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 £27 for an individual membership and, for two people living at the same address, the joint fee is £45. 

A Curator Tour for Friends

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

Adele Jennison ,a member of the Friends, gives us her ten reasons to join the Friends of the Whitworth.

1. 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 purchased, or helped to purchase, over 1,000 works for the Whitworth collection, as well as specialist display furniture. We have also sponsored exhibitions, and, through subscriptions and fund raising activities, raised over £250,000 for the most recent refurbishment and extension of the Gallery.
2. 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.
3. Being a Friend takes the hassle out of keeping up with what's happening in the art world -- we get lots of opportunities throughout the year to visit other galleries,...and
4. ...attend previews and curator talks. You soon feel like an art-insider after listening to our knowledgeable speakers. We run a monthly Look Club which is free to Friends.
5. The Friends events team also search out other places to visit...historic houses, beautiful gardens, artists' studios, private collections, open-house events & hidden art spaces. 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, Chinese brush painting, felt making, water colours, patchwork, lino printing and much more
6. Every year art stars such as Grayson Perry, Andrew Graham Dixon and Dr Bendor Grosvenor come & talk to us at our prestigious Pilkington lectures.
7. If that isn’t enough the team will also arrange your holiday. Who doesn’t want their travel niggles taken care of? Sweden, South Africa, Dessau & Dresden, and Nice have all been destinations in the last few years, with pioneers sailing across to Belfast & Derry to celebrate the City of Culture; even a bold group venturing into Iran in 2010 and Kosovo and Montenegro in 2018! 

1. Shorter trips in the UK are too numerous to mention. Recently we have added an art-centred long weekend break in early December to our programme.
2. And as the icing on the cake, we have the stunning new spaces in a most loved gallery at the heart of Manchester's cultural life!
3. Come & join us & have fun while raising very necessary funds for the next exciting stage in the life of this wonderful cultural institution.

Click here to join.