is that rusting box in the Oldham Park garden?
It is a water feature artwork designed by the Art Department of Manchester.
Q. Does Gallery Oldham do valuations for items?
Oldham Park has been redesigned to help open up the area between Union Street and Ashworth Street and promote the area as Oldham’s Cultural Quarter. It is now a safer space and is fully accessible to everyone, including wheelchair users.
Q. Can the public see items such as paintings not on display, for research or general interest?
The museum and gallery will endeavour to make available items not on display providing an appointment is made well in advance.
Q. If the public have seen a rare bird or animal, who can they tell?
Pass the information onto Bruce Langridge who has a Recorder system to log sightings.
Q. How do I go about exhibiting my work at Gallery Oldham?
You will need to apply to the Gallery in writing.
Q. When will 'Cleopatra' be exhibited?
Cleopatra will be featured in a new exhibition opening in May 2003.
Q. How much does it cost to park, and why do we have to pay?
The car parking charges are:
0-1 hour 80p
1-2 hours £1.20
2-3 hours £1.60
3-5 hours £2.00
5 hours + £3.30
6pm – 12am £1.00
For disabled drivers, the first three hours are free, then the same charges apply.
The car park is operated by Oldham Council Parking Shop. Any comments should be addressed to them at 9 Albion Street, Oldham, OL1 3BG. Telephone 0161 770 3388
Q. Who designed Gallery Oldham, and do you have any information on the design?
Gallery Oldham was designed by architects Pringle Richards Sharratt. An early and strong inspiration was the 50ft long photographic panorama of Oldham taken in 1879 (now displayed in the glass bridge link between the old and new galleries). The photograph shows a skyline dominated by mills and chimneys and Ian Sharratt of PRS said “It took no great leap of imagination to see the potential for a significant structure that might again exert an influence on the lives of the people who live and work in and around Oldham. We wanted it to be a marker that signalled and located a new place in Oldham where people of all ages, ethnic groups and backgrounds could gather together as part of the arts-led urban and social regeneration of this area of the town.” More information on the design is available from the Gallery.
Q. How much did the Gallery cost and where did the money come from?
Gallery Oldham cost £9.5 million. Half of the money was provided by the European Regional Development Fund and the other half by Oldham Council.
Q. Why are the walls in the Gallery bare concrete?
The design of the Gallery makes extensive use of modern materials which incorporate high levels of energy efficiency. Glass, concrete, metal and terracotta all feature in this landmark building. The high heat capacity of the exposed concrete structure and conglomerate floor tiles assist in stabilising the Gallery environment and prevent sudden fluctuations of temperature in the galleries.
Q. What is Gallery Oldham’s address?
Gallery Oldham,
Greaves Street,
Oldham,
OL1 1AL
Tel: 0161 770 4653
E-mail: ecs.galleryoldham@oldham.gov.uk
Website: www.galleryoldham.org.uk