York has lots to offer the resident, day trippers or tourists. It is easy to take facilities for granted and not make use of them when they are free and available particularly when there is so much choice.
Beware one such choice will be lost when York Art Gallery in Exhibition Square closes at the end of 2012 for a major redevelopment.
Hurry Down to Art & Music
The last major exhibition will be ‘Art & Music’ the display that brings together the humanities of visual art and it’s historic relationships to the symbolism of music.
See Bridget Riley, LS Lowry and contemporary works before the enforced shut down.
The Art Gallery is free to visit and is part of the York Museums Trust. The Trust is an independent charitable trust which manages York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum and Gardens, York Art Gallery and York St Mary’s.
The Friends of York Art Gallery have around 600 members, and are keen to increase this number. They say ‘You’ll find our membership subscription simple and great value for money!’
Redevelopments Can Take Longer Than Anticipated
York has a tradition of reinventing spaces and bringing them into modern, current day use.
On a project that will last until at least Easter 2015 refurbishment and redevelopment will take place after the gallery closes at 2pm on 31st December 2012.
The Little Gallery is currently explaining the plans that include opening up hidden spaces and increasing display areas.This involves creating a new first-floor gallery in the space above the Main Gallery and expanding into the rooms next door.
The City Archives will be moving to new premises in Explore at the City Library.
Two of the new galleries will showcase the internationally significant collections of British studio ceramics.
The garden space at the back of the gallery is likely to become the new entrance as efforts are focused on making the new facility even more visitor friendly.
You do not need an excuse to visit York but if you wish to see the Art Gallery in it’s current pomp then hurry on down soon.
See our other articles on ‘Contemporary Art from New School House Gallery York’ and ‘Quilts Museum and Gallery for Quilters’.