Work underway at new heritage centre

Oldham Art Gallery and Oldham Library, old building on Union Street

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

BUILDING works at Oldham's historic library are in full swing as the site is transformed into a new arts and heritage centre.

Major changes have been made to the second floor galleries in the Grade II-listed former library which lies in Union Street.

The project was given the green light following a successful joint funding bid by Oldham Council and Oldham Coliseum Theatre, who secured money from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the Stoller Charitable Trust.

Carpets and ceiling tiles have been ripped out to make way for the new centre, linked with Gallery Oldham.

All modern services throughout the building including radiators have also been removed, stripping the old library and art gallery back to the original Victorian fabric.

Inside, the old lift car has been cut out and the lift shaft has been boarded out and converted into a waste chute to limit the amount of rubbish being transited around the historic building.

A specialist contractor is in the process of carefully removing, documenting and storing the old glazed timber panels that covered the lift shaft.

Above and beyond the building work to be completed, Gallery Oldham is looking into which exhibitions and displays will featured at the new development.

They are working alongside a group of junior curators from the Proud Trust to decide upon new art gallery displays, developing themes and selecting works of art.

It is expected that the new heritage centre ­- complete with retail space, informal meeting area, lecture space cafe and restaurant ­- and new Coliseum Theatre will open in 2020.