Manchester Art Galleries

Manchester Art Gallery,  Mosely Street, Manchester, M2 3JL

Manchester's largest art gallery located in a Greek-style building, designed in 1825 by Sir Charles Barry, architect of the Houses of Parliament.  After a 4 year transformation costing £35m, the gallery houses one of the UK's important art collections in spectacular surroundings.  The collection spans 600 years of British and Continental fine and decorative art includingworks by Gainsborough, Stubbs, Reynolds and Turner. The famous collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings, one of the largest, includes works by Burne-Jones, Maddox Brown, Hunt, Millais and Rossetti.  A new gallery housing 20th century British art has works by Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Bridget Riley, Lucian Freud and David Hockney.  The diverse decorative art collection ranges from ancient Greek pottery to contemporary furniture and includes textiles, ceramics and metalwork.
Open: Tue-Sun: 10:00-17:00  (Closed Mon except Bank Holidays, 1 Jan, Good Friday, 24 - 26 and 31 Dec) Tel:  0161 235 8888

Manchester Art Gallery - The Athenium, Princess Street, Manchester

when the Manchester Art Gallery began to get overcrowded a new gallery was built immediately behind it.  Sir Charles Barry (who created the original building) designed the extension choosing a Tuscan Italian Palazzo style, different from the original Greek-style building. The building is now used for a range of temporary art and craft exhibitions.
Tel: 0161 236 5244

Whitworth Art Gallery,  Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER

south of University of Manchester campus, founded in 1889, and been part of the University of Manchester since 1958.  Internationally famous for its collection of contemporary and historical art and design, including British watercolours, drawings, prints, modern art and sculpture, the gallery also has the largest collection of textiles and wallpapers outside London. Exhibitions.
Open: Mon- Sat: 10:00-17:00 Sun: 14:00-17:00 Tel:  0161 275 7450

Metropolitan Galleries Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University, All Saints, Oxford Road, M13

the Galleries at Manchester Metropolitan University include the Holden, Righton and Ayton galleries. Also stage avant garde student exhibitions and end of year degree shows in June.
Open: Mon-Fri: 10:00-17:00 Tel: 0161 247 1708

ArTzu Gallery, Virginia House, 5 Great Ancoats Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester M4 5AD

an attractive new venue in Manchester's Northern Quarter features a range of artistic styles and media.  Here big names jostle with newcomers.  The Gallery aims to make affordable art available to everone, from connoisseur collectors to complete beginners.  Open: Tue-Sat: 11:00-17:30. Tel: 0161 228 3001

The Barn Gallery, 127-129 Portland Street, Manchester

a relatively new gallery hosting frequent exhibitions of contemporary art showcasing northern artists.
Open: Mon-Fri: 10:00-17:00, Sat: 10:00-16:00, Sun: 13:00-16:00 Tel:   0161 237 355

The Corner House Manchester, 70 Oxford Street, Manchester, M1 5NH

Greater Manchester's international centre for visual arts and the moving image, in a Grade II listed building, the unusual triangular site boasts three exhibitions galleries, three cinemas, a video library, bookshop, bar and cafe. The galleries host arange of avante garde, and often controversial, exhibitions including contemporary paintings, sculpture, installations and photographs.
Open: Tue-Sat: 11:00-18:00 all year except Bank Holidays. Tel: 0161 200 1500 (Box Office)

Castlefield Art Gallery, 2 Hewitt Street, Knottmill, Manchester, M15 4GB

founded in 1984 by Manchester's Artist Studio Association (MASA), the Gallery relocated to new premises in 2002. The contemporary art gallery hosts 6 main exhibitions year.  It also stages live performance, music and screen events, aimed at increasing awareness of a range of art practice.
Open: Wed-Sun: 13:00-18:00, Thur: 13:00-20:00 Tel:  0161 819 2295

Chinese Arts Centre, Market Buildings, Thomas Street, Manchester, M4 1EU

established in 1986 to promote Chinese arts and culture in Britain.  In a stunning conversion of a Grade II listed market hall, the centre,opened in 2003, features a 125 metre primary gallery, resource centre, education suite, teahouse and shop.  The centre hosts exhibitions by British born and international contemporary Chinese artists.
Open: Mon-Sat: 10:00-18:00, Sun 11:00-17:00  Closed Bank Holidays Tel: 0161 832 7271

CUBE, (Centre for the Understanding of the Built Environment),  113 - 115 Portland Street, Manchester, M1 6FB

one of Europe's leading architecture and design centres- dedicated to broadcasting a greater understanding of the built environment. This exciting purpose-built gallery was designed by Stephen Hodder within an Victorian textile warehouse.  Highlights of the centre include 'Explore Manchester', a virtual tour of the city, and 'Best Studio', five film presentations highlighting the importance of design within the Northwest's regeneration process.  Temporary exhibitions relate to architecture and town planning.
Open: Mon-Sat: 12:00-17:00 Tel:  0161 237 5525

ImiTate Gallery,  623 Stockport Road, Longsight, Manchester, M12 4QA

hosts local, national and international art exhibitions. On display are are a wide range of affordable works of art.
Open: Tue-Sun: 13:00-18:00 Tel: 0161 225 1200