Discover a thought-provoking exhibition reimagining artworks from the Whitworth’s collection through the eyes of people in recovery from substance use.
Recoverist Curators is a powerful new show curated by individuals with lived experience of substance use and recovery. Commissioned by Manchester-based charity Portraits of Recovery, in partnership with the Whitworth, this unique project invites visitors to see familiar works from a fresh perspective – one shaped by resilience, hope, and personal transformation.
The exhibition is the result of an activist-led process that explores how recovery is not just a personal journey, but a shared, cultural experience. By engaging with the Whitworth’s collection, the curators have created new meanings and shared their own stories – exploring themes such as fear, desire, identity and change.
Recoverist Curators also reflects a wider ambition: to make the arts more inclusive and to challenge traditional power structures in curation. It’s part of an ongoing effort by the Whitworth and Portraits of Recovery to use art as a tool for positive social change.
Admission is free. All are welcome.
Presented by Portraits of Recovery in partnership with the Whitworth.
