Despite only being a few minutes from campus, how many people do you know that have actually visited the Whitworth Art Gallery? It’s a fantastic gallery space and I do urge students to go and take a look at some local art, but it’s also got so much more than that. So, as students return to campus for a new academic year, allow me to convince you to head on over for a visit.
Founded in 1899, the Whitworth Gallery is situated within Whitworth Park, and something you’ll immediately notice about it when approaching is the beauty both of the building itself and the environment it’s in. I’d actually recommend taking a decent look around Whitworth Park before even heading into the gallery, it’s a really beautiful leafy space where you can reconnect with nature after spending far too much time scrolling shortform content. Have a walk about, get annoyed by the sound of children at the park near Denmark Road (it’s good for you, I promise), and sit on the grass with your friends.
Once you’ve sufficiently disconnected, you can enter the gallery through its front entrance. When entering, you’ll be situated within the large entrance area where you can make a donation to the gallery, as entry is free, or take a look around its gift shop. As a connoisseur of gallery gift shops, I have to mention that the Whitworth’s is particularly good; not only are its products well-curated, but many of them are also created by local artists and creatives. I myself recently bought a card and a pair of earrings for my sister’s birthday at this very gift shop.
Of course, the majority of the Whitworth is devoted to the artworks that are on display, of which there is a pretty wide variety. Currently, two of London artist Ayo Akingbade’s films are on display, alongside the postwar textiles work of Shirley Craven. Also on display is some of the Whitworth’s collected artworks, many of which are slightly older; this includes many works from Manchester’s textile history, and a decent collection of Romantic and pre-Raphaelite artworks. All of these (and more!) are being showed in the Whitworth’s large display rooms.
Additional to this is the Clore Garden Studio, situated on the lower ground floor towards the gallery’s back. Creative workshops the Whitworth holds take place here, alongside other meetings and various creative events.
But there’s more to the Whitworth as well. The most immediately apparent bit to this ‘more’ would probably be the Whitworth Café, open from 10 every day except Monday. Something you’ll immediately notice about the Cafe is that it is encased almost entirely in a glass box protruding from the building, allowing you to enjoy nature even on days when the Mancunian weather isn’t as hospitable. The café also overlooks the Art Garden, a section of the Gallery built outside with a variety of different plants for anyone to enter and enjoy.
There are other spaces available for public use in the Whitworth as well. This includes the Living Room, a free-to-use community space situated towards the front of the gallery for the public to sit, eat, and socialise in. There’s also the Quiet Space, and I’ve also got to mention the large, wood-panelled open spaces dotted about the gallery. At the back, for example, there’s a large wooden hallway with big windows opening out onto the park; I’m particularly attached to this space after walking through, sun streaming through the windows, and coming across an artist sketching the view from the hallway.
If you do end up visiting the Whitworth, you’ll leave feeling creatively and emotionally refreshed, and who knows, you might have even discovered your new favourite space to chill out.