Member Article

Lottery boost for Gallery

An art gallery on Tyneside has received a £250,000 lottery grant to create a major new display. The Shipley Art Gallery in Gateshead will use the money from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) to create ‘Designs for Life’ – a display examining the use of art and design in a wide variety of objects. Interactive and multi-sensory exhibits will allow visitors to learn more about the items on display while film and video installations will give an insight into the process of making the objects. Amy Barker, curator of the Shipley Art Gallery, said: “Our aim for the new gallery is to explore the idea that design is a central aspect of life that touches everybody. “To do this we will reinstate nearly 200 square metres of gallery space back to its original form and create a stunning new gallery dedicated to Tyne and Wear Museums’ outstanding decorative art and contemporary craft collections.” Keith Bartlett, Heritage Lottery Fund manager for the North East, said: “The North East has an inspiring story to tell about its role in design and the gallery is already home to a stunning collection. Updating the exhibitions will mean visitors can learn so much more about the way design has shaped the region’s history, industry, its people and their skills. “Our world famous museums and galleries play a special role in towns and cities across the UK and for the past 11 years we’ve been helping to transform the buildings and collections they house by awarding a total of £1billion to thousands of fantastic projects like this.” The new display, which is one of the largest craft collections outside London, is scheduled for completion in 2007.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .