1853 Studios and Gallery occupies Osborne Mill on Waddington Street in Oldham, a former textile mill converted by founder Rachel Nettles, a textile artist, into working space for around fifty artists, designers and makers. Two galleries, known as Mill 1 and Mill 2, sit at the centre of the building and host a rolling programme of exhibitions drawn from studio members and the wider regional arts community. The site runs an annual Open Studios weekend where visitors can walk through individual workspaces and buy work directly from makers, alongside smaller workshops and events through the year. A newer, larger gallery with natural light has been added within Mill 2 as the studios have expanded. Galleries are open Thursday to Saturday, with studios accessible to members at other times.
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