Ref: PR1676
Date 01/02/08
Arts Council England has announced that The Hepworth Wakefield will be a new Regular Funded Organisation (RFO) from April 2008.
The world-class gallery which will show publicly for the first time a remarkable collection of sculptures by the internationally-famous Wakefield-born artist Dame Barbara Hepworth and will be a fitting new home for Wakefield's acclaimed art collections is due to open on Wakefield Waterfront in 2010.
Wakefield Council Leader Cllr Peter Box said: "I am delighted that the Arts Council is declaring The Hepworth Wakefield as one of its Regular Funded Organisations. This is a great boost not only in financial terms but also in recognition of The Hepworth as a world-class gallery.
"The funding will support contemporary arts at The Hepworth Wakefield and encourage as many people as possible to visit the gallery and use its state-of-the art facilities."
The funding of £165,000 spread over three years, will support enhanced contemporary visual arts programming and related audience development activity in the run up to the opening of The Hepworth Wakefield and invest in longer term planning for ambitious contemporary art exhibitions and projects at the new venue.
The announcement means that The Hepworth will receive regular funding from Arts Council England. This builds on ACE's commitment to the development of The Hepworth Wakefield and the capital grant of £5 million already awarded to the project in 2005. It also extends ACE's support for the arts in Wakefield.
Work has now started on building The Hepworth Wakefield, which is a flagship project for Wakefield's waterfront regeneration. The building, designed by award-winning international architects David Chipperfield, is on a very prominent site beside the River Calder and will enhance the existing historic waterfront architecture. The project includes a new footbridge across the River Calder to give better access from the city centre.
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