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.
www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
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.
www.dukes-lancaster.org
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.
www.nationalfootballmuseum.com
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.
www.harrismuseum.org.uk
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.
www.lancs.ac.uk/users/peterscott/scott
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.
www.panopticans.uk.net