Two and a half years and £8 million in the making, York Art Gallery opened its doors on Wednesday (July 22) to show off its transformation.
Members of the media were given an early preview of the reimagined gallery. With a new mezzanine floor and the former archive turned into an additional gallery, it offers 60 per cent more space on the same footprint.
Chief executive of York Museums Trust Janet Barnes said the new displays celebrated the city’s “fantastic collection of fine decorative art” and the collectors who brought them here.
Works by Grayson Perry, Sarah Lucas and LS Lowry can be found inside the Grade II* listed building, redeveloped by architects Ushida Findlay and conservation specialists Simpson & Brown.
So what will you see when it opens to the public on Saturday, August 1?
Exhibition Square, York
Opens on Sat Aug 1, then daily Mon to Fri @ 10am-5pm; Sat @ 10am-8pm; Sun @ noon-4pm
Adult: £7.50; child under 16 free with paying adult; YMT card gives 12 months unlimited access to all York Museums Trust attractions for £22, or £17 with a YorkCard
The Madsen Galleries
LS Lowry painted three York scenes, and they are reunited here for the first time, together with the sketch he did of Clifford’s Tower.
They are part of A Picture Of York, showing our city through the eyes of artists including JMW Turner and William Etty.
“You can see the exquisite embroidery in the robes,” said curator Eloise Donnelly of this painting by Bernardo Daddi (c. 1280 – 1348). Considering it’s the oldest in the gallery’s collection that is remarkable.
Halo, by Susie MacMurray, is made of hundreds of gold wire threads. It is inspired by the gold leaf in the gallery’s Italian Renaissance altarpiece paintings.
Burton Gallery
This work by Young British Artist Sarah Lucas is, says the gallery, “suggestive of human limbs, perhaps in an embrace or even bodies wrestling”.
This painting in the Burton Gallery by Richard Burton precedes an exhibition coming later at the gallery featuring First World War art.
The gallery is designed to be welcoming of all ages. Children will love the portrait chair and little ones can play with the felt toys. Some sculptures, marked “Hands On”, are meant to be touched.
Upper North Gallery
York artist Mark Hearld has scoured the gallery’s collection to create the first temporary exhibition in the Upper North Gallery.
Called The Lumber Room: Unimagined Treasures it is an eclectic mixture of sculpture, ceramics, paintings and other objects.
Centre of Ceramic Art
This is the centrepiece in the art gallery’s transformation. CoCA, the Centre of Ceramic Art, is said to be the largest collection of British Studio Ceramics in the country.
It is launched with a new piece, Manifest: ten thousand hours, comprising 10,000 hand-made bowls by Clare Twomey.
On long term loan to the gallery, the Anthony Shaw Collection relocates his art from his London home to York. There are some unique objects to enjoy.
Let’s go outside
The gardens, once flattened by Baedeker bombs, are slowly coming to life and will be ready later in the year.
Already, though, the gallery and Museum Gardens are reconnected like never before.
The art of food
Along with all the new galleries there’s a new café. Run by Café No 8, it will be the perfect place to talk about art over something fresh and tasty.
2010: the document signed by the Trust and the City of York Council States – “to provide free admission to the permanent collection of the City Art Gallery and archive for all citizens of the City of York. For avoidance of doubt, this does not apply to temporary or special exhibitions”
Colts Ayre and Croft should check on this before cheap jibes of blame to the previous Labour administration. They should face up and take the blame, together with the mistaken judgement of Janet Barnes.
Used to love the gallery but won’t be going due to entry price. Leeds City Gallery for me…. Shame!
Looks fantastic! Lucky York. Good luck with it.
http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/public-art-gallery-should-be-free-of-charge/
People complaining about the small fee – blame the council and local governments NOT York Museums Trust. The CEO have clearly stated they did now want to charge but have been forced to due to 60% cuts. Read the BBC news/website. Those complaining thats they will now never go because of the fee need to realise that if they did not charge then they gallery may have to close. It’s a catch 22. Also; Yes its true that the big nationals are free – thats because they are in London (mostly) and still receive millions and millions each year. But this may change soon also – well done for voting “them” in is all I say! You wanted it – you got it.
People need to start seeing the bigger picture and stop slandering YMT.
P.S …. 7 of those 10,000 bowls in Clare Twomey I made ?
I went on Thursday .. Got my years membership at half price… Works out to be 21p a week (a Cadbury freddo is 25p!!) … It’s no way a waste of ‘our money’ … I work for minimum wage.. single parent etc… Don’t go on holiday abroad .. Seeing art makes me feel good .. Better than any medication or therapy I could get from the NHS ( so there I’m saving ‘your’ money) … I LOVED it .. I will go often.. people forget most of the ceramics were a donation and many local businesses have also contributed massively .. The new refurbished gallery is a wonderful place we should be proud to contribute, and not expect everything on a plate for free… 42p or 21p a week… That represents excellent value ..
Looking wonderful. Well done Janet and all the team. Can’t wait to visit and join Friends of York Art Gallery. This is something we need and deserve.
Looking good certainly will visit
What a waste of our money!
Oh look lots of people complaint about having to pay to go into a museum…. Do you know how much they cost to run? Do you know how badly arts and heritage funding was cut by the government? £7.50 for a ticket that lasts a year is not much people… Stop crying and complaining…i am sure you spend more on a couple of harmless drinks.
I think it’s £7.50 for a day ticket (rather than the year long one mentioned above) £22 for year ticket, £17 with YorkCard. I’ll be buying a year ticket but do think that they’ve priced this badly. A lower price would have put less people off, visitors and residents alike, and had a better chance of encouraging people who don’t normally go to ‘art’ places – presumably part of the Trust mission
The years membership covers entrance to the a Yorkshire Museum and the Castle Museum. There is a concessionary rate for those on means tested benefits or aged 17 to 24. This is £11, or £6 with a valid York card. There are further price reductions for those who choose to pay by direct debit. Remember as well that the Trust cares for the Museum Gardens, which are being extended and further improved as overt of the Art Gallery redevelopment and which, of course remain free for all.
£7.50 to go in a National Gallery is ridiculous especially as the £8m was raised from donations. So why add a charge……?
It isn’t a national gallery. That’s why they are having to charge. Vote for people who support arts in the community and perhaps it will be free again one day 🙂
Looking great. Can’t wait to visit. I am always drawn to ceramics so looking forward especially to seeing those. The gardens are certainly going to add to the experience.
Wow
Shame it’s sold out and charging now
Won’t be going can’t afford it will be staying out of town centre from now
Art galleries are not normally my thing but this looks rather interesting. I may have to pay a visit during the residents free weekend. 🙂
I’m really excited about this! Especially the ceramic art, which looks just amazing.
Can’t afford to go. Nearest I’ll get is through the paper