Whitworth Art Gallery Tours

Every day the Whitworth Art Gallery invites visitors to take a deeper look into the exhibitions with free guided gallery tours. The tours start from the gallery’s main entrance at 2 pm from Tuesday to Sunday, and last approximately forty-five minutes. Often the tours are based on themes relevant to the current exhibitions in the gallery and can draw on political or social ideologies.

Individual pieces from the main exhibitions are highlighted, giving you a personal view of the work while providing an informative background to the artists, the circumstances in which pieces were made and the influences that contributed to their creation.

Aside from the ever-changing exhibits and thoughtfully curated permanent exhibitions, you’ll gain an insight into the history of the building and park. The 126-year-old signature red brick building has served Manchester’s cultural and educational needs in many different guises throughout the decades, each leaving a physical trace or imprint. Its impressive architecture is worth a tour in itself.

Tours are led by a member of the gallery’s visitor team, who will be more than able to answer questions on the artists, artworks and gallery itself over the course of the tour. Appropriate for people of all ages and accessibility needs, gallery tours are a great way to gain a deeper understanding of the artworks without being overwhelmed by information. It’s also a highly sociable way to experience a gallery if visiting on your own.

There’s a maximum capacity of twenty people on each tour and individual tours aren’t bookable, so it’s advised that those wanting to attend arrive well before 2 pm to avoid disappointment.

Aside from the tours, there are plenty of ways to get involved with singing groups, art workshops, young curation and more. Check out their website for full details of the Whitworth Art Gallery’s community based opportunities.