Harris Museum Art Gallery and Library

Website	The Harris
Location	Flag Market

The Harris: Preston's Free Museum, Art Gallery and Library

Since 1893, Preston's Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library has been a hub of art and culture for visitors from all walks of life.

As part of the exciting Harris Your Place Project, our beloved Museum, Art Gallery and Library is temporarily closed until Spring 2025 for an extensive restoration and reimagination process. However, The Harris Library remains open to serve you during this transformative period.

The Harris Library, IT Centre and Shop Opening Hours

While The Harris building is under refurbishment, The Harris Library, IT Centre and Shop continue to operate at our temporary location: Preston Guild Hall, Lancaster Road, PR1 1HT, situated on the lower floor of the arcade.

Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Saturday: 9am - 5pm
Sunday: Closed

The Harris Your Place Project

Harris Your Place is a £16 million project set to restore and reimagine the Harris for 21st-century audiences as a cultural learning space.

The aim of this project is to protect the building and the architecture for future generations whilst enhancing accessibility options and positioning the Harris as a community hub for Preston and Lancashire.

The capital project is more than simply preserving this much-loved building; The Harris wants to ensure that it remains a vibrant heart of the community. A place where people want to spend their time.

With community empowerment at its core, this project endeavours to attract an additional 100,000 visitors upon reopening, creating an enriching visitor experience for both Preston and Lancashire. During this interim phase, The Harris continues to operate from various local spaces to conduct events, activities, workshops, displays, exhibitions and a fully equipped Library service.

Discover more about the Harris Your Place Project

Engaging Events and Updates

While The Harris building is undergoing a transformation, The Harris remains active within the community, hosting a range of engaging events throughout Preston. Stay updated with upcoming events by following The Harris on social media and visiting The Harris' what's on page.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with all Harris-related developments, from the progress of the exciting Harris Your Place project to job opportunities, news, and insightful glimpses into The Harris collections through the social media channels listed below:

Explore The Harris: Your Window into Cultural Heritage

The Harris is a treasure trove housing incredible art and fascinating artifacts. The Harris collections span fine art, contemporary art, costume and textiles, ceramics and glass, sculpture, photography, digital art and history. Many of the works of art and historical objects are of regional, national or even international significance.

Enjoy a curated selection of collection items accessible online through The Harris Collections webpage.

The Harris for Families and Children

Discover an array of engaging activities and events tailored for families and children by visiting The Harris' what's on page. For children under 5 and their carers, join the Baby Bounce & Rhyme sessions held every Tuesday at 10:30am at the temporary 'home from home', Preston Guild Hall, where we share songs and rhymes, fostering language development.

Your Personal Exploration at The Harris

Delve deeper into history or uncover the stories behind artworks with resources designed for all interests. Whether you just want to find out about key events and people that have shaped our city (and some of the treasures found in the area) or if you have a specialist interest in a specific artist or historical period.

Visit The Harris website for more information The Harris is looking forward to welcoming you back to the reimagined building in Spring 2025.