The Stretford Unofficial Museum - MATE* - we love art.

In 1857, Trafford hosted the Manchester Art Treasures Exhibition, a landmark cultural event that brought an extraordinary collection of artworks together and helped shape Britain's appreciation of art.

MATE - We Love Art celebrates this remarkable moment in local history through an exhibition by Kate Quinn, an art history and visual culture student at the Open University who grew up in Stretford.

The exhibition explores the legacy of the 1857 exhibition and its influence on art collecting, public taste and the cultural identity of Manchester. It also highlights the fascinating story of Sandro Botticelli, whose work gained greater recognition through the exhibition, including a painting now held at the National Gallery that was then attributed to another artist.

Using images from public-domain collections, including the Royal Collection Trust, Kate brings this history to life and invites visitors to reconsider Stretford’s place within a much wider cultural story.

The project aims to make art history accessible to everyone, whether you are a lifelong art enthusiast or someone who has never felt particularly confident engaging with art. You don't need specialist knowledge to take part; just curiosity and a willingness to discover something new.

Through MATE, the Unofficial Stretford Museum celebrates the town’s rich cultural heritage and explores how a historic event in Trafford helped change the way people experienced and understood art.