Cultural Highlights

 

THEATRES & VENUES

The Grand Theatre

33 Church Street, Blackpool FY1 1HT
T: 01253 290111  

Grand by name and grand by nature, this is a riot of plush velvet, gilt and chandeliers, all restored to its original Victorian splendour. Officially Britian’s National Theatre of Variety (“can you hear me at the back?”), this is the place to catch touring shows, including comedy, opera, and musicals.

 

Dukes Theatre & Cinema

Moor Lane, Lancaster LA1 1QE
T: 01524 598505  
Arts venue that covers a lot of bases from theatre, comedy and music performances to cinema screenings and a small gallery. Does a great Promenade series of open-air performances in Lancaster’s lovely Williamson Park during July and August.

 

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

The National Football Museum

Sir Tom Finney Way, Preston PR1 6RU
T: 01772 908442  
Why Preston, you may say? The address might give a clue as to why this national museum is located in the Lancashire heartland – Preston North End is one of the country’s oldest professional football clubs with an illustrious history going back to 1880. Building a museum to celebrate this history was an  initial idea that then blossomed into a fascinating and illuminating journey through the history of the game. Considered to have the finest archive of historic football memorabilia in the world, including the prestigious FIFA collection.

 

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Market Square, Preston PR1 2PP
T: 01772 258248  
As well as a great gallery and museum, the Harris is also worth a visit for the building itself, a splendid Grade I listed temple to Victorian civic pride. Inside you’ll find a surprisingly good selection of artworks acquired by the wealthy cotton barons of the day, plus, as you would expect, a fine selection of decorative arts.

 

The Peter Scott Gallery

Lancaster University LA1 4YW
T: 01524 593057  
Houses Lamcaster University’s art collection and changing exhibitions and displays, with a good range of sculpture, photography and crafts. Prints and original paintings by final year students are available for purchase at the end of the summer term.

 

Panopticons

East Lancashire (Blackburn, Burnley & Pendle)
A recent initiative to place landmark works of art at viewpoints in the hills of East Lancashire. The artworks created to date include an eerily evocative Singing Ringing Tree in Burnley that produces a low tuneful song in the wind, and Atom in Pendle, a bronze-coated egg shaped sculpture and viewing shelter. Places to contemplate the meaning of life.

My Northwest

"Theres something about the North that makes poets and novelists of us"

Howard Jacobson

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