Services
Gallery access, learning, research and loans, each run by the Harris Museum & Gallery team in Preston.
What we do
The Harris offers a range of services for visitors, schools, researchers and other institutions. Some are free and open to all, such as the permanent galleries and the reference library. Others, including guided tours, workshops and loan arrangements, are planned with our staff in advance.
Below you will find a summary of each service. If you are not sure which one suits your needs, please contact the team and we will point you in the right direction.
Service details
Free entry to displays of fine art, decorative arts and local history. Gallery guides are available on the floor to answer questions about individual works.
Tours of forty-five minutes cover a chosen theme or collection area. Bookings are taken for groups of up to thirty people and should be made at least two weeks ahead.
Practical sessions for schools, families and adult groups, led by our learning officers. Materials are provided, and sessions can be adapted for different ages and abilities.
Access to local history records, archives and published sources. Visits are by appointment, and staff can help you plan a search before you arrive.
For schools and groups
Our learning programme follows the national curriculum and is designed to work with what teachers are already teaching. Sessions can be booked as half days or full days, and we can prepare resource packs in advance.
- Pre-visit planning call with a learning officer
- Object handling sessions for key stage groups
- Accessible routes and sensory guides on request
Loans and partnerships
The museum lends objects to other galleries and institutions under agreed conditions for display, handling and transport. We also work with local organisations on exhibitions, shared research and events that bring the collection into the wider life of the town.
Loan requests are considered by the curatorial team and depend on conservation advice. Please allow several months for a decision.
Booking and access
Most services can be arranged by email or through the workshops page. Events and public programmes are listed on the events page, where you can also find up-to-date opening times.
If you need a service adapted for access, such as a induction loop, large-print materials or a quieter visit time, please say so when you book and we will do what we can.