The Whitworth
Free art gallery and community hub on Oxford Road, set in Whitworth Park with collections and education programmes.
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The Whitworth is a free art gallery on Oxford Road, part of the University of Manchester, sitting in Whitworth Park between Moss Side and Fallowfield. After a major expansion in 2015, the building now opens directly into the park through glass walls at the back, blurring the line between gallery and green space. It’s a genuinely beautiful place to spend time.
The collections include wallpapers, textiles, prints, drawings, and fine art spanning centuries. But what makes the Whitworth relevant as a community space is what they do beyond the galleries. Their education and engagement programmes work with schools, families, young people, and community groups across south Manchester. They run free workshops, holiday activities for kids, artist-led projects with local residents, and exhibitions developed with communities rather than just about them.
The Whitworth regularly partners with organisations in Moss Side, Rusholme, and Fallowfield on projects that use art as a way to bring people together, share stories, and address issues that matter locally. It’s not tokenistic – the gallery has genuine long-term relationships with its neighbouring communities.
Free to enter, open daily except Tuesdays. The cafe has good food and park views. Find it on Oxford Road, M15 6ER. Check whitworth.manchester.ac.uk for current exhibitions and community programmes.
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