Agbrigg & Belle Vue Community Association

On the edge of our area there is a transformation taking place. It is causing chaos on the roads and sometimes it looks as if it will never be finished. But in the last few weeks those two wonderful cranes have been doing their giants’ dance to great effect. And the new art gallery – The Hepworth Wakefield – is beginning to take shape. This art gallery, the first one in Britain to be designed by world-renowned prize-winning architect David Chipperfield, will be right on our doorstep. I have been speaking to Simon Wallis, the newly appointed Director, and asking him – “What’s in it for us?”

I asked him to tell me a little about the new project. He reminded me that two of the most famous British sculptors – indeed two of the most famous 20th Century sculptors in the world - were from Wakefield, and were shaped, influenced and inspired by what it has to offer. Henry Moore was born in Castleford, and Barbara Hepworth was born – and spent her formative years – in Wakefield City. Simon said that it is fitting for Wakefield to celebrate one of its own daughters through this impressive and inspirational building. He described Wakefield’s art collection as a “hidden gem” which will soon be fully accessible to everyone. The art gallery already has a fine collection of sculpture by Moore and Hepworth, as well as a rich and varied collection of paintings, both traditional and modern, only a fraction of which can be seen in the current Art Gallery. This will be complemented by an ambitious changing exhibition programme, so there will always be something new to see. The gallery will provide an exciting, welcoming and stimulating environment for us all to explore and enjoy.

Simon intends, with his team, to make this a vibrant, living project and in order to achieve this, community involvement and an engaging education programme will be crucial. The project is already working with children from Sandal Magna Primary School and this creative collaboration will continue and become greatly extended when the gallery opens its doors in late 2010/early 2011. The programme at The Hepworth Wakefield will celebrate the diversity of the community and provide ample opportunities for engaging audiences from all ages and backgrounds. As well as displaying the permanent art collection, Barbara Hepworth’s sculpture and the best contemporary and historical art, the Hepworth Wakefield will have an Education Department with dedicated state-of-the-art space in the gallery for working with local schools and the community. It will also have an auditorium seating 100 people for regular events, music, film and performance… and… an excellent café/restaurant. What more could we want?

We are lucky to live so close to so many first class amenities that are the envy of any major city in the UK. Within easy reach of our area we have the exciting and beautiful Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the National Coal Mining Museum, The Henry Moore Institute in Leeds, Wakefield Theatre, The Armouries... And very soon we will have our own world-class art gallery – yes, it will be our Gallery – we will be able to walk there, pop in regularly and get to know some of the pieces so that soon it will feel like visiting the family. We will find ourselves saying: “I live just beside The Hepworth” or as we pass with friends, saying casually “Oh that’s our Hepworth.”