About the Friends of the Whitworth Art Gallery

About the Friends of the Whitworth Art Gallery

Curator guided tours, a look behind the scenes, trips in the UK and beyond, not to mention the knowledge that you are supporting one of Manchester's  most loved cultural institutions - what more could you want?

The Friends of the Whitworth was set up in 1933 and has been flourishing ever since. We support the work of the University of Manchester’s Whitworth Art Gallery, its internationally renowned collection, its imaginative programme of events, and its capital development.  The Friends is an independent charity and is run entirely by the membership.  The Chair and committee are elected; they set policy and oversee the general running of the organisation, and are supported by volunteers.

Standing Room only at one of our Sunday concerts

The current membership fee is £35 for an individual membership and, for two people living at the same address, the joint fee is £60. 

A Curator Tour for Friends

A visit behind the scenes to see the conservation team at work

As one of our members once said, there are several reasons to join the Friends of the Whitworth.

Why join the Friends? Well, there is a clue in the title…Friend(ship). It’s about sharing your interest in art and affection for the Whitworth Art Gallery. Over the years, the Friends have sponsored exhibitions, purchased, or helped to purchase, over 1,000 works for the Whitworth collection, as well as specialist display furniture. 

We can meet people in the 'Café in the Trees', perhaps the coolest destination in South Manchester, & bring our other friends too-and receive a 10% discount on your purchases. You can also claim a 20% discount on your purchases in the Gallery shop and a 10% discount in the shop at the Manchester Art Gallery.

Being a Friend means we get lots of opportunities throughout the year to visit other galleries and attend previews and curator talks here at The Whitworth. 

The Friends' events team also search out other places to visit... historic houses, beautiful gardens, artists' studios and private collections etc. In every programme we also try to include a skills workshop, open to everyone. including beginners, so you will have the opportunity to try your hand at screen printing, felt making,  patchwork, lino printing and much more

Every year, well known artists, gallery directors and art historians such as Grayson Perry, Andrew Graham Dixon and our own Directors  talk to us at our prestigious Autumn Pilkington lectures.

The team will also arrange your holiday,  both in the Spring and early December? Turin, Berlin, Venice and Nice have all been destinations in the last few years and for those who want to stay closer to home, there are two Uk trips arranged each year too.

Pilkington lecture by Esme Ward, Director of Manchester Museum.

Come & join us & have fun while raising very necessary funds for  this wonderful cultural institution.

Click here to join.