Last month some members of the Gallery collections team visited the archives collection, which is temporarily been stored off-site while the new space at Spindles is built. The collection is being cared for by Deepstore at Winsford Salt Mine, which is the source of all the country’s rock salt used on all our roads in the winter. Once the salt has been taken out it leaves a space perfect for the storage of documents as it is dry and a constant temperature. Deepstore have built storage units in the spaces and they rent them out to a wide range of public and private customers. There are a million boxes in storage there, containing over 10 million items, including a portion of the National Archives and collections belonging to the Earl of Derby. Senior Exhibition & Collections Officer Rebecca Hill said “There are miles and miles of tunnels, we drove for about 10 minutes in the minibus to get to our unit.”
Members of the Gallery team ready to go underground.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE VACANCIES FILLED.
Following the call for volunteers in the last newsletter, we are pleased to report the two vacancies on the Friends Management Committee have now been filled. We welcome Isabel Lunn and Robert Stansfield to the Management Team.
GALLERY WELCOME VISITOR FROM BAFM.
Gallery Oldham recently welcomed Margaret Stebbing, the North West Regional Co-ordinator for BAFM, The British Association of Friends of Museums. Friends Chairman Roger Hindle contacted BAFM to introduce ourselves to the national organisation and Margaret jumped at the opportunity to visit the Gallery.
Roger and Principal Arts & Heritage Officer Sean Baggaley gave Margaret a tour of the Gallery, which included a close look at the bees and beehives, safely from the Gallery side of the windows.
Margaret said “It was a very enjoyable, informative and useful visit”
Roger added “As BAFM is a national body, it is really important for the Friends group and the Gallery to form links with these kind of organisations”
Friends Chairman Roger Hindle with BAFM’s North West Regional Co-ordinator Margaret Stebbing looking round the One Seven Five Exhibition.
WHAT’S ON AT GALLERY OLDHAM
“Oldham Stories” continues as a permanent exhibition.
The “Ocean Drifters” exhibition is on until 7th September and “One Seven Five” exhibition continues until 11th January next year.
“The Oldham Open 2024” will run from 20th September to 23rd November. Friends members are invited to the official launch evening on Thursday 19th September from 6pm.
The Members Newsletter will keep you updated on future exhibitions and events as soon as possible.
FRIENDS EVENTS COMING UP
We have a few events arranged and I am please we can give more details below.
8th August – 6.30pm – Friends will be given another chance to look at the One Seven Five exhibition and hear from Principal Arts & Heritage Officer Sean Baggaley, who will pick out a number of his favourite objects from the show. We will also visit the art store to see a few more of the items that didn’t make the cut. Don’t miss this chance to see behind the scenes.
12th September – 4pm – Not 3.30pm as previously advised. – Sean Baggaley has arranged a special Friends only tour of the old library building during its renovation. We will be given an update on the building works and the plans for future uses of the space. We hope to accommodate all members, but places will be limited, so if you are interested in attending this event, and haven’t already done so, please let us know by emailing fogoldham@aol.com . Attendees need to be aware this will still be an active building and construction site, so please wear suitable footwear. Any other personal protective equipment will be provided by the contractors. Meet in the Gallery Reception.
10th October – 6.30pm – With the Oldham Open Exhibition in full flow, we will hear from some of the Gallery staff who planned the event as well as some of the exhibitors who will give us an insight into the inspiration for their work.
12th December – 6.30pm – We will be holding an informal Friends evening in the lead up to Christmas, so join us for some festive refreshments and a chat about what things are already being planned for 2025 and let us know if you have any other suggestions. This will also be an opportunity for you to view the current exhibitions.
13th February 2025 – 6.30pm – As we mentioned in our first newsletter, Senior Exhibition & Collections Office Rebecca Hill visited Japan earlier this year. She will give us a presentation on the background for the trip and what transpired during her time in the Land of the Rising Sun.
12th June 2025 – 6.30pm – This will be our first Annual General Meeting. Although no arrangements have been made yet, we hope to have a guest speaker.
FRIENDS TO EXHIBIT AT OLDHAM OPEN
For those of you who were at the launch of The Friends of Gallery Oldham back in March you will remember Steve Whitworth sketching a record of the evening. Steve has put together the drawings and we are pleased to say that this will be entered into the Oldham Open exhibition in September. If you were there, see if you can spot yourself.
Steve Whitworth’s sketch record of The Friends launch event
PROGRAMME PUBLISHED FOR OLDHAM HISTORIES FESTIVAL
The programme of events for the Oldham Histories Festival and Heritage Open Days has just been published. The full events brochure is attached to the email accompanying this newsletter, or you can pick up a copy at Gallery Oldham or your local library. Alternatively, you can use the following link which can help to book for events. https://hla.oldham.gov.uk/events/tag/oldham-histories-festival/
FUNDING AND PUBLICITY ALWAYS WELCOME
Do you know of any local companies or organisations who may be able to either make a donation to us or allow us to apply for any charitable funding to help us with our aims and objectives, or do you know how we could spread the word of the Friends group by any other means? If so, please get in touch by emailing us at fogoldham@aol.com.
HELP RECRUIT NEW FRIENDS
If you have any friends or family who would be interested in joining The Friends of Gallery Oldham, please let us know or ask them to get in touch by emailing us at fogoldham@aol.com.
