Celebration's for Oldham's new Heritage and Arts Centre

Gallery Oldham is inviting Oldham residents and visitors from beyond to celebrate plans for OMA – Oldham’s new Heritage and Arts Centre – and the National Lottery’s 25th birthday.

Pop down to the Gallery on Saturday 30th November, 1 – 4pm, if you want to join in the fun. 

Plans for the new OMA building have reached an exciting phase and organisers want to share them with everyone in Oldham.

The contractors, Interserve, have been appointed and plans finalised. 

You can go along to the ‘OMA Transformation Party’ and book on a behind the scenes tour and explore the art and natural collections of Gallery Oldham.

You can see a special display of the OMA building plans at Oldham Local Studies and Archives and watch a digital flythrough of what the restored building will look like on completion.

Alongside this, you can take a step back in time and find out more about some special historic items from the original Old Library.

You can also take a glimpse at the incredible 3D scans created by University Campus Oldham – they have captured every detail, nook, cranny and feature of the old building.

Put your creative side to the test and help compose a new song about Oldham and OMA with Lancashire singer and songwriter, Jay Stansfield.

Whatever the quality of your singing voice, if you have a way with words you can record your ideas in Jay’s sound booth.

A sunny day makes all the difference. Artist Alison Cooper knows this all too well and she’ll be there helping you create some ‘super sun’ prints inspired by intricate drawings of the Old Library building.

What do you love about your local area? Join in with The Love Letter to Oldham, a huge community writing project capturing everything you love about where you live.

"This is the last chance to contribute your love letter before they are all brought together to form one artwork capturing everything we love about the Oldham area.

Rebekah Sutcliffe, Strategic Director of Communities and Reform, said:

“I encourage everyone to come along to this event and find out more about the brilliant new plans to bring the Old Library building back to life into this exciting new venue.

"OMA brings together the work of Gallery Oldham, Oldham Theatre Workshop, Oldham Arts Development and Oldham Local Studies and Archives into one shared space.”

“There’s a full day of activities for all the family and you will get chance to see the new exciting plans for the building, set to open in 2021.

"OMA is part of our commitment to improve Oldham’s cultural offer in the town centre and beyond.”

The project has been made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund alongside local philanthropist Sir Norman Stoller.

This year the National Lottery is 25 years old and is marking the many schemes it has funded with a special #ThanksToYou campaign.

If you have bought a lottery ticket you have helped support projects like ours up and down the country. The first 25 people to bring a lottery ticket along to the Transformation Party will receive a special goody bag as our #ThanksToYou.

Find out more on Gallery Oldham’s blog, just visit: www.galleryoldham.org.uk/blog-welcome/

 

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