This new art exhibition celebrating the 150th anniversary of The Atkinson in Southport is now open – and it’s absolutely spectacular.
Visitors can admire artworks from the venue’s extensive collection in the popular 19th-century ‘Salon Hang’ style, arranged from floor to ceiling.
You’ll be able to reunite with local favourites including Lilith by John Collier and Street Scene by L.S. Lowry, along with some amazing works which have not been on public display for many years.
Central to the exhibition is a magnificent painting of William Atkinson himself, one of Southport’s greatest benefactors, whose impact on the town he loves back in the Victorian era is still felt today.
In 1875 William Atkinson, a cotton manufacturer from Knaresborough, offered Southport Corporation £6,000 to build an art gallery and library for our town. The architects Waddington & Son of Burnley designed the Atkinson Art Gallery and Library, which officially opened in 1878.
William Atkinson eventually moved to Southport and generously donated approximately £40,000 to the town during his lifetime.
For context, £40,000 in 1875 would be equivalent to nearly £6 million now. It’s an incredible level of philanthropy and generosity.
The Atkinson’s fine art collection includes nearly 3,000 works spanning the 17th to the 21st centuries.
This special 150th birthday exhibition brings together some of the collection’s most significant pieces alongside rarely seen works that haven’t been on display for many years.
Admission is free and lasts until 7th March 2026.
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