EXHIBITIONS

Amazon House, Brazil Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 236 1004)

Travels With My Paint Brush

Local artist Robert Bindloss presents a collection of his recent paintings, comprising of pencil and charcoal drawings, acrylics on paper and watercolour paintings, inspired by his independent travels throughout the UK, Eire and Europe.

Runs from Tuesday, September 3 to Saturday, September 28, open Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday, 11am-3pm

Bury Art Gallery and Museum

Moss Street, Bury (tel: 0161 253 5878)

Patrick Caulfield

Colourful prints illustrating the poems of Jules Laforgue.

Runs until Saturday, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm, adm free

Cadishead Library

Liverpool Road, Cadishead, Salford (tel: 0161 775 2934) Kill or Cure - Medicine Through The Ages

This exhibition features on all manner of medical paraphernalia including artefacts and information on all kinds of medicine, surgery, old wives remedies and electric shock treatment.

Runs until Sunday, December 1, open daily, adm free

Conservation Centre

Whitechapel, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4999)

Studio Tours

A behind the scenes tour of the Conservation Centre's state-of-the-art studios, where artefacts include paintings and sculptures. Pre-booking is advisable.

Wednesday and Saturday, 2pm and 3pm,

Drumcroon Education Art Centre

2 Parsons Walk, Wigan (tel: 01942 321840)

Something Borrowed

A series of mini exhibitions with a selection of over 2000 items borrowed from schools demonstrating the way in which original works address QCA schemes and enrich and encourage children's making.

Runs until Friday, October 18, open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm, adm free

Gallery of Costume

Platt Hall, Rusholme, Manchester (0161 234 1456)

The Needle's Excellency: 17th Century Dress and Embroider

An exhibition concentrating on needlework and embroidery skills and featuring some of the Gallery's earliest and rarest items including a jewel bright women's cap and matching forehead cloth dating back to 1600.

Runs until 2003

The Art of Elegance: Women's Dress 1740-1860

An exhibition illustrating the extravagance and sophistication of 18th century fashion with large scale silk damasks, delicate women muslins and sumptuous coloured wedding dresses.

Runs until 2003

Cover Up

A lively and interactive display featuring galoshes, sou'westers, firefighters' helmets and boxing gloves.

Runs until 2003

A Suit of Her Own: A History of the Working Women's Wardrobe

A look at the development of the women's tailored suit from the end of the 19th century when women began to strive for equality with men in the work place and covering the period 1895 to 1918,

Runs until 2003

Quant to Westwood: Fashion Since the Sixties

A display featuring designer outfits from 1960 to 1998 with pieces by Mary Quant, Biba, Ossie Clark and Zandra Rhodes.

Runs until 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Gallery Oldham

Greaves Street, Oldham (tel: 0161 911 4653)

Time Lords

An exhibition exploring the subject of time and time recording from the days of sundials through to the modern day.

Runs until Saturday, September 21, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, adm free

Harris Museum and Art Gallery

Market Square, Preston (tel: 01772 258248).The story of Horrockses Fashions Ltd curated by textiles expert Dr Christine Boydell showing off some of the best examples of Horrockses dresses from the 1950s onwards, many of them lent or donated by local people. The dresses were expensive for the time but nevertheless incredibly popular, often worn as honeymoon outfits.

Runs until Saturday, October 19, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, adm free

Hat Works - The Museum of Hatting

Wellington Mill, 4 Wellington Road South, Stockport (tel: 0161 355 7770)

Royal Millinery Exhibition

An exclusive opportunity to see a wide selection of hats created by 12 top milliners for HM The Queen, HM The Queen Mother, HRH Princess Margaret and HRH the Princess Royal.

Runs until Tuesday, September 17, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-5pm, adults £3.95 and conc. £2.50

Liverpool Museum

William Brown Street, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4399)

Touchy, Feely, Squashy. An exhibition of five interactive green sculptures by artist Jan Niedojadlo created from oil-based recycled materials such as rubber, plastic and foam.

Runs until Sunday, September 15, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 12 noon-5pm, adm free

Liverpool Tate

Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 702 7400)

Pin-up - Art and Celebrity Since The Sixties

The changing face of glamour and celebrity from Pop art to the present featuring the cultural similarties between the 1960s and the 1990s.

Runs until Sunday, November 24, open daily (except Mon) 10am-5.45pm, adm free

Manchester Art Gallery

Mosley Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 235 8888)

Enjoy family fun in the interactive gallery with lively exhibits and multi-media facilities or join in the talks and tours about the exhibitions.

Builder's Choice

Some of the builders who have transformed the gallery over the past four years return to reveal their part in the process.

Runs until Sunday, September 15, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Manchester Jewish Museum

Visit the oldest purpose built synagogue in the city which was restored and listed as a Grade II building with architecture, stained glass windows, the Ladies Gallery and the Permanent Exhibition telling the 200 year old story of Manchester Jewry.

Open Monday to Thursday, 10.30am-4pm and Sunday 10.30am-5pm, adm free

Manchester Museum

University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester (tel: 0161 275 2634)

Uncover the mysteries of Ancient Egypt or marvel at the dinosaurs and prehistoric beasts while discovering the world of neotropical frogs, or learn about cultures from around the world or find out how the human body functions in one of the finest university museums in the country.

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sundays and Bank Holidays, 11-4pm, adm free

Mathew Street Gallery

31 Mathew Street, Liverpool (tel: 0151 236 0009)

George Harrison 1943-2001

This photographic exhibition covers George's life from his early Beatle days in Hamburg through the heady era of Beatlemania to the solo success which followed.

Runs until Wednesday, October 9, open Monday to Satursday, 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm, adm free

Mid Pennine Gallery

Yorke Street, Burnley (tel: 01282 421986)

The work of Japanese born Masakatsu Kondo is featured with massive paintings which are a product of a highly successful selective process of editing and amplification aimed at jolting the viewer out of habitual ways of viewing.

Runs until Saturday, open daily, adm free

Merseyside Maritime Museum and HM Customs & Excise Museum

Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4499)

Blue Funnel to China: For over a century after its foundation in 1865, the Blue Funnel Line was the premier Liverpool shipping company trading to China. This exhibition looks mainly at the museum's extensive collection of material including posters, film, ship models and personal items from the crew including introducing key characters involved in the story such as Alfred Holt, the inventor of the long distance engineer and former seafarers who still remember the company today.

Runs until February 24 2003, open daily 10am-5pm, adm free

Museum of Chemical Industry

Mersey Road, Widnes, Cheshire (tel: 0151 420 1121)

Discover the world of science and technology with over 100 hands-on exhibits for all the family including quizzes, puzzles and touch-screen computers, interactive exhibits and displays bringing chemistry to life.

Open Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-5pm, adults £4.65, children £3.40 and conc. £3.95, family ticket £13.95

Museum of Liverpool Life

Pier Head, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4080)

Liverpool Memories: The photographs of Stuart Bale

Pictures of Liverpool from the 1920s to the 1950s of the places where people shopped, worked and went to enjoy themselves such as Coopers department store, local cinemas and pubs.

Runs until Sunday, October 27, open daily 10am-5pm, adm free.

Museum of Science and Industry

Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester (tel: 0161 832 1830)

Star Trek Exhibition

Beam aboard the USS Enterprise and explore the true science behind Star Trek including a visit to the Engineering, Sickbay and the Transporter Room.

Runs until Sunday, October 27, open daily 10am-5pm, adults £4.50 and concessions £3

Spirit of the Games

Following a running track into the Museum's own mini stadium experience the themes and the theatre of the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games and see the extraordinary costumes and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Baton.

Runs until Sunday, November 24, open daily 10am-5pm, adm free

Fibres, Fabrics and Fashion: Watch as the demonstractors operate the thunderous cotton machinery which led to Manchester's industrial success.

The Baby: See a rebuild of The Baby, the world's first computer developed in Manchester in 1948 and an ancestor of today's PCs and laptops.

Electricity Room Sets: Visit the historic room sets from the 30s and the 50s and cast an eye over seven decades of electrical appliances.

Victorian Sewer: Take a walk along the Victorian sewer complete with sound and smells and get a feel for what living conditions were really like during the era.

All Steamed Up! - The largest collection steam mill engines in the world including enormous steam locomotives.

Air and Space Hall: From aviation history to space science marvel at the flying machines and learn about the mysteries of outer space.

Stimulate the Senses: Poke, prod, push, pull and try out mind bending puzzles in the hands-on science gallery.

Open daily, 10am-5pm, adm to the permanent galleries free

Museum of Transport

Boyle Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 205 2122)

Learn all about transport in Greater Manchester from 1800 to the present day. From the world's first horsedrawn bus service to the multi-million Metrolink system Greater Manchester has always been at the forefront of public transport operating a comprehensive network of bus, train and Metrolink services cover over 1600 route miles.

Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm

Ordsall Hall Museum

Ordsall Lane, Salford (tel: 0161 872 0251)

People's History Museum

The Pump House, Bridge Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 839 6061)

Moving Lives

From the late 1940s, thousands of people have migrated to Britain from the Caribbean. Many of them started their lives in Manchester. This exhibition looks at after the migration, how these people managed to establish themselves in work and forge identity in a new home? The exhibition uses photographs, people's possessions, recordings and films.

Runs until Sunday, October 27, open Tue to Sun 11am-4.30pm, adm free

Women's History Tour

From cotton mill workers doing the double shift to the campaign for equal voting rights this exhibition will explore the experiences of working women.

Friday, 1pm

Portico Library and Gallery

Mosley Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 236 6785)

Sounds and Sights

Music and landscape dominate the work of artist Janina Cebertovicz exploring the visual paradise of the orchestra and the qualities of light and colour.

Runs from Wednesday September 4 to Friday, September 27, open Monday to Friday, 9.30am-4.30pm, and Sunday 1pm-4pm, adm free

Richard Goodall Gallery

59 Thomas Street, Manchester (tel: 0161 832 3435)

A display of vintage and contemporary rock and roll poster art.

Runs until October 5, open Tue to Fri 10am-6pm and Sat 10am-5pm, adm free

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Peel Park Crescent, Salford (tel: 0161 736 2649)

The Hairdresser's Shop

The Hairdresser's Shop is an integral part of community life in South Africa and celebrated local artist Harold Riley asked 50 South African schoolchildren to depict this along with 50 Salford schoolchildren who have also done the same to make up this fascinating and colourful exhibition which is part of the Spirit of Friendship Festival.

Runs until Sunday, September 15, open Monday to Friday 10am-4.45pm and Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm, adm free

Life Times

A variety of Life Times projects have been going on around the city over the last 2 years and many memories, photographs and stories about the history of the city have come to light.

Runs until Tuesday, May 6 2003, open Monday to Friday, 10am-4.45pm and Saturday and Sunday 1pm-5pm, adm free

The Beatles Story

Britannia Vaults, Albert Dock, Liverpool (tel: 0151 709 1963)

Experience the most sensational story the pop world has ever known in the City where it all began and relive the Fab Four's rise to fame walking through Abbey Road, imagining the White Room and seeing real costumes on display.

Open daily, 10am-6pm, adults £7.95, children £4.95, conc. £5.45 and £19 for a family ticket with upto 3 children

The National Football Museum

Deepdale Stadium, Preston (tel: 01772 908 442)

Take a trip to football heaven and begin the journey through football history learning the story of football using the latest technology with an interactive exhibition and viewing the finest display of football memorabilia in the world. In the second half you can paly the game and test your skills on the interactive exhibits, then join Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen on Matc hof the day and enjoy your 15 minutes of fame.

Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and Sunday 11am-5pm, adults £6.95 and children, 5 to 15 years old, £4.95 and children free

The Walker

William Brown Street, Liverpool (tel: 0151 478 4199)

The Earl and the Pussycat: The 13th of Derby's Life and Legacy

A celebration of the 13th Earl of Derby whose groundbreaking zoological collections founded Liverpool Museum.

Runs until Sunday, open Mon to Sat 10am-5pm and Sun 12 noon-5pm, adm free

The World of Glass

Chalon Way East, St Helens, (tel: 08707 444 777)

Experience the miracle of sand and fire and witness the skills involved in a turning a ball of glass into a beautiful object and the art of glassblowing.

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adults £5, children £3.60 conc. £3.60, Family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children £15 or 1 adult and 2 children £10

Turnpike Gallery

Civic Square, Leigh (tel: 01942 4044469)

Art Factory

For this year's Art Factory the gallery has invited three artists from Wigan to be resident in the gallery for three weeks providing visitors a chance to see the artists at work and discuss their practice.

Runs until Saturday, open Monday, Thursday and Friday, 9.30am-5pm, Tuesday, 10am-5.30pm, Wednesday, 9.30am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm

University of Liverpool Art Gallery

Abercromby Square, Liverpool, Merseyside (tel: 0151 794 2348)

Crafty Thoughts

This is one of 4 exhibitions being staged as part of the UK's Art South Asia Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme. This is the first group exhibtion in the UK of work by 8 leading contemporary Sri Lankan artists focussing on artists who incorporate notions of crafts into their practice.

Runs until Friday, September 13, open Mon to Fri, 12 noon-4pm

Whitworth Art Gallery

Oxford Road, Manchester (tel: 0161 275 7450)

The Views of Britain today by seven artists including the following talks: David Cushway (Sept 10, 2.30pm); Ingrid Pollard (Sept 17, 2.30pm); a slide lecture by Roshini Kempadoo (Sept 4, 6.30pm); a guided tour of the exhibition with Mary Griffiths, Curator of Modern Art (Sept 14, 12 noon).

Runs until Sunday, September 22, open Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 2pm-5pm, adm free (£5 for slide lecture)

Wigan Pier

Trencherfield, Wigan (tel: 01942 323666)

Queen Elizabeth at Golden Jubilee Exhibition

The Wigan Pier experience is celebrating the Queen's Golden Jubilee with an exhibition at the museum of memories. The exhibition will highlight major events both locally and nationally, including the Jubilee. The Kidszone in the area includes competitions, quizzes and much more.

Runs until Saturday, open Monday to Thursday 10am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 11am-5pm, adults from £7.50, children from £5.95 and concessions £5.95.