Part of its mission was to give local children access to original artworks by a range of artists. The Drumcroon Collection includes prints, paintings, drawings, textiles and objects purchased from or donated by many artists over the years.  The collection of over 1000 items includes works by some established British artists, including Patrick Heron, Victor Pasmore, Michael Rothenstein, Barbara Rae, Patrick Caulfield, Eduardo Paolozzi, Kevin Dalton-Johnson and many more, as well as craft objects from across the world.

After the centre closed in 2011, its collection of artworks and books were placed in storage, with some seeing the light of day in occasional temporary displays.

The Turnpike Gallery is delighted to showcase the most significant exhibition to date of over 50 works from the collection. Alongside this is a specially built, open-access storage area featuring reframed works which are part of a revived schools’ loan scheme.

Young people from our Creative Community have worked with Jamie-Lee Wainman and assistant curator Rachel Morgan to select additional artworks from the Drumcroon Collection. They have replaced 15 prints from our earlier exhibition (May to Oct 2025), with sculpture, textiles and prints, which bring a different perspective on the collection and reveal a new set of voices. They have set up conversations between artworks on display and included below are young people’s words alongside the chosen items.

The loan scheme now enables artworks going out to local schools, giving pupils the chance to get up close to original works of art. Children and young people of the borough have access once more to the resource which for decades inspired artists, teachers and students in Wigan, Leigh and beyond.

To see what's in the Drumcroon exhibition before the changeover, take a look at our new virtual tour below, courtesy of David Hunter.