People can celebrate a very special anniversary this June with the 150th Anniversary Exhibition at The Atkinson in Southport.
This special event will open on Saturday 21st June 2025 and will run until Saturday 7th March 2026. Admission is free.
This exhibition showcases The Atkinson’s fine art collection in the popular 19th-century ‘Salon Hang’ style, when artworks were arranged from floor to ceiling.
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.
The Atkinson’s fine art collection comprises nearly 3,000 works spanning the 17th to the 21st centuries.
This special exhibition brings together some of the collection’s most significant pieces alongside rarely seen works that haven’t been on display for many years.
The works include a stunning portrait of Mr Atkinson himself.
A spokesperson for The Atkinson said: “Mr Atkinson is on the move!
“We’re excited to announce that Mr William Atkinson is moving from our Museum to take pride of place at the centre of our upcoming 150th Anniversary Exhibition in the Art Gallery!
“Thanks to his incredible generosity, The Atkinson officially opened in 1878. Over his lifetime, he donated an astonishing £40,000 to the town! Now, 150 years later, we’re celebrating his legacy. “Come and see the man who helped shape Southport’s cultural heart.”
150th Anniversary Exhibition
The Atkinson, Lord Street, Southport.
21st June 2025 – 7th March 2026
For more about this exhibition visit: 150th Anniversary Exhibition – The Atkinson
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