Address: Mosley St, Manchester, M2 3JL, United Kingdom
Phone: +441612358888
Rating: 4.6
based on 541 reviews.
Accessibility
Pros:
"Its free and wheelchair accessible as well."
"Close to a tram stop and many restaurants."
"There was a lift and a cafe and shop section to buy memorabilia."
"Transport is probably easiest by tram (a 2 minute walk to St Peter's Square) or bus (Piccadilly Gardens a couple of minutes walk)."
"Accessible for wheelchair users with two glass elevators."
"No entrance fee. Easy access from city centre, decent toilet, no parking space available."
"There is wheelchair access and there are baby changing facilities in the toilets."
Cons:
"The building is small, tired and in need of love."
"Hate Manchester during Christmas markets. Its too crowded and doesn't feel safe."
"They were very saturated so it changed a bit the perspective of perceiving paintings and I would prefer them to be black or white."
"One thing I did find very off-putting was the fact that many of the paintings were glass covered."
"This wouldn't have been so bad if the glass were non-reflective, but it wasn't and as a result one could see the reflection of other objects in the room, even people in the gallery."
"Lot of pieces. I thinking okay let’s going. Well I’m thinking maybe not again because not very good."
"Sadly some of the rooms were closed for a private event while I was visiting, so I couldn't see all of the collection that I'd hoped to see during the Bank Holiday Weekend in town."
Staff and Facilities
Pros:
"The staff are very helpful and other facilities, such as the shop, toilets and cafe, are well run."
"The staff is also very helpful and provides you with a lot of necessary information about the museum and its collection."
"The gallery's welcoming ambiance and knowledgeable staff enhance the experience."
"Great overall experience, also very helpful employees."
"Friendly curators, well signposted art, this gallery guides the viewer to reflect on art from the past with questions/audio guides making one consider the future of the world."
"The staff is extremely helpful, passionate, and knowledgeable."
"Welcoming & helpful staff. Thoroughly enjoyed Grayson Perry Art Club exhibition."
Cons:
"But the artist isn't Dutch nor does he live in the Netherlands. He's from Zimbabwe which has nothing to do with the exhibition, and the exhibition isn't about colonialism."
"Instead of descriptions and explanations of the paintings reflection of random people about 'work after COVID-19'."
"In two rooms most exhibits replaced by statements supposed to make the museum 'relevant'."
"Needs a bit of a refresh and clean up."
"What could have been an opportunity to learn about the art and one man's view was hijacked by 45 mins of interminable, inane rambling by the audience."
"Great exhibits which I really enjoyed and cafe staff very friendly but there was a woman going around with a clipboard seemingly scamming people out of money which ruined the experience a little so be aware."
"They are reknown for their Pre-Raphaelite collection, but instead decided to waste 20% of their exhibit space on WOKE trash and faux art that speaks only to Modern and minority enthusiasts."
Collection and Exhibitions
Pros:
"An unexpected find, Manchester Art Gallery is a great stop for art lovers."
"In one of the galleries, there was a wall of video screens displaying performance art that was fascinating."
"I always love an art gallery, and Manchester Art Gallery has to be up there as one of my favourites."
"Beautiful exposition of Netherlands paint work."
"The different rooms cover the 18th century and 2018, you don't need to walk though all the parts, just the ones you are interested in."
"The Sirens and Ulysses is by William Etty."
"The gallery is often updated with new displays, and there are so many beautiful pieces to see here with amazing stories behind them."
Cons:
"Always loved this gallery in the past for the beautiful Victorian art but disappointed it has gone down the same road of judging the past by our better standards."
"The exhibition featuring sculpture was displayed as though it was either in storage or just being removed form storage."
"Some art was actually invisible for all intents and purposes."
"Increasingly 'woke' and apologetic for history, History sometimes chosen and promoted mainly because it's 'diverse' or 'inclusive' above its actual historical importance."
"Some good stuff, but the curators have gone woke so political stuff is being forced on you."
"Fantastic artworks, experience unfortunately undermined by woke indoctrination."
"However you cannot escape the political bias that is present throughout the art gallery. It seems obsessed with issues of race, patriarchy, classism etc."