Date is set for work on gallery

Date: 19/05/06
Source: Wakefield Express

WORK on the £22 million Hepworth Wakefield art gallery is due to start in July.

The date was revealed as Barbara Hepworth's old school hosted a launch event this week for the trust that will support the project.

Wakefield Girls' High School welcomed a host of dignitaries on Tuesday for the launch of the Hepworth Wakefield Trust.

The newly formed trust will support the development and future operation of the gallery, which is being built as part of the £100 million revamp of the city's waterfront.

Named in tribute to the Wakefield-born sculptor, it will house 30 original Hepworth sculptures and is due to open in 2008.

Among the speakers on Tuesday were minister for culture David Lammy, architect David Chipperfield and Sir Alan Bowness of the Barbara Hepworth family trust.

Mr Lammy said: "The Hepworth and the Waterfront project will bring about change for a future generation in Wakefield, bringing private land into public use, and involving people in the ownership of the city."

Mr Chipperfield said: "The site is really beautiful on the waterside and the water is profound to the history of Wakefield."

The Hepworth Wakefield Trust will spend its first two years raising funds to support the capital cost of the project and then support its activities once it opens.

The total cost of the Hepworth Wakefield building and the public garden around it is £22 million, with other developments, including a footbridge across the River Calder and work to link the gallery and the Waterfront to the city centre, costing a further £4 million.