Date: 14/12/06
Source: Yorkshire Post
Hurdle cleared for city to honour its most famous citizen
By Joanne Ginley
WORK will start in the New Year on a Yorkshire gallery named after a famous local artist, after it was announced yesterday that a final hurdle had been overcome.
A lease agreement has been secured for the site where the Hepworth Wakefield, a £26m gallery and centre for creative arts named after Wakefield-born sculptor Dame Barbara Hepworth, will be based.
Yesterday's announcement that an agreement had been reached between British Waterways and Wakefield Council paves the way for work to begin in the New Year with an anticipated completion date of March 2009.
The 1.7 acre site is on the dramatic and prominent headland beside the River Calder in the Waterfront regeneration area which is being redeveloped by CTP St James and Wakefield Council and which, when completed, will feature a mix of high quality flats, offices and leisure spaces.
The museum, designed by renowned architect David Chipperfield, will feature Wakefield Art Gallery's outstanding collection of works by Dame Barbara Hepworth and other major 20th century British artists.
At its centre will be a collection of 30 original plasters used by Dame Barbara when casting her bronze sculptures, donated by the Hepworth family trust.
The whole project, which includes a footbridge across the river Calder and access works to link the Hepworth Wakefield and the Waterfront to the city centre, will cost £26m.
The director of CTP St James, Oliver Quarmby, said: "The signing of this agreement is key to securing the regeneration of the Waterfront."
The general manager, of British Waterways Yorkshire, Laurence Morgan, said: "We are delighted to have reached this agreement with Wakefield Council, as we very much want to be an active partner in the development of this important site.
"This fantastic gallery is expected to draw international and national visitors to the City, and will be an important part of our vision to double customer numbers to the waterways by 2012.
"We have already identified Wakefield to be one of our priority destinations in the next few years and we are delighted to be working with Wakefield Council on this project."
Wakefield Council Cabinet member for regeneration Phil Dobson said: "Our agreement with British Waterways is another significant step towards the regeneration of the area.
"The Hepworth Wakefield will be a world-class facility and will put this development and Wakefield on the national and international stage. As with all the developments planned for the city, the emphasis is on quality and I am certain that the people of the district will have real pride in what is about to be delivered."
As well as Dame Barbara's work, the gallery will feature other major 20th century British artists, including Anthony Caro, Ben Nicholson, LS Lowry and Henry Moore, who, like Dame Barbara, was born just a few miles from the site.
