Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester

Whitworth Art Gallery is situated on the fringes of Whitworth Park, in the heart of Manchester’s academic centre. Founded in 1889, the same year that the adjacent park was created, the gallery was originally known as The Whitworth Institute. Together with the park, the Institute was designed by the estate of local industrialist Joseph Whitworth, who has a nearby street named in his honour. The intention of the institute and park, set in the leafy southern suburbs of Manchester, was to provide education and entertainment for families from all social classes living in the city’s overcrowded central areas.

The University of Manchester, one of the UK’s elite red brick universities (known collectively as the Russell Group) took over the running of the gallery in 1958, converting the Victorian building into a modern exhibition space for permanent fine art collections, as well as modern installations. Throughout its history, the museum has amassed a renowned collection of textiles from around the world, representing Manchester’s heritage as a world leader in textile production.

The gallery is fully equipped to provide for wheelchair users and visitors with sensory impairment.