Gallery Oldham

“What a delightful spur-of-the-moment discovery! After a trip to the library with the kids, we noticed the welcoming free entry poster for Gallery Oldham and decided to pop in – a decision we were so glad we made. From the moment we stepped inside, the gallery offered a surprisingly engaging experience for all ages. My children were immediately drawn to the charming kids' area, complete with sensory toys and crayons, thoughtfully placed nearby so I could still enjoy the art. One of the highlights was the unexpected sight of beehives on the balcony, visible through a large window. The gallery had even placed cosy sofas in front of it, making it a wonderfully peaceful spot to observe the bees buzzing about their important work. The artwork itself was truly inspiring, with a clear connection to local artists and Oldham's heritage. It was fascinating to see depictions of how Oldhamers used to dress and live, offering a real glimpse into the town's past. The gallery then continued this journey through time, providing amazing information and facts about how Oldham has changed and evolved over the decades. Gallery Oldham is a real gem – a welcoming, educational, and surprisingly engaging space that offers something for everyone. The free entry makes it even more appealing for families. We'll definitely be returning!”

“Gallery Oldham is a real cultural gem in the heart of the town. The building itself is modern and welcoming, and entry is free, which makes it accessible to everyone. Inside, there’s a wonderful mix of art, history, and community exhibitions. I especially enjoyed the themed displays that highlight Oldham’s heritage, from its cotton mill past to its global connections. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable, and the integration with the library and learning centre makes it more than just an art gallery — it’s a hub for creativity and education. Whether you’re interested in fine art, local history, or simply want a peaceful place to explore, Gallery Oldham offers something for everyone. I’d highly recommend it to locals and visitors alike. It’s a place that celebrates Oldham’s past while inspiring its future.”

“Both a gallery and library, this place has been a staple in the town of Oldham for as long as I can remember. The library has a good spot to take little kids to read, it also occasionally offers events to do here. The gallery is a good place to learn about the history of the town as well as offering actual art to view. There is also a lovely bit about bees with a sofa and a small table full of things for kids to do to learn about bees as well as an actual bee hive on the landing (outside).”

“Gallery Oldham - A great place to discover beautiful art and historical objects What is Gallery Oldham? Gallery Oldham is an art gallery that is located in the heart of Oldham. It holds a variety of exhibitions and galleries that look at art in different ways including portraits,sculptures, posters and historical items. It currently holds the following Exhibitions and Galleries which are: Gallery 1 - Oldham Stories Gallery 2 - Finding the Funny: Sam Fitton Gallery 3 – Tony Husband Gallery 4 – Robert Lees: Oldham in the Countryside Exhibitions Visited Oldham Stories This was a great Exhibition that showcased interesting items giving a historical insight from the past to the present. This includes a vast array of objects from various collections at the Gallery. This included the National History, Social History and Art collections. Some of the items that were on display included The Rothwell Car, Jewellery, and specimens of taxidermy. These items were interesting to look at with a great story behind each object. The Natural History Collection was beautiful. It was lovely to see a large range of habitats that can be found in Oldham. This included owls, foxes, badgers, birds and swans. Finding the Funny: Sam Fitton Sam Fitton started his career in the textile mills before becoming a skilled illustrator, poet, dialect, writer and performer. This Exhibition was engaging as you saw Sam’s various works from cartoons that he drew in the newspaper The Cotton New Times. It also brought nostalgia in the adverts that he did for famous brands including Macintosh Toffees and other products. It also gives an outlook on how he used different dialects in his writing. His art work is also thought provoking in highlighting the issues of mill workers. This Exhibition was brilliant showing how Sam used different art means in order to earn a living. Inspiring. The interactive element of this Exhibition which is the badge making for a mill worker was fun, educational and made you think out of the box. Facilities Gallery Oldham has a café however it is currently temporarily closed. However there are a few cafes nearby that you can go to after your visit. There are toilets on the premises. Pricing It is free to visit Gallery Oldham. Parking There is no designated car park for this Gallery however there is a nearby car park that is pay and display. This is free for Blue Badge holders. What was good about Gallery Oldham? There is a great variety of objects that are full of history. Each Exhibition is engaging and is full of beautiful artwork that is beautiful. There are some good interactive activities to enhance your visit What could have been improved at Gallery Oldham? There could have been some background music Some of the habitats and art works did not have good descriptions so more detailed ones would be helpful.”