'Exhibition of Paintings' by local artist Brian Barlow, Harwood Library, Gate Fold, Bolton. Runs throughout January.

Bury Museum and Art Gallery

Moss Street, Bury

On a Scottish Tartan

An exhibition exploring proportion in new and old tartans featuring woven Tartan in cashmere and merino wool.

Runs until Saturday, February 22, open Tuesday to Saturday 10am-5pm

Blyth Gallery

Amazon House, Brazil Street, Manchester

Human Nature

An exhibition featuring work from international sculptor, Colin Davies who specialises in stone carving of British and foreign stones and David Winning, who uses enamel and acrylic paints in an uncompromising square format to celebrate the Northern landscape with its harsh moorland spaces and vast skies.

Runs until Saturday, open Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm, Saturday, 11am-3pm, admission free

Gallery of Costume

Platt Hall, Rusholme, Manchester

The Needle's Excellency: 17th Century Dress and Embroidery. 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 Vivienne Westwood, Mary Quant, Biba, Ossie Clark and Zandra Rhodes.

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

Gallery Oldham

Greaves Street, Oldham

Adventurous Wild Flowers: Their Art and Science

A major new exhibition exploring the link between humans and wild flowers and featuring flowers that have broken the yoke of human control.

Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, admission free

Harris Museum & Art Gallery

Market Square, Preston

Rites of Passage

A collection of Christening, Wedding and Mourning dress from the Victorian era showing how the Victorians celebrated weddings and christenings and dealt with funerals.

Runs until Saturday, October 18 2003

The Art of Print. An exhibition exploring the techniques of printmaking. Runs until Saturday, 18 October 2003, open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm, admission free

Liverpool Tate

Shopping: A Century of Art and Consumer Culture

An exhibition examining the in-depth relationship between the display, distribution and consumption of commodities and modern and contemporary art with ovr 240 pieces of art including photographs of shop windows and products on display.

Runs until Sunday, March 23, admission £4 and concessions £3

Manchester Art Gallery

Mosley Street, Manchester

Landscapes

A collection of atmospheric landscape portraits by Jeff Wall including Dutch landscapes. Runs until Sunday, February 2 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, admission free

Home

A collaboration of work by Dalziel and Scullion featuring a substantial body of video projections, large-scale sculptural pieces and photographs based around Scotland and the glacial landscape of Scandinavia.

Runs until Sunday, February 2 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm

Prints and Drawings from Picasso's Paris

A collection of prints and drawings by the masters who flocked to Paris during the 20th century, including Modigliani from Italy, Ernst from Germany and Picasso from Spain. Runs until Sunday, February 9 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm, adm free

Mid Pennine Arts

Yorke Street, Burnley

Ashes of Roses

Susan Cutts has created a new installation in handmade paper inspired by 18th century church records revealing happy and sad events and other people's memories. Open Monday to Saturday, 10am-5pm and Tuesday, 10am-1pm

Museum of Science and Industry

Liverpool Road, Castlefield, Manchester

Spirit of the Games. Due to the immense popularity the Museum has extended this exhibition celebrating the atmosphere and excitement of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony including film footage, the volunteers in action and the baton relay.

Runs until Friday, open 10am-5pm, admission free

Xperiment

An interactive exhibition which will captive inquiring minds with hands of fun and equipment to test and explore the wonders of science. Suitable for all ages.

Open 10am-5pm, admission free

Museum of Transport

Boyle Street, Manchester

Learn all about transport in Greater Manchester from 1800 to the present day. Open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm

People's History Museum

Bridge Street, Manchester

The only Museum dedicated to the working people of Britain and the story of how they organised to change society, improving life for generations.Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-4.30pm, admission to galleries £1 waged, otherwise free

The World of Glass

Chalon Way East, St Helens

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

Tate Liverpool

Albert Dock, Liverpool

Shopping - A Century of Art and Consumer Culture

An exhibition featuring over 240 works of art ranging from photographs of shop fronts to The American Supermarket and shop interiors displaying cheese and fruit counters and neon signage.

Runs until Sunday, March 23 2003, open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-5.50pm, admission £4 and concessions £3, family ticket £8

The Beatles Story

Albert Dock, Liverpool

Experience the most sensational story of pop in the City where it all began and relive the Fab Four's rise to fame with a nostalgic journey through The Beatles Story.

Open daily 10am-5pm, £7.95 adults, £5.95 conc. and £4.95 children

Salford Museum and Art Gallery

Peel Park Crescent, Salford

Life Times

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

The National Football Museum

Deepdale Stadium, Preston

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 play the game and test your skills on the interactive exhibits, then join Gary Lineker and Alan Hansen on Match of 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 Portico Library & Gallery

Mosley Street, Manchester

The Moving Hand Writes...

An exhibition exploring the development of handwriting from the 19th century to the present day with books, documents and artefacts on show.

Open Monday to Friday admission free