OUR FIRST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
We held our first Annual General Meeting at Gallery Oldham on Thursday 12th June. It was a perfect opportunity to reflect on our truly incredible first year where we grew to have over 80 members, raised enough funds to acquire our first piece of artwork for the Gallery and held a number of exclusive members only events.
The meeting agreed to increase the Membership fee from £5 to £10 and introduced a special fee of £15 for two people residing at the same address. Members were given an update on the Oldham Art Fair in November and other events scheduled for later in the year.
After the meeting, we were given the opportunity to look at, handle and even have a brew out of some of the objects from the Gallery’s ceramics collection. As the event was in Gallery Two, we also managed to have a sneak preview of the new “Bird Photographer of the Year” exhibition prior to its official opening.
(Tricia Golden gives members details and background to some of the ceramic items in the Gallery collection.)
NEW MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ELECTED.
At the Annual General Meeting, a new Management Committee was elected. The four Officers, Chairman Roger Hindle, Vice Chair Susan Coggins, Treasurer Tricia Golden and Secretary Shirley Mulock were re-elected unopposed. Two members, Isabel Lunn and Jeremy Sutcliffe were also re-elected whilst the other two member positions, vacated by Robert Stansfield and Steve Whitworth, who did not seek re-election, were filled by Anne Bardsley and Linda Edwards.
In his Chairman’s Report, Roger thanked everyone who has helped in any way during our first year, especially the members of the Management Committee, Gallery Oldham staff and of course the membership.
FRANK ROTHWELL OBE.
Massive congratulations to one of our members and Latics Chairman Frank Rothwell who was awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Frank receives the honour in recognition of his work as a “philanthropist and fundraiser”, for charitable services to dementia research, after rowing single-handed across the Atlantic – not once but twice – raising over £1.5m in the process. Well done Frank – we are really proud of you.
GO FRIENDS ART FAIR – EXHIBITORS CHOSEN.
Submissions are in for the first GO! Artists – Oldham Art Fair which will take place on Saturday 15th November 2025, in the Education Suite at Gallery Oldham, from 10am to 4pm. We had almost 30 applications from artists and creators using a wide range of mediums and materials. On Wednesday June 25th, a selection panel met to whittle the number down to 18 – which is the maximum number of stalls we can accommodate for this first event. We were genuinely blown away by the creativity and quality of work submitted, thank you to everyone who applied. You made our job a very tough one!
The selection panel comprised two representatives from Gallery Oldham, Senior Curator Rebecca Hill and Development Officer Nick Duke and three members of the Friends Management Committee, Chairman Roger Hindle, Treasurer Tricia Golden, and Anne Bardsley, who has been the driving force behind organising the Art Fair. Please put the date in your diary and if you are able to volunteer to assist at any time during the day, please let us know, it will be much appreciated. Keep an eye on our website, social media and newsletters over the next weeks and months when we will be featuring the people who will be involved in the fair.
(Roger & Tricia take a look at some of the submissions to the Art Fair.)
FRIENDS VISIT THE WORKING-CLASS LIBRARY
On Tuesday 8th July, a number of the Friends of Gallery Oldham made a visit to the Working-Class Movement Library in Salford. The library was founded in the 1950’s by Edmund and Ruth Frow who donated all the books, pamphlets and photographs they had acquired over the years. Eddie was an engineer and Ruth a teacher. A big thank you for a fascinating tour by volunteer’s Ken and Rita who both had a wealth of knowledge about the contents of the library and their history.
(Working-Class Library volunteers Rita (left) and Ken (right) show some artefacts to Friends Tricia, Andrea & Isabel.)
RAISE MONEY FOR FOGO WHILST SHOPPING ONLINE
The Friends of Gallery Oldham are registered with easyfundraising, which means you can raise FREE donations for us when you shop online. Over 8,000 brands will donate to us when you use easyfundraising to shop with them – at no extra cost to yourself. Many popular companies are part of the scheme, including Boots, eBay, B&Q, Pets at Home, Tesco – far too many to mention here but check to see if people you buy from are on the list. These donations can really mount up and make a BIG difference to us, so we’d really appreciate it if you could take a moment to sign up and support us. It’s completely FREE, really easy (if I can do it – anyone can) and only takes two minutes to register. Use the link on our website to join and raise money for us for free. Even if you are already signed up to easyfundraising, you can change your choice to us if you so wish.
WHAT’S ON AT GALLERY OLDHAM
“Oldham Stories” continues as a permanent exhibition in Gallery One.
“Bird Photographer of the Year” is running in Gallery Two until 6th September.
“Pick and Mix”, a family friendly exhibition continues in Gallery Three until 18th October.
In Gallery Four, “Pedestrian” by Emma Blackburn runs until 26th July, which will be followed by Palettes to Spray Cans” by members of the 1853 Studios from 2nd August until 18th October.
Details of these and other upcoming events can be found in the Heritage, Libraries and Arts “What’s On” brochure. Printed copies are free and are available from the Gallery and all local libraries. A pdf version is also on the Gallery’s website using the link below.
https://hla.oldham.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Whats-On-HLA-2025-Spring-
Brochure.pdf
HAVE YOU VISITED THE FRIENDS WEBSITE?
If you haven’t checked it out yet, the website address is https://gofriends.org.uk/ You can use the links on the website to sign up to Easyfundraising, make a donation either to our GoFundMe account or direct to our bank account and even join or renew your membership. If you have any comments about the website, or suggestions of what can be amended or added, please let us know by emailing fogoldham@aol.com
UPCOMING FRIENDS EVENTS
14th August 2025 – 6.30pm – Natural History Curator, Patricia Francis will tell us all about the collection and history of the taxidermy and natural history artifacts at Gallery Oldham.
9th October 2025 – 6.30pm – Local artist Peter Stanaway will tell us about his career and work.
15th November 2025 – 10am to 4pm – GO! Artists Oldham Art Fair.
11th December 2025 – 6.30pm – Rebecca’s Japan Trip Presentation.
FRIENDS CAN NOW GET 10% OFF AT GALLERY OLDHAM SHOP
We are very pleased to announce that members of The Friends of Gallery Oldham are now eligible for a 10% discount in the Gallery Oldham shop. This offer only applies to shop stock and cannot be used for purchases of art work from exhibitions, printing & photocopying and event tickets etc. If you have not yet renewed your membership, please see our earlier emails with the bank details, or go to the “Join Us” page on our website. Membership costs only £10 per individual or £15 for two people living at the same address and is open to anyone over the age of 18. As soon as you renew, you will receive details of this exciting offer as well as continue receiving our newsletters and invitations to special “Friends Only” events throughout the year.
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 by emailing fogoldham@aol.com or ask them to join via the “Become a Friend” page on our website.
