It’s official: the Whitworth reopens on 14 February 2015. And to celebrate the gallery’s development – alongside ten opening exhibitions, new commissions indoors and out, and the remarkable achievements of MUMA (McInnes Usher McKnight Architects) – we have put together a Valentine weekend’s worth of art, music, talks, walks, performance, literature, family fun and a fire and light show.
Our opening weekend kicks off on Saturday 14 February at 10am. Come and discover all of our new spaces, from the new landscape wing (housing a brand new commission by leading Chinese artist, Cai Guo-Qiang) to the beautiful café in the trees. Throughout the day, our curators will give talks in the galleries, while Northern Brass stage a concert for kids, Cornelia Parker discusses the work she has created for our opening, Video Jam and the Hallé Youth Choir put on performances, and the author Jeanette Winterson looks at art.
We end the day in exuberant fashion – with a fire and light show followed by a night of performance art (from Nico Vascellari in collaboration with the French musician, Ghédalia Tazartès), and an after party led by legendary Manchester DJ, Dave Haslam.Bring your dancing shoes – and book for the after party now, as the free tickets are limited.
The celebrations continue all day on Sunday 15 February with more talks, including one by our architects, MUMA, a tour from landscape designer, Sarah Price, art walks, a family-focused art picnic (indoors, in our new Grand Hall) and the premiere of Whitworth Letters, a new, immersive work by Manchester Camerata’s composer-in-residence, Laura Bowler.
Best of all, everything over our opening weekend is completely free. Put it in your diary, come and spend the Valentine’s weekend with us - and fall in love again with a gallery that has been utterly transformed.
Find out more about the opening weekend programme of events
