Hull’s Ferens Art Gallery to shut for £4.5m Turner Prize revamp

The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull is set to close for over a year while major refurbishment work is carried out in preparations for hosting the Turner Prize as part of Hull’s 2017 City of Culture year.

Closing its doors on August 31st, the city centre art gallery will undergo a £4.5m revamp and will not be open to the public for at least sixteen months.

Hull City Council revealed that work will shortly begin to transfer 2,500 artworks into a “special secure and climate-controlled storage facility”, BBC reports.

The renovation work is part of a wider £70m council-funded scheme to transform Hull into a world renowned tourist and visitor destination.

Among the city’s improvements is plans to create a £36m, 3,500 capacity, music and events centre, which will attract 240,000 visitors whom are expected to spend £13.8m in the Hull every year.

Councillor Stephen Brady, leader of Hull City Council, said: “This is a very exciting time for the Ferens and all of its supporters and regular visitors.

“While we will miss visiting gallery over the next year or so, we know this work is vital and that the end result will be well worth the wait.”

Councillor Steven Bayes added: “The renovation of the Ferens is a key part of getting the city ready for its year in the spotlight.

“At the same time, it is an investment in the gallery’s long-term future that will help to seal its reputation as one of most important cultural attractions in the North. “

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