Sunday success of ‘flagship’ gallery

SUNDAY opening at Gallery Oldham has proved a huge success with people spending their day of rest browsing and borrowing.

The building, which includes the gallery, library and tourist information centre, started opening seven days a week in September.

Since then the gallery has attracted an average of 176 visits on Sundays and 404 people have visited the library, borrowing an average of 252 books, CDs and DVDs.

The computers have been used by around 134 people each Sunday.

Council leader Councillor Howard Sykes said: “Gallery Oldham is a flagship facility and these figures show an excellent response from the public to Sunday opening.

“This is without doubt one of the best art galleries and libraries in the region and seven-day opening is now enabling more people to take advantage of the wide range of services, events and opportunities on offer.

“This move was also about providing services on a Sunday that would appeal to — and attract — a family audience back into the town centre.

“We are strongly committed to improving these services, and fitting them around residents’ lifestyles.”

Sunday opening has been bolstered with a series of free family events such as arts and crafts sessions, storytimes, a children’s film club and classical music concerts, as well as the opening of Cafe Culture.

The café is managed by the council’s Community Vocational Service (CVS), which aims to integrate people with disabilities into mainstream employment.

Staff include people with disabilities who are gaining work experience and developing their skills and confidence, with some working towards nationally recognised qualifications.

Seasonal food on the menu is also grown locally by users of the CVS. A new allotment project in Failsworth contributes organic food, plus honey from beekeeping, while fruit also comes from orchards in Fitton Hill.