Gallery Oldham

24/06/2026

There are no limits to your imagination—just reach for the skies! ✨

Our brand-new nature gallery, Our Beautiful Oldham, is the perfect place to bring your little ones this summer. It opens on Saturday 27 June.
🦋 Pretend to be a butterfly
🌳 Curl up with a story in our cosy tree nook
🔭 Spot soaring birds using binoculars

Designed to inspire play, exploration, and discovery, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy. Keep an eye out for our linked events too, as we partner with Northern Roots to bring even more outdoor adventures your way! 🌼

22/06/2026

Have a close encounter here at Gallery Oldham this summer.

🌿 Our Early Years families have been busy helping us shape something special!

From choosing which animals, birds and insects to display 🐞🦉🐾, to exploring the smells and sounds of nature, their ideas have been at the heart of our brand new gallery. We’ve even been experimenting with different ways of labelling objects—because little voices matter 💚

✨ We can’t wait to welcome you to our new permanent Nature Gallery, opening 27 June 2026!

18/06/2026

It's Refugee Week, and we'd like you to meet Julio and Angel Barrio Lasheras, two brothers from Bilbao in Spain who came to the UK as refugees during the Spanish Civil War.

In 1939, Charlie Armitage from Oldham 'adopted' the brothers, writing letters, sending presents and welcoming them to his home on visits. Charlie was one of ten Oldham men who had fought in the Spanish Civil War, on the side of the Republic.

Our archivist is putting together a new display, due to open on 17 July, commemorating the 90th anniversary of the start of the Spanish Civil War. Check our What's On guide for details.

The theme for Refugee Week this year is courage. Charlie's decision to join the war took courage, but he was an adult. It would have taken extra courage for Julio and Angel to leave their family behind and move to a different country.

📷M9 Charles H Armitage Archive, held at Oldham Archives.

18/06/2026

💦 Make a Splash This Summer! New nature gallery opening Sat 27 June! 🐸

Step into our immersive stream and dive into a watery world of discovery!

🐟 Swim along with the fish
🐸 Follow the frog life cycle—from frogspawn to tadpoles to froglets
🦆 Keep an eye out for herons, kingfishers, dippers, and ducks

Find out what life is like for the animals, birds, and insects that call the water their home 🌿

Perfect for little explorers who love to explore, spot, and learn—come and see what you can discover together! ✨

LearningThroughPlay

18/06/2026

Bring the whole family to Gallery Oldham on Saturday 27 June, 10am–2pm as we open our inspiring new Nature Gallery.

Kids can dive into:
🌿 Clay and natural‑materials workshop encouraging mark‑making, imagination, and sensory exploration
📚 Storytelling adventures where children help build the story as they explore
🦆 Encounters with local animals and birds in our new gallery space

This is a day designed to spark creativity, nurture curiosity, and celebrate the natural world right on our doorstep.

10/06/2026

📣Calling all Artists and Creatives living in Oldham📣

There's still time to apply for funding between £100 and £500 to support your creative development.

For more information and to apply email: [email protected]

We look forward to hearing from you!

09/06/2026

📣Come along to our next Oldham Artist's Network meeting!

🎨Where? Gallery Oldham
🎭When? Thursday 9 July, 6 - 7.30pm

Join us at this first network meeting as Greater Manchester Town of Culture. Connect, share, create and just have a lovely evening among like minded individuals!

We'll be there to welcome you, share information and listen.

Book your free space using the link in the comments (helps with planning) or just come along on the day.

See you there!

09/06/2026

✨ Have you visited the magical Once Upon a Time exhibition in Gallery 3 yet?
This enchanting show celebrates the work of five brilliant children’s illustrators — and this week, you can meet one of them.
🖍 Meet Illustrator Sharon Davey
Thursday 10 June, 1pm–2pm
Join Sharon Davey as she chats about life as an illustrator and the stories behind her drawings featured in Once Upon a Time.
📍 Meet in Gallery 3
No need to book — just drop in.
This talk is part of Gallery Oldham's monthly programme. All sessions are free, informal, and last around 40 minutes, with time for questions at the end.
Don’t miss this chance to step into the world of children’s illustration and hear directly from one of the artists bringing these stories to life.

08/06/2026

We are so excited to welcome Sharon Davey to the Gallery this Wednesday (10th June). Don't miss the opportunity to meet this lovely and inspirational Illustrator.

The date mentioned in our HLA brochure has been updated. Illustrator Sharon Davey will be presenting a talk at the Gallery, discussing her journey as an illustrator and showcasing her artwork included in the Once Upon A Time exhibition.

We invite you to attend on Wednesday 10 June at 2 PM in Gallery 3.

08/06/2026

Oldham families—this one’s for you.

Join us on Saturday 27 June, 10am–2pm as we celebrate the opening of the Nature Gallery at Gallery Oldham with a day packed full of fun.

🎤 Interactive storytelling
🦉 Meet animals and birds
🧭 Trails and hands‑on interactives
🌱 Seed‑ball making
🎨 A nature‑inspired clay workshop that encourages creativity, care for the environment, and connection to local landscapes

Drop in, explore, create, and celebrate everything that makes Oldham’s natural world so special.