Best Arts and Culture Places in Birch Vale

"The Manchester Art Gallery possesses one of the largest art collections in Britain outside of London. The gallery includes works by the pre-Raphaelites; Flemish masters of the 17th century; French impressionists, including Gauguin, Manet, and Monet; and German artists such as Max Ernst. There are also pieces from well-known English artists, including Stubbs, Constable, and Turner."

"Manchester Art Gallery always have brilliant temporary exhibitions. Thanks to these guys I discovered Raqib Shaw, who is now one of my favourite artists. Manchester Art Gallery also have great permanent exhibitions with an emphasis on the Pre-Raphaelites."

"Housed in an iconic aluminium-clad building designed by Daniel Libeskind, the IWM North houses several fascinating exhibitions which tell the story of how a century of wars have affected people’s lives in Britain. The main exhibition space shows a timeline of the wars that Britain has been involved with since the First World War. The Big Picture Show uses the latest HD projection technology to tell people’s stories of war in a vivid and captivating way."

"Of the city's older buildings, the real gem is the John Rylands Library on Deansgate, a little masterpiece of Victorian Gothic nestling amid a forest of shops and office blocks. From the outside, the library looks so like a medieval church, with its turrets and stained-glass windows, that it comes as a surprise to learn that it is barely a hundred years old. Inside, it is a bibliophile's dream, a warren of dusty, book-lined rooms, with pride of place going to an original fragment of the Old Testament.Contact: library.manchester.ac.uk"

"Another grand old building that a lucky few can get wed inside, John Rylands is still in use as a functioning library (as part of the University of Manchester library), although many visitors come simply to admire the architecture. The building is actually a vast memorial to the late John Rylands, conceived by his wife and designed by Basil Champneys. Similar in style to the Town Hall, this is another example of neo-Gothic architecture that is revered worldwide."

"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rept0n1x used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The Millennium Gallery is Sheffield’s leading host of craft, art, ​and design. If you’re a lover of anything contemporary, the Millennium Gallery is a must-visit."

"With an eclectic collection that includes historic fine art and contemporary art works, a fine collection of textiles from across the world, sculpture, prints, wallpaper and more, there’s lots to enjoy at the Whitworth Art Gallery. Cornelia Parkers Exhibition, Whitworth Art Gallery. A highlight of the fine art collection is work by famous pre-Raphaelite artists including Holman Hunt, Rossetti, Millais and others."

"The Whitworth will partially reopen from Wednesday 19 May 2021. The gallery is expected to reopen fully from Thursday 1 July 2021."

"Established in 2000 as a ‘creative space for young people’, Z-arts has learning at its core. The family-friendly Hulme venue offers a welcoming, vibrant and safe environment to get creative in."

"Live participation classes are already up and running at Z-Arts, but it'll be a little wait for the theatre and gallery spaces. See the latest updates at z-arts.org/see-whats-on."

"Isla, which opened in 2017, now occupies two units in the upmarket Cavendish Shopping Arcade, has a lovely selection of unusual gifts and homewares (some of which are made locally) and also a wide range of greeting cards featuring designs you won’t really see in the chain store greeting cards shops. The shop also specialises in selling original art works – again many of which feature local artists. The shop is a lovely array of pretty things and ideal if you’re looking for a gift with a difference or something unusual for the wall at home."

"The Old House Museum in the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire is a typical 16th century yeoman's house that now houses a small museum with an exhibition of local life and artefacts. Old House Museum is situated 290 metres southwest of John Hattersley Wines. Photo: Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0."

"Opened in 1934 above Sheffield's Central Library, Graves Art Gallery contains an excellent collection of old masters and English art from the 18th century to the present day. There's also a sizable collection of works by major artists of the 19th and 20th centuries such as Cézanne, Corot, Picasso, and Braque. Other notable artworks include a collection of fine portraits, as well as contemporary paintings and sculptures."

"The People's History Museum, known as the national museum of democracy, is tasked with studying and preserving the history of working people in the U.K. It looks at the past, present, and future, and houses exhibits on "ideas worth fighting for," a particularly engaging topic for anyone invested in what's going on in today's society. The museum displays nearly 1,500 historic objects, with the largest collection of trade union and other banners in the world."

"The story of Britain's 200-year march to democracy is told in all its pain and pathos at this superb museum, housed in a refurbished Edwardian pumping station. You clock in on the 1st floor (literally: punch your card in an old mill clock, which managers would infamously fiddle with so as to make employees work longer) and plunge into the heart of Britain's struggle for basic democratic rights, labour reform and fair pay."

"Shepherd Wheel, Whiteley Woods, Off Hangingwater Road, S11 2YE. Open Saturday-Sunday and bank holiday Monday 10am-4pm (summer) / 11am-3pm (winter). Check updated opening hours in June 2021"

"If you’re a lover of all things Italian and don’t mind a tongue-twister, Le Delicatezze Di Bruno will cater for all your carbohydrate needs. Conveniently based in Manchester’s city centre – you can indulge in a 20” pizza for roughly £16."