Venue hire
Manchester Art Gallery, with its outstanding art collections and superb Victorian and contemporary setting is a stunning venue for your event. Home to a collection that ranges from historic masterpieces to the latest design and fashion, Manchester Art Gallery is one of the country’s leading galleries. This iconic, Grade 1 listed building is the perfect location for all events.
Conferences, meetings and seminars
We have three flexible meeting spaces available to hire for daytime events, whatever your meeting or conference needs.
The Lecture Room
- a light and airy, purpose-built conference room with in-built AV equipment including projector, screen and PA
- natural daylight with client-controlled blackout blinds
- free WiFi access
- flexible room layout, offering seating for up to 100 people
- catering available within the Lecture Room, or ask us about a bespoke breakout area within the glass Atrium
- dedicated Events Team
To help you make the most of your event at our unique venue, Manchester Art Gallery’s Events Team can arrange guided tours of the collection or group access to our temporary exhibitions. We can also help put together interactive sessions involving the gallery’s displays and ensure your daytime event makes a lasting impression on your guests.
The Charles Rutherston and Mary Greg Meeting Rooms
- natural daylight
- available as breakout spaces in conjunction with the Lecture Room
- large plasma screen tv with HDMI connectivity
- free WiFi access
- flexible room layout, offering seating for 2-18 people in each
- catering available
- dedicated Events Team
Drinks receptions, dinners and parties
Manchester Art Gallery is the city’s most popular art gallery, with outstanding art collections and superb, fully accessible, Victorian and contemporary settings for your event.
Whether you’re planning a small drinks reception in our award-winning galleries or a large Christmas party, the gallery offers a number of unique and special locations guaranteed to impress your guests. The gallery’s dedicated Events Team are always on hand to help you organise the details of your event, please contact us to find out more.
Choose from a range of stunning spaces for your event:
- the contemporary glass Atrium
- the grand Victorian Hall
- the beautiful Pre-Raphaelite Galleries
- the distinctive Lowry and Valette Gallery
- the traditional Gallery Cafe
Depending on which space you prefer, we can organise:
- seated dinners (for up to 120 guests)
- drinks receptions (for up to 700 guests)
We offer
Inspiring spaces for events in a convenient and central location, seasonal, locally sourced food from our in-house catering team and outstanding service from our events team. Take a look at our catering options here Events Menu 2021 PDF
We are also able to offer you the opportunity to create a unique experience for you and your guests whether it be a wine or gin tasting or a cocktail making class. Please talk to us about your requirements and our team will work with you to ensure that you and your guests have a truly memorable and distinctive experience.
What our guests say
I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude to yourself and all your colleagues for making our events such a joyful success in your most decorous and beautiful surroundings. From the moment we stepped in at 8 am to set up we felt totally looked after by everyone in the gallery. In life, I feel, it isn’t formality but substance that matters, In short, it is always the heart that is important. Do pass on our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all your kind help and support and for the big-hearted welcome you afforded to everyone who came to hear our events.
Our event went like clockwork, thank-you so much for all your help. The venue was exquisite and much appreciated by our delegates and the access was great for our disabled delegate too. The lunch was lovely, we would certainly consider using Manchester Art Gallery again.
To find out more
Contact the Events team to talk to us about your venue hire needs.
Tel: +44 (0)161 235 8862
Email: eventsteam@manchester.gov.uk