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The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery
Type:Museum
Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 6RE
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The Whitaker Museum has been part of the cultural life of the Rossendale Valley for over one hundred years. Set in the beautiful Whitaker Park in Rawtenstall, it’s a great day out for all. A traditional and contemporary a museum, but with a modern twist.
The Whitaker has redeveloped all of its existing galleries, and created new opportunities for people to connect with art, culture, and one another. With current contemporary artists from up and down the country exhibiting in the galleries. From artist events to museum tours to workshops to film nights, explore what the Whitaker has coming up by downloading the latest what’s on guide.
With diverse spaces to encourage curiosity and inspire imaginations, great school packages for KS1 and KS2 pupils are available. The two hour workshop includes local history, object handling, activities around the museum spaces and a tour of the cabinet of curiosities. The curious collectors case loan boxes. Aimed at KS2, you can either pick and choose activities within or you can follow the entire learning programme. The boxes link to curriculum topics within history, geography, science, english and art, with additional links to PHSE.
The Whitaker has a growing friendly team of volunteers who are the heartbeat of all they do. The volunteers share the passion to provide a unique, quirky, space rich in heritage and culture. The contribution and dedication of the volunteers enables the Whitaker to provide a sustainable museum that is freely available to everyone. The Whitaker offer a wide range of roles at the museum, bringing together a wealth of knowledge, skills and experiences.
Make a full day at the museum and book a table at the bar and kitchen. The perfect place to eat in Rossendale. A great relaxed environment to enjoy some locally sourced food and drink, with a delicious menu perfect for a weekend brunch, afternoon tea, cocktails, coffee and a fantastic Sunday roast.
What was once the stable block for the original house has been redeveloped into a cultural venue for special cultural events and weddings, attached to the bar and kitchen. With diverse venue hire the old stables is a great unique venue for any event.
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Free admission | Free |
Additional cost for workshops and some events.
| Season (1 Jan 2024 - 31 Dec 2025) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Day | Times | |
| Monday - Tuesday | Closed* | |
| Wednesday | 10:00 | - 16:00* |
| Thursday | 10:00 | - 20:00* |
| Friday - Sunday | 10:00 | - 16:00* |
Apologues; Luce Bergman at The WhitakerApologues pieces together totems, celebrating and arguing gendered traditions.
Dykeland: Sarah-Joy Ford at The WhitakerThese works are an archive of an exploration in dyke, lesbian and queer relationships to land, placemaking, rurality and ecological activism.
Film Club: I'm Still Here at The WhitakerAfter a former congressman speaks up about military dictatorship, he is taken from his home and disappears.
Introduction to Charcoal Drawing at The WhitakerArtist Diane Muldowney will introduce charcoal drawing, using charcoal and willow.
Heritage Talk: East Lancashire RailwayThis heritage talk is celebrating the East Lancashire Railway and considering the importance of the railways in Rossendale.
Artist Support Network: David Gaffney at The WhitakerDavid Gaffney is a senior relationship manager at Arts Council England and will speak about funding for arts and cultural projects.
Lost Voices: Living Stories at The WhitakerWeavers, mill owners, poets, radicals and uprising. The lives of 19th Century Rossendale and Lancashire.
Mini Makers: Pride at The WhitakerIn this monthly family craft sessions you will be making decorations for the upcoming Pride festival and celebrating all things rainbow.
Heritage Walk: Weavers Uprising 2On this Heritage walk and talk, you'll learn about the Weavers Uprising of 1826, with specific reference to Rawtenstall and the Whitehead family.
Film Night: Conclave at The WhitakerDramatic political thriller. 
Heritage Talk: Rossendale CoalfieldsClive Seal will be delivering a talk on the history of Rossendale coalfields; considering the social history of the work as well as the physicality of the local environment.
Artist Tour: Sarah-Joy Ford at The WhitakerA body of work that investigates the history of dyke and lesbian lands in the UK through textile practice.
World Embroidery Day at The WhitakerIn this session you will stitch felt hoops, to create a circular wall hanging of cushion panel.
Mini Makers: Summer Seaside at The WhitakerJoin in to celebrate the summer with our seaside themed craft.
Heritage Walk and Talk; Whitaker ParkFunded by Historic England, a group of young people have been exploring the archive to uncover the forgotten history of Whitaker Park.
Early Years in Summer at The WhitakerEarly Years Studio are a play-based sessions that are for parents, grandparents and carers to enjoy time with their little ones.
The Wizard and The MechanicNo one knows how it will all go, but it's certain to be a lot of fun getting there.
Heritage Walk: The Grant Family of RamsbottomOn this heritage walk and talk around Ramsbottom you'll learn the story of the Grant Family. 
British Textile BiennialEach Biennial casts a new perspective on the role that textiles play in the past, present and future of our world.
Partner of Visit Lancashire 2018
Cultural Venue/Organisation Award 2015
Lancashire Tourism Awards Finalist 2018 - Cultural Venue/Organisation Award 2018
2021 Lancashire Tourism Awards Finalist Cultural Venue Award 2021
Lancashire Tourism Awards Winner 2021 - Cultural Venue 2022Situated on the A681 Haslingden to Rawtenstall Road, close to Rawtenstall centre and the East Lancashire Railway station.
The East Lancashire Railway line from Bury via Ramsbottom runs at weekends, and Whitaker Park and The Whitaker is just five minutes walk from the station.
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Rawtenstall, Rossendale
Whitaker Park, RawtenstallWhitaker Park is a large park on the outskirts of Rawtenstall. The facilities available include gardens, Bowling Green, small animal area, BMX track, Skateboard Park, multi use games area, football pitch and children’s play area.
Bar & Kitchen at The Whitaker, RawtenstallThe perfect place to eat in Rossendale. A great relaxed environment to enjoy some locally sourced food and drink with a delicious menu perfect for a brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, cocktails, coffee and a mouth-watering Sunday roast.
The Whitaker, RawtenstallFlooded with natural daylight and views across the Rossendale Valley, the space is well suited to working closely with colleagues or clients, offering an inspiring space to help fuel new ideas and creative thinking.
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