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Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Salford Museum and Art Gallery Famous for our Victorian street, Lark Hill Place, we also have galleries and changing exhibitions. Salford Museum and Art Gallery is a hidden gem.

Situated close to the centre of Manchester it has been open as a museum since 1850, and continues to offer a varied programme of exhibitions and activites to this day. Many people remember visiting Lark Hill Place when they were growing up and 'The Street' is still in the museum now.

Operating as usual

☕️Limited Edition Salford Museum mugs!☕️ We are loving these lovely mugs made by Foley Pottery. A great gift or a souven...
17/03/2023

☕️Limited Edition Salford Museum mugs!☕️ We are loving these lovely mugs made by Foley Pottery.

A great gift or a souvenir to remember your visit. There are also items available featuring illustrations of Ordsall Hall, The Lowry Theatre, Peninsula Stadium and Salford Lads Club. A design for everyone!

Check out our online shop or ask in-store.
https://salfordmuseumshop.co.uk/

Mother's Day is just around the corner, so we have an exciting offer for that special parental figure in your life!We ha...
16/03/2023

Mother's Day is just around the corner, so we have an exciting offer for that special parental figure in your life!

We have a fantastic gym, swim, and classes membership voucher available for just £81. If you want to learn more, please visit the Salford Community Leisure website.

Salford Community Leisure

Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company Ltd was founded in 1891 near Swinton and continued to be a leading manufacturer of...
15/03/2023

Pilkington's Tile and Pottery Company Ltd was founded in 1891 near Swinton and continued to be a leading manufacturer of ceramics until its closure in 2010. They were a progressive and equal opportunities employer that encouraged the hiring and development of women in their workforce.

In our collection, we have ceramics designed by Gwladys Rodgers, Dorothy Dacre, Annie Burton and Mitzi Cunliffe on display.

Our records of these women are lacking, but thanks to Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre, we know a little bit about Mitzi Cunliffe (1918 - 2006). She loved design and understood the public's interest in modernity, with her use of monochrome bright colours. You can read more about her on Bury Art Museum's website.

Photo Credit - Bury Art Museum and Sculpture Centre

Our East Wing will be reopening Saturday 25th March with exhibition 'People & Portraits of Salford' 🎨This show is in col...
14/03/2023

Our East Wing will be reopening Saturday 25th March with exhibition 'People & Portraits of Salford' 🎨

This show is in collaboration with START, a Salford based mental health charity that uses creativity, connection and recovery interventions to help improve people’s lives.
The portraits will be produced by current service users and volunteers, spanning across the range of creative mediums delivered at START, including painting and drawing, textiles, mosaic, ceramics, sculpture, print and photography.

This is a bird fountain. The Victorians used glass displays such as theses for centre pieces and mantle ornaments as a f...
13/03/2023

This is a bird fountain. The Victorians used glass displays such as theses for centre pieces and mantle ornaments as a fabulous display of wealth.

The birds are made from spun and trailed glass with fibre glass tails. Glassmakers created these at the end of the day with whatever leftover glass they had.

Would you have a bird fountain on your dining table at home??🐦🕊🌿

*SATURDAY* 1:30pm-3:30pm Join artists from Ten Obstructions for an informal tour of their exhibition In the Making!👏Feat...
12/03/2023

*SATURDAY* 1:30pm-3:30pm Join artists from Ten Obstructions for an informal tour of their exhibition In the Making!👏

Featuring works inspired by Salford’s geology, archaeology, geography, waterways, industrial history and residents as well as Salford Museum & Art Gallery’s own collections, this event will allow visitors the exciting opportunity to better understand the processes and themes explored throughout In the Making.

This event is free of charge and complimentary refreshments will be provided at the end of the tour, at which point visitors will also be able to chat to the artists.

PLEASE BOOK a spot on this tour via our website ➡️ https://salfordmuseum.com/event/making-talk/

Our Victorian street, galleries and Café are always open over the weekend from 11:30 to 4 pm.This free entry museum is t...
11/03/2023

Our Victorian street, galleries and Café are always open over the weekend from 11:30 to 4 pm.

This free entry museum is the perfect day out for all ages, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Are you and a group of friends looking for fun and interesting days out that won't break the bank?💸 At Salford Museum we...
10/03/2023

Are you and a group of friends looking for fun and interesting days out that won't break the bank?💸
At Salford Museum we offer Group Tours! Taking place in our Victorian Gallery where we have an informal tour of some of the paintings, and then down to Lark Hill Place, our Victorian Street for a look at the shops and houses on display. Learn about Victorian life with one of our wonderful educators, and then book on for tea, coffee and biscuits in our cafe☕️🍰

Visit our website to book! https://salfordmuseum.com/visit/group-tours/

Art Spotlight! This lovely work is by Christopher Rainham and is currently featured in the 'Ten Obstructions: In The Mak...
09/03/2023

Art Spotlight! This lovely work is by Christopher Rainham and is currently featured in the 'Ten Obstructions: In The Making' exhibition in the North Gallery at Salford Museum. Ten Obstructions came together in 2019 through bOlder, a Castlefield Gallery/GMCA visual artist talent programme for artists over fifty in Greater Manchester.

"I looked through the online database of things held in the Museum collection. One of them was described as 'pebble'. I hoped that 'pebble would be very ordinary and made a list of other stones and flints that I wanted to study. Stones aren't ordinary, they tell the story of how the Earth was made and how it has changed. They can be tools, houses or monuments. They have their own beauty and even more interesting to me they can be ground into powder to make paint. I have used some stones to make a painting of stones."

Image 1: From One Silence to Another, 2022 acrylic, conte and oil on canvas
Image 2: Flint, 2022 acrylic and conte on board

Happy Women's Day! Our Women's Wednesday feature is Susan Isabel Dacre (1844-1933).Susan spent her childhood at a conven...
08/03/2023

Happy Women's Day! Our Women's Wednesday feature is Susan Isabel Dacre (1844-1933).

Susan spent her childhood at a convent in Salford. From 1871, she studied art at the Manchester School of Art where she began a lifelong friendship with Annie Swynnerton. Isabel's works were hung in Paris and she was admired in Italy and England.

Dacre was a feminist and suffragette who was a member of the executive committee of Manchester National Society of Women's Suffrage and founded the Manchester Society of Women Artists in 1876 with Annie Swynnerton.

Nine year old Madge Massie is the subject of this portrait. Her father was a local cotton merchant who lived on Burnage Lane. Susan painted several children from this family.

This portrait hangs in our Victorian Gallery alongside a portrait painted by her friend, Annie Swynnerton.

📯Coming up: Saturday 18th March, Artist Talk with Ten Obstructions!Join artists from Ten Obstructions for an informal to...
06/03/2023

📯Coming up: Saturday 18th March, Artist Talk with Ten Obstructions!

Join artists from Ten Obstructions for an informal tour of their exhibition, In the Making.

Featuring works inspired by Salford’s geology, archaeology, geography, waterways, industrial history and residents as well as Salford Museum & Art Gallery’s own collections, this event will allow visitors the exciting opportunity to better understand the processes and themes explored throughout In the Making.

Complimentary refreshments will be provided at the end of the tour, at which point visitors will also be able to chat to the artists.

Book your free ticket 👉https://salfordmuseum.com/event/making-talk/

We've now listed all of our wonderful Craft Socials through to July!This month has now sold out but there's plenty of sp...
05/03/2023

We've now listed all of our wonderful Craft Socials through to July!

This month has now sold out but there's plenty of space left of April's paper flowers workshop!

Head to the link below to see what we've got lined up for you and to book!

https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/craft-socials/

Our galleries, museum, shop and café are open all weekend from 11:30am-4pm!We just can't wait until the sunlight floods ...
04/03/2023

Our galleries, museum, shop and café are open all weekend from 11:30am-4pm!

We just can't wait until the sunlight floods through our lovely windows again and all the lush greenery in Peel Park is out 🌞

There's less than two weeks until our next Life Drawing Lates workshop on Wednesday 15th March and we have a few spaces ...
03/03/2023

There's less than two weeks until our next Life Drawing Lates workshop on Wednesday 15th March and we have a few spaces left!

In this session we’ll have a live model present so participants can practice their skills rendering shape and form. For the first time, we will also have a variety of coloured paper available to use, allowing participants the opportunity to experiment further.

Book here 👉https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/life-drawing/

Great article about the re-opening of our library!https://salford.media/article/local/salford-local-history-library-reop...
02/03/2023
SALFORD LOCAL HISTORY LIBRARY REOPENS IT'S DOORS

Great article about the re-opening of our library!

https://salford.media/article/local/salford-local-history-library-reopens-its-doors-r4366/?fbclid=IwAR0WHxYN6yfV_Eeref1RPhWxuhCsV_UU62l_6lL8W7FXJIpEUG66hscJhkE

Salford Local History Library on the Crescent Salford threw open it's doors today after a two month closure for both a lick of paint and the addition of much needed new equipment. There are 18 new wooden filing cabinets which house a collection of over 70,000 photographs, three new digital microf...

Happy World Book Day! Did you know that the Victorians were avid readers?During the Victorian period, the printing press...
02/03/2023

Happy World Book Day! Did you know that the Victorians were avid readers?

During the Victorian period, the printing press was firmly established in England. Since literature was so easy to mass produce, the number of publications was on a steep incline. This was aided by the newly emerged middle class who could read and had some extra money to spend on periodicals and other publications.

With such increased literacy, Gothic fiction was on the rise, as well as novels. The Victorians' interest in the macabre led to many novels that we deem as classics today, such as Dracula, Frankenstein, and even Sherlock Holmes. The Bronte Sisters and Charles Dickens were also publishing at this time.

Pictured here is our Victorian printing room, which features a printing press and other tools of the trade. If you want to have a proper look, come visit Lark Hill Place!

📯🥳 Our Local History Library is back!We've been open less than a day and our fancy new micro-film readers are already in...
01/03/2023

📯🥳 Our Local History Library is back!

We've been open less than a day and our fancy new micro-film readers are already in use - thanks to the Friends of Salford Museum for funding these! As you'll see we've added comfy chairs galore for you to read in and we think the new deep green walls give it a lovely, cosy feel - it's all so comfortable we might have trouble closing up at the end of the day!

Bookings for the library are available every Wednesday-Friday - https://salfordmuseum.com/product/visit-lhl/

Happy Women's Month! Every Wednesday in March we will feature women from our collection to share their stories.To start ...
01/03/2023

Happy Women's Month! Every Wednesday in March we will feature women from our collection to share their stories.

To start off the month is the famous local artist Annie Swynnerton (1844-1933). Annie began to paint watercolours from a young age and studied art in Manchester and then in Paris.

Her work was first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1879 and the following year she exhibited a portrait of her friend Susan Dacre, with whom she later formed the Manchester Society of Women Painters.

After a gap of 16 years, she exhibited again at the Royal Academy and in 1922, became the first woman elected into the Royal Academy.

Not only is Annie is well known for her allegorical paintings and portraits, she was also a great believer in equality for women in art and was an active feminist and suffragette.

Her portrait of an unknown woman titled 'Tryst' hangs in our Victorian Gallery.

Little Tich - Big Boot Dance (1900)
28/02/2023
Little Tich - Big Boot Dance (1900)

Little Tich - Big Boot Dance (1900)

Little Tich (1867-1928) was a famous North London Music Hall artist.In this routine, filmed with primitive sound for the Paris Exposition of 1900, he perform...

Today is your last day to apply to be part of our By Hand gallery until later in the year!This is a selling space that s...
28/02/2023

Today is your last day to apply to be part of our By Hand gallery until later in the year!

This is a selling space that supports and showcases mainly local independent artists, creatives and craft people’s handmade work. Work is taken sale or return with a pricing guide of most work under £50.

👉https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/exhibitions/exhibit-with-us/

We've got some beautiful new cards in the gift shop! The shop and café are open today 9:30am-4pm - pop in and have a bro...
27/02/2023

We've got some beautiful new cards in the gift shop! The shop and café are open today 9:30am-4pm - pop in and have a browse!

We hope you're all having a lovely weekend! We're open 11:30-4pm today if you'd like to squeeze in one more day out befo...
26/02/2023

We hope you're all having a lovely weekend! We're open 11:30-4pm today if you'd like to squeeze in one more day out before school starts again tomorrow!

We hope you've all been enjoying half term week! Here are a few snaps from our pick and mix playtime sessions yesterday....
24/02/2023

We hope you've all been enjoying half term week! Here are a few snaps from our pick and mix playtime sessions yesterday.

Thanks to everyone who has visited us so far this week, we're open today until 4pm and all weekend 11:30-4pm for more museum fun!

Another sneak peak into the local history library ahead of its re-opening next week!These lovely new cabinets replace ou...
23/02/2023

Another sneak peak into the local history library ahead of its re-opening next week!

These lovely new cabinets replace our very old metal ones that were a bit worse for wear. They're now packed full of the old photos of Salford that you love!

Don't forget, you can also view thousands of these at www.salford.photos

To help a bit with how expensive life is at the moment, we've lowered the price of our Miniml re-fills!Bring in a 500ml ...
22/02/2023

To help a bit with how expensive life is at the moment, we've lowered the price of our Miniml re-fills!

Bring in a 500ml bottle and stock up on a range of eco-friendly beauty and household products.

We hope you all enjoy your half-term visits with us this week - February is always a busy and fun one!If busy spaces get...
21/02/2023

We hope you all enjoy your half-term visits with us this week - February is always a busy and fun one!

If busy spaces get a bit overwhelming for anyone in your group, please do ask for one of our visit boards from reception when you arrive to help you get set for your trip. We've also got ear-defenders to help with the noise!

📯There are still a few spots available on our April Craft Social with Caroline Coates Illustration and Craft Workshops.J...
21/02/2023

📯There are still a few spots available on our April Craft Social with Caroline Coates Illustration and Craft Workshops.

Join us to celebrate the springtime and learn how to make beautiful paper flowers and create a long-lasting bouquet.

All materials will be provided in a wide range of colours and upcycled paper options.

Book your ticket here 👉https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/craft-socials/

Salford half-term begins today and our galleries and Lark Hill Place will be open Tuesday - Sunday for you to visit.We'r...
20/02/2023

Salford half-term begins today and our galleries and Lark Hill Place will be open Tuesday - Sunday for you to visit.

We're well-stocked with our 'Let's Explore trail which is available at any time during our opening hours for just £2!

Book your free museum ticket 👉https://salfordmuseum.com/product/museum-visit/

Please note that our small car park can get extremely busy during half-term. Alternative car parking can be found around the university campus - Irwell Place car park is just across the road from us and we are also very well connected with public transport.

Another of the many jobs we've been carrying out whilst our local history library has been closed is re-hanging lots of ...
19/02/2023

Another of the many jobs we've been carrying out whilst our local history library has been closed is re-hanging lots of our old posters in racks for you to see - here's a sneak peak selection for you!

We look forward to welcoming you back next month!

It's Mother's Day next month and we've got some lovely gift ideas in our shop!We're open all weekend 11:30am-4pm if you'...
18/02/2023

It's Mother's Day next month and we've got some lovely gift ideas in our shop!

We're open all weekend 11:30am-4pm if you'd like a browse!

And don't forget, if you can't make it in person we now have an online shop - https://salfordmuseumshop.co.uk/

Following the roaring success of our Life Drawing Lates last year, we’re delighted to once again have them on selected W...
17/02/2023

Following the roaring success of our Life Drawing Lates last year, we’re delighted to once again have them on selected Wednesdays all year round!

Featuring a live model as well as a different theme each month, these sessions are a great way to unwind after a busy day. Everyone is welcome to attend, from those starting to develop their drawing skills to experienced artists seeking regular practice. Guidance will be provided by local illustrator and artist Paul Pickford.

See the full programme - https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/life-drawing/

Highlighting some of our wonderful, current By Hand sellers!We're accepting applications now for our next intake. Apply ...
16/02/2023

Highlighting some of our wonderful, current By Hand sellers!

We're accepting applications now for our next intake. Apply here - https://salfordmuseum.com/byhand-jan23/

Our By Hand cabinet is a selling space that supports and showcases mainly local independent artists, creatives and craft people’s handmade work!

We're now well on the go with the organisation phase of our Local History Library work and are unpacking all of our old ...
15/02/2023

We're now well on the go with the organisation phase of our Local History Library work and are unpacking all of our old maps ready to be filed away again and kept more safely!

How amazing are these?

Happy Valentines Day! Did you know that our Victorian Gallery features an artist couple?Annie Swynnerton (1844-1933) was...
14/02/2023

Happy Valentines Day!

Did you know that our Victorian Gallery features an artist couple?

Annie Swynnerton (1844-1933) was a painter. Notably, she was the first women to be elected into the Royal Academy and was an active suffragette.

Joseph Swynnerton (1848-1910) was a sculptor who was a member of the Manchester Academy of Art.

The two met while travelling in Italy and were married in 1883. Today Joseph's statue 'Cain and Abel' gazes upwards and waves at Annie's painting 'Tryst'. How romantic is that?

A week today until the start of Salford half term! We've got lots planned to keep you busy, from clay play to dolls hous...
13/02/2023

A week today until the start of Salford half term! We've got lots planned to keep you busy, from clay play to dolls house decoration!

Find out more and book an activity 👉https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/school-holidays/feb-2023/

Don't forget, the galleries and museum are closed Mondays but the café and shop are open.

We're thoroughly impressed with the books that were created in our book binding craft social this week with Caroline Coa...
12/02/2023

We're thoroughly impressed with the books that were created in our book binding craft social this week with Caroline Coates Illustration and Craft Workshops - aren't they amazing! 😍

See more of the craft socials we've got planned 👉https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/craft-socials/

On this day in 1840 Queen Victoria married Albert. The royal couple married in London where the queen wore a white dress...
10/02/2023

On this day in 1840 Queen Victoria married Albert. The royal couple married in London where the queen wore a white dress that would ignite a white bridal dress trend. Her stain train was over 6 yards long and had to be carried by twelve attendants!

Ten years after the royal wedding, Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort were the first patrons of the Royal Museum and Public Library, now Salford Museum and Art Gallery, which opened in January of 1850 with royal patronage continuing until 1940.

The painting 'Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in Peel Park, 1851' by George Hayes (c.1823–1895) currently hangs in our Victorian Gallery.

Address

The Crescent
Salford
M54WU

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9:30am - 4pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 4pm
Thursday 9:30am - 4pm
Friday 9:30am - 4pm
Saturday 11:30am - 4pm
Sunday 11:30am - 4pm

Telephone

0161 778 0800

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Our Story

Salford Museum and Art Gallery was the UK’s ‘first free public library’, which opened in January 1850, followed in November by a museum and art gallery. The building was a mansion house known as Lark Hill, which had been built in the 1790s and has given its name to our famous Lark Hill Place; a Victorian street within the museum.

Today, Salford Museum and Art Gallery presents an exciting programme of permanent displays and changing contemporary exhibitions together with a range of events and activities guaranteed to inspire which completes a must visit experience for individuals, families, schools and organisations to come and enjoy. When you have visited the galleries why not pop into our cafe or purchase a souvenir in the museum shop.

Our learning and communities programme allows everyone to get involved with the museum – perhaps taking part in a Victorian washday, learning new crafts or reminiscing with our memory boxes.

Find out more to help plan your visit including directions and facilities available.

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This coming Wednesday at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
Here's what's on for Day 4 of the ...

🐣 Splash | 10am & 11am | Broughton Leisure Centre
🐰 Tudor Playtime | 10am-2pm | Ordsall Hall
🐣 Laundry Day | 10am-2pm | Salford Museum and Art Gallery
🐰 Easter Bunny Hunt | All day | Ordsall Hall

https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/easter-22/
It's the second day of the Easter Holidays and we've got plenty going on to keep the whole family entertained!

🐰 Easter Bunny Hunt | 10am - 4pm | Ordsall Hall
🐰 Dance & Gymnastics Easter Camp | 2pm - 4pm | Worsley Leisure Centre
🐰 Peter Rabbit & Friends | 2pm - 3pm | Eccles Library
🐰 Victorian Toys | All day | Salford Museum and Art Gallery

https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/easter-22/
Exciting News!
You can now find QUE at Salford Museum and Art Gallery 💜

I feel blessed that our work was selected and is part of the .
This was one of the first Museums Enrique visited when she moved to Greater Manchester
Having her work available here makes it more special for her.
📢 WE'RE HIRING! 📢

Our Museums & Galleries team are on the lookout for a Public Programmes Officer who will be focussed on developing an innovative and inspiring public programme to enable a range of audiences to engage with exhibitions, collections and spaces within Salford Museums & Galleries, working across Salford Museum and Art Gallery and Ordsall Hall.

Deadline for applications: 5pm, Tuesday 12th April 2022.

Find out more & apply 👇
https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/work/vacancies/
Looking for a last minute gift for Mother's Day? We've got you covered!

We have some lovely, unique gift ideas to surprise Mum.

🌸 3 Month Gym Membership
🌹 Afternoon Tea at Salford Museum and Art Gallery
🌺 Gift Voucher to spend in our Museum shops and cafes
🌷 Gift Voucher to spend in the By Hand Shop at Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Find out more ⬇️
https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/mothers-day-22/
Have you checked our our Easter Holiday programme yet? If not, what are you waiting for?! 🐰🐣

We've got a jam packed programme of fun workshops, activities, holiday camps + MUCH more! Including:

🌸 Dance & Gymnastics Camp
🌸 Splash sessions
🌸 Football Camp
🌸 Music and Performing Arts Salford - MAPAS Easter School
🌸 Fun Tudor and Victorian activities at Ordsall Hall and Salford Museum and Art Gallery
🌸 Story & craft family friendly sessions at our Salford Community Libraries

View the full programme 👇
https://salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/easter-22/
It’s , so we’re celebrating the amazing range of unique visitor attractions right here in Salford. From to RHS Garden Bridgewater Ordsall Hall and Salford Museum and Art Gallery to MediaCityUK Blog and and more to discover….
It’s , so we’re celebrating the amazing range of unique visitor attractions right here in Salford. From to RHS Garden Bridgewater Ordsall Hall and Salford Museum and Art Gallery to MediaCityUK Blog and and more to discover….
Wow, check out these creations from the Jesmonite Workshop held at Salford Museum and Art Gallery over the weekend. Don't they look great!

Take a look at our Craft Socials programme to see the upcoming crafty workshops we have coming up...

https://salfordmuseum.com/whats-on/craft-socials-2022/
Last remaining tickets for this Sunday's Jesmonite workshop at Salford Museum and Art Gallery with Caroline Coates.

⌚️ Sunday 20th March, 12-2pm
📍 Salford Museum and Art Gallery
💷 £25 per person

Book now 👇
https://salfordmuseum.com/event/jesmonite22/
Just a couple of spaces left on this Sunday's Jesmonite workshop at Salford Museum and Art Gallery https://salfordmuseum.com/event/jesmonite22/
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