City Guides
Wakefield
Art Galleries
There is much on offer in Wakefield for art-lovers, including impressive collections of contemporary British and European art, and the nearby Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The Wakefield Art Gallery, on Wentworth Terrace, houses collections of the works of two renowned British sculptors, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, both ex-residents of the city. Works by other sixteenth- to twentieth-century British artists make up the rest of the gallery’s temporary and permanent exhibitions. The gallery has a long tradition of supporting the work of local artists, and this is reflected in the choice of exhibits. Current collections include Victorian and pre-Victorian paintings and an impressive collection of sculptures.
The collection is displayed in a nineteenth century town house, an aesthetic wonder in itself, just a short walk from the city centre.
Workshops and talks are presented at the gallery on a regular basis, as well as interactive exhibitions and ‘fun days’ to encourage children to explore art history. The gallery is open six days a week until 4:30pm, and closed on Mondays.
A new gallery, the Hepworth, will replace the Wakefield Art Gallery next year (in 2008) as part of the Wakefield Council’s £100 million Waterfront Regeneration Scheme. The collections at the Wakefield Art Gallery, it is believed, are not currently being displayed to their greatest advantage, and the new gallery will be designed for this purpose.
The new gallery will have a floor space of 50,000 sq/ft, and will function not only as an art gallery, but as a central cultural venue. Exhibits currently held at the Wakefield Art Gallery will be moved to the new gallery, and the workshops and events relocated to these new premises. The original plasters used by Barbara Hepworth for the creation of her sculptures will form an impressive centre to the building.
The gallery will have space available to hire for private functions, lectures and conferences; as well as a gift shop, and large café and restaurant, opening out on to a terraced area with views of the landscaped gardens and Grade II listed Watermill.
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Bretton is located in 500 acres of 200-year-old landscaped gardens, providing an impressive setting for the collection of sculptures and art installations. There are also four galleries showcasing the renowned work of international, national and local artists; and the Underground Gallery is actually a man-made cave cut into a hillside.
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park centre also comprises an indoor classroom, a restaurant serving snacks and meals, and a shop offering high quality designer crafts and gifts.
The Wakefield Art Gallery, on Wentworth Terrace, houses collections of the works of two renowned British sculptors, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth, both ex-residents of the city. Works by other sixteenth- to twentieth-century British artists make up the rest of the gallery’s temporary and permanent exhibitions. The gallery has a long tradition of supporting the work of local artists, and this is reflected in the choice of exhibits. Current collections include Victorian and pre-Victorian paintings and an impressive collection of sculptures.
The collection is displayed in a nineteenth century town house, an aesthetic wonder in itself, just a short walk from the city centre.
Workshops and talks are presented at the gallery on a regular basis, as well as interactive exhibitions and ‘fun days’ to encourage children to explore art history. The gallery is open six days a week until 4:30pm, and closed on Mondays.
A new gallery, the Hepworth, will replace the Wakefield Art Gallery next year (in 2008) as part of the Wakefield Council’s £100 million Waterfront Regeneration Scheme. The collections at the Wakefield Art Gallery, it is believed, are not currently being displayed to their greatest advantage, and the new gallery will be designed for this purpose.
The new gallery will have a floor space of 50,000 sq/ft, and will function not only as an art gallery, but as a central cultural venue. Exhibits currently held at the Wakefield Art Gallery will be moved to the new gallery, and the workshops and events relocated to these new premises. The original plasters used by Barbara Hepworth for the creation of her sculptures will form an impressive centre to the building.
The gallery will have space available to hire for private functions, lectures and conferences; as well as a gift shop, and large café and restaurant, opening out on to a terraced area with views of the landscaped gardens and Grade II listed Watermill.
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park in West Bretton is located in 500 acres of 200-year-old landscaped gardens, providing an impressive setting for the collection of sculptures and art installations. There are also four galleries showcasing the renowned work of international, national and local artists; and the Underground Gallery is actually a man-made cave cut into a hillside.
The Yorkshire Sculpture Park centre also comprises an indoor classroom, a restaurant serving snacks and meals, and a shop offering high quality designer crafts and gifts.
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