Manchester Art Gallery

Begin your week in a mindful manner. Visit our free And Breathe... exhibition, which is part of our wider campaign to raise awareness and promote understanding of how mindfulness can be used within the cultural sector to promote good health and wellbeing. http://ow.ly/Nh2O30l0taM

How are you spending your Sunday?
Pictured: Noonday Rest, 1863 by Henry William Banks Davis © Manchester City Galleries

Our visitor Services 'bookworm' has devised a list of books on the #MAGnetblog which have intriguing connections to the artworks we display. Click on the link and you may find something for your #summerreadinglist http://ow.ly/VQvq30l1LWn #Frontofhouse #artbooks

If you're blown away by our Nordic Craft and Design exhibition, pop into our shop. There are pieces available to purchase, which are featured in the exhibition, including textiles from MARIMEKKO, ceramics from Studio Arhoj and glassware from Iitala. #NordicStyle

Is your Friday as busy as Lowry's painted scene of Piccadilly Gardens?
Pictured: Detail of Piccadilly Gardens, 1954 by L.S Lowry. Currently on display in the atrium.

Have you spotted our Chatter & Natter table in the cafe? It aims to create a space for people to talk and interact with others. You might make that little bit of difference to someone’s day. Look out for the sign on the table. http://ow.ly/VaAj30l0hP0

We're opening our doors early this Saturday for our #AutismFriendly workshop. Pop in between 9.15-11.15am for #free activities for autistic children, or for a quiet wander around the gallery. http://ow.ly/Qs5330kTX6d

Annie Swynnerton had a major exhibition here at Manchester Art Gallery in 1923. We're showing 36 of her paintings from across Swynnerton’s career in a free exhibition called Painting Light and Hope. http://ow.ly/AwP130kU9N4

Ira Aldridge's portrait is a famed and treasured piece in our collection. Listen to the story of the 19th century actor told by Radio 4 Extra's programme, as a figure who defied racial prejudice. You will find his portrait in our 'Speech Acts' exhibition in gallery 12. http://ow.ly/rVI030kZbSO

THIS WEEK
The World is my Song Thursday 19 July 6-7pm Free, all welcome
... The beauty of African American spirituals, the powerful drama of opera and musicals, and the raw passion of Streetwise Opera come together to celebrate the power of art to change the world, in a performance inspired by our Speech Acts exhibition.
#MAGwellbeing #Manchesterhomelessnesspartnership
See More

Did you know that we carefully chose the colour scheme, seating, height of the artworks and interpretation in our And Breathe... exhibition? This is to encourage you to relax and spend time in the space. Did it work for you? http://ow.ly/R1ym30kU5KI

Details coming soon about our summer holiday workshops for families! Keep an eye on our website. http://ow.ly/nXtO30kU7sF

The work reflects a fashion for Catholic subjects which emerged after the Emancipation Act of 1829. Paintings such as this echoed widespread curiosity for the more picturesque aspects of Catholicism.
Pictured: Neapolitan Peasants at the Festa of the Madonna del Arco, 1840 by Thomas Uwins © Manchester City Galleries. On display in gallery 5.

Chris Ofili, Lubaina Himid, Gilbert & George and Barbara Brown are just a few artists featured in our exhibition, Speech Acts. It showcases paintings, video, textiles and prints by more than 40 artists. http://ow.ly/53CJ30kU52Y

Edwin Landseer sets the quiet power of the ever-flowing river against the ghostly image of the ruin to suggest the passing of time.
Pictured: Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire, 1830-1835by Edwin Landseer © Manchester City Galleries On display in gallery 6.

"Stress happens. It's how we deal with it that matters. Often in life we don't have control over what happens to us but we do have a choice in how we respond to it. Learn ways to respond to stress better through our free health and wellbeing public workshops. Everyone is welcome" Louise, Health and Wellbeing Manager. http://ow.ly/gbBg30kNJKw

Join us next week when Streetwise Opera will celebrate the power of art to change the world, in a performance inspired by our Speech Acts exhibition.
Streetwise Opera is an award-winning national charity that uses music to help people who have experienced homelessness to make positive changes in their lives.
The World is my Song ... Thursday 19 July 6-7pm
#MAGwellbeing #Manchesterhomelessnesspartnership
See More

Open doors is designed specifically for autistic children and adults. On the third Saturday of the month, we offer free #AutismFriendly activities. It's also a quiet time to look around the gallery. #Free. The next session will be on Saturday 21 July 9.15-11.15am. http://ow.ly/EU6130kU315

Could this be the scene this evening? #FootballsComingHome
Pictured: Tavern scene with a large crowd of peasants drinking and merrymaking, date unknown by Adriaen Brouwer © Manchester City Galleries

Hear our curator, Fiona discuss our upcoming exhibition, Nordic Craft and Design. Opening 6 July 2018. http://ow.ly/3JEN30kAsZ3

This rating is of the lovely cafe where I met people for drinks and a snack yesterday. The seating areas are lovely, very good service, delicious bacon sandwiches. Will def be visiting again.

So glad it’s there for us to use and squabble over. I’m not one for endless rooms full of religious porn like in some galleries and so Manchester suits me down to the ground.



Can’t get over the detail on those Dutch Masters’ Still Life(s). Though more proud of our own Lowry and Valette of course (because they’re ours, of course). The art and mindfulness section is an interesting idea to get us thinking and with comfortable chairs to do it in!



And there’s always one or two new exhibitions to check out, like the black female art professor, Sonia Boyce, currently on display. I’m not an artist by training and so really appreciated the free tour yesterday.



And I’m always interested to see what colour the cafe is each time I visit, as it might have changed again...but hopefully not!

Not taking into account the recent media attention (but also not dismissing it), thank you to the gallery and its employees (who each have their own opinion, quite rightly so, on the recent issues) who have been extremely helpful in my current interest in exploring the world of art. Thank you for making my Thursday evenings something I look forward to each week.

Like a walk round the gallery when living in Manchester, good down time, the buildings amazing, started to grab a beer in the garden with a great view & quite a sun trap.

Lately, I feel so sorry for the museum for having to deal with extremists. They're gracious enough to give them a platform to express themselves. I am all for equality, however, the way they express themselves can really alienate other people who believe in the same advocacy. They were given the opportunity to write their own versions of the historical descriptions of each section of the museum, and although I understand their concerns, the way they wrote was very informal and emotionalist. If they can express themselves in a more objective manner, it's easier to sympathize with their opinions. They shouldn't fight fire with fire. I do suggest the museum to keep the writings for laughs though. It's so extreme, it's even funny. �

I first came to what was "The Atheneum" in the 1970's as a school boy and it has remained one of my favourite art galleries. In those days the link to the other gallery was via a subterranean gallery mostly on ceramics (which I never personally got much from). Really enjoyed seeing the Pre-Raphaelite art again, I'd bought many prints of these over the years. Great to also see a superb exhibition of Adolphe Valette, previously I'd not seen so many together and well exhibited with Lowry. The Swynnerton and Pankhurst exhibitions were unexpected highlights this time. Awell spent afternoon.

Fabulous and inspiring exhibition - Speech Acts - do try to catch it.. and Sonia Boyce's film on the top floor For You, Only You is extraordinary - plus I found my Millais favourite - Autumn Leaves in the permanent Collection

A beautiful art gallery. The more traditional art is complimented by beautiful contemporary work. The most exciting and intelligently curated art gallery I know. My family love it here. Thank you.

3* but only because I am happy for the return of the painting Hylas and the Nymphs. 2* lost because something like this was possible in the first place. The general opinion is that the curator should be fired for censoring art, in short (because that is what she did no matter of her lame excuses), or if she has any dignity left, she should resign as she is unfit for the position. If a petition on this issue (her being fired/asked to resign) should arise, I will gladly see it as my duty to sign & share as a woman who admires beauty, loves art, collects art, respects art, history of art and its artists. I was born and raised in a communist country, now a democratic country, and this act of censorship reminded me of communist times... Shame on the curator and anyone else behind the removal of Waterhouse's painting. I will come to visit the gallery only now as the painting is back.

The removal of Waterhouse's Hylas and the Nymphs is censorship, pure and simple. A decision taken with an apparent lack of understanding of the subject of the painting. I won't return until the painting does.

The fact that you would take down classical artwork for any reason is absurd! If anyone is offended by the masters, maybe they are the ones who have a problem, not your patrons. Sad way to get attention for a project. Disrespectful and just plain wrong!

The Manchester Art Gallery has broadcast a very disturbing image of itself, by censoring artworks that the gallery curator (some Clare Gannaway) deems not in line with today's range of acceptable discourse.



In particular, "Hylas and the Nymphs" was removed from the gallery Friday 26 2018. Officialy this was done to "promote a debate about the representation of the female body". This reason, although catchy, is not intellectually honest. Promoting debate entails showing MORE, not less.



The curator of an art gallery is the custodian of the art pieces, not their owner. Removing an artwork from the public's gaze based on ideological reasons is a very dangerous path to walk. I'm surprised how the gallery's curator fails to see this, and just (mis-)uses the otherwise commendable argument of "promoting debate" to hide/remove a piece of art that some self-righteous minds consider culturally outdated.



When political correctness reaches out to the domain of the arts, it's time to stop and reconsider the direction our society is heading. Witnessing the Manchester Art Gallery crossing that dangerous line is not only extremely disappointing but also very alarming.

Please return Waterhouse's Hylas and the Nymphs to it's rightful place on your walls. Removing it is such a shameful stunt. To hold art hostage like this is weak performance art. It is a failure of custodianship and curatorial responsibility.

Please remove the curator Clare Ganaway obviously not up to the position or working in the public interest. Though Hylas and the Nymphs has reportedly been put back in place the fact that such censorship could even be considered in a public? art gallery beggars belief. I would have normally given 5 stars ...maybe when she's sacked�

If you are removing a single piece of art to placate dimwitted totalitarians you have no rights to call yourself an art gallery. You also have no place in a modern civilized liberal society and you have strayed from the lessons of enlightnement.

By that act you told everyone not to trust in your displays to not be politicized and so you defaced art and made it propaganda.



Also, your logo f u c k i n g sucks...

I'm very sorry to rate this gallery so poorly, because I love the place and the splendid collection of paintings here. My rating has only to do with what I see as an irresponsible act of censorship perpetrated by the curator against the very soul of the Manchester Art Gallery which is the unparallel collection of pre-raphaelite Art. As a result of this pre-raphaelite Art is now is under scrutiny by ignorant and narrow-viewed people from all over the World. If the very soul of Feminism is about empowering women, the pre-raphaelite have to be seen as pioneers of this movement since they portrayed, women that appeared self-confident about their sensuality and sexuality. The fact of embracing once again Pagan mythology in connection to Women was in fact to reinstate their power, similar to goddess on this Earth, that cannot be reduced to vision the Christians had of Women mainly as chaste or sinners. So all of this has has now been denied by a superficial act of critic, followed by censorship. My mind goes to similar and alarming situations in the recent past when under the dictatorship in Germany during the 30' and 40' certain Art was superficially labeled as 'Degenerate Art', bad for society and banned. This gesture represents also a threat to freedom of expression in Art, and freedom of reception. I'm very sorry about all this also because many people now from Italy, where I come from are echoing the Guardian newspaper rating of this painting saying that this is nevertheless bad Art. On the contrary I deeply feel that the pre-raphaelite Art is supreme Art and needs to be defended from superficial views and certainly by acts of censorship like the one done by the curator.

I cannot believe you let the ignorants humiliate art to this extent. How could you take of a Victorian master's painting? The only thing that is wrong in this case is the mind of these mobs. They ARE the rapists of art, and you are the accomplice. Shame on you. Did you just say whatever is going to please these mobs in the video? Because your response was pathetic, weak and ridiculous. If art needs to be responsible for people's filthy, disgusting mind and pathetic self, then there will be no art left.

Dear curators, would you also hide the Collosseum from people because it was made in an era with morals and politics different from yours?



This is censorship not unlike the one that artists like Nabokov or Ginsberg had to face from the religious right.

As said by another reviewer, "The recent Hylas and the Nymphs debacle throws into question the quality and purpose of this museum. To take down--effectively censoring--a piece of artwork because the staff doesn't understand or feel comfortable with it is ludicrous and sets a dangerous precedent." I think the Manchester Gallery is a space that has become compromised by censorship and politics. I recommend finding a different gallery that allows people to make their own decisions when interpreting a work of art, rather than here where you are having it done for you.