Culture
Gallery Guide and Panopticons
Inspired by our area? Many artists are and choose to live and work here.
Our region is also home to internationally recognised collections. Here’s a whistle-stop tour:
The Panopticons Trail: A perfect way to see Pennine Lancashire’s landscape and savour a series of unique 21st century landmarks. Ranging from Halo and Atom to The Singing Ringing Tree, each is situated on a Pennine Lancashire highpoint commanding amazing views.
The Haworth Art Gallery in Accrington, is home to Europe’s largest public collection of Tiffany’s acclaimed Art Nouveau glass and a changing programme of national and local exhibitions. More than 140 glass tiles, vases and mosaics, some of Tiffany’s finest works, were donated by Joseph Briggs. In 1891, aged 17, he left Accrington and enjoyed a successful career working for Tiffany in New York.
Blackburn Art Gallery and Museum is the place to see the internationally renowned Hart bequest, a unique collection of coins, manuscripts and books, unmatched by any public collection outside London.
Pendle Heritage Centre, a fascinating and historic building in Barrowford incorporates a museum, café, walled garden, adjoining Gallery and Tourist Information. Barrowford is also home to the Grade 2 listed Higherford Mill, featured in BBC’s Restoration competition and now a Centre For Creative Industries.
Mid Pennine Arts is a powerhouse on the regional art scene with involvement in many contemporary projects across Pennine Lancashire. It also has an education department which works with schools and colleges. Its gallery space on Yorke Street in Burnley hosts a range of thought provoking and fascinating exhibitions throughout the year.
Towneley Hall Art Gallery and Museum in Burnley has a fine collection of paintings, many pre-Raphaelite or Victorian, including works by Waterhouse, Poynter, Zoffany and Farquharson. Displays also include the 15th century Whalley Abbey vestments and a carved 16th century Antwerp altarpiece.
Gawthorpe Hall: A National Trust property in Padiham, which showcases the important Kay-Shutleworth Textile Collection and has many paintings from the National Portrait Gallery.
The Platform Gallery in Clitheroe’s converted railway station building provides a wonderful light filled exhibition space for contemporary craft, a shop selling ceramics, jewellery, glass, wood and textiles and an education room. It hosts several exhibitions per year, with an emphasis on high quality contemporary craft by both national and local makers.
Backridge, Twitter Lane, Waddington: Once a full-time working farm, it’s now a must-visit location just a few minutes drive from the centre of Clitheroe. It’s home to artists’ studios from which work is sold and a beguiling mix of businesses ranging from interior design and wooden toys to exclusive candles and the Taste café/restaurant where the emphasis is on organic and quality produce and home baked treats.
In Longridge Julie Rainford’s Moss Gallery on Lower Lane showcases Julie’s own work and a selection of work by other artists and craft workers.
The Longridge Gallery on Berry Lane specialises in original work and limited edition prints.
The Ascot Studios at Bee Mill on Preston Road, Ribchester, is a contemporary fine art gallery. It sells original paintings from established collectible artists and the work of talented emerging artists. Those represented include Colin Halliday, Richard Clare, Paula Velarde, Angela Wakefield, Moira Metcalfe and Colin Taylor.
Down the road on Church Street in Ribchester the Geoff Rollinson Gallery specialises in landscape and wildlife paintings. Geoff’s work is keenly collected and many local scenes feature in paintings and prints in the gallery.
Other fine art galleries in Pennine Lancashire include: Dysons in Barrowford; The Old Bakehouse Gallery, Clitheroe; Wensley Gallery, Ramsbottom; Waterbridge Gallery, Bacup; Oscar’s Gallery, Rawtenstall.
Check out individual web-sites for more details.