Grundy Art Gallery facts for kids
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Grundy Art Gallery with signpost
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| Established | 26 October 1911 |
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| Location | Queen Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, England |
| Type | Art museum |
| Public transit access | Blackpool North railway station |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Central Library and Grundy Art Gallery | |
| Designated: | 20 October 1983 |
| Reference #: | 1072014 |
The Grundy Art Gallery is a cool art museum in Blackpool, England. It shows all kinds of art, from old historical pieces to new, modern works. The gallery first opened in 1911 and is run by the Blackpool Council.
The building itself is very special. It is an Edwardian building, meaning it was built during the time of King Edward VII. It is also a Grade II listed building. This means it is important and protected because of its history and design. It shares its building with the Central Library. Both were listed as important buildings on October 20, 1983.
Contents
History
How the Gallery Started
The idea for the Grundy Art Gallery came about in 1908. This was thanks to two brothers, John and Cuthbert Grundy. They were both artists from the local area. They gave 33 artworks and some money to the Blackpool Council. Cuthbert Grundy was known as a leader in the town's art, writing, and science scene.
The gallery building was designed by Cullen, Lockhead and Brown. It has special Ionic columns and a stone pediment with a carved Blackpool crest. The gallery and the Central Library opened together on October 26, 1911. The building has an Edwardian baroque style, which is a grand and decorative design.
Growing the Collection
In 1912, a special fund was created to buy new artworks. This helped the gallery add to the original 33 pieces. By the late 1930s, the gallery's collection had grown a lot. It needed more space. So, two extra galleries were built. This extension opened in 1938.
By 2009, the Grundy had almost 2,000 art objects. In 2017, the collection had grown even more, to 2,315 objects. These pieces are divided into four main types: fine art, decorative art, modern jewellery, and special items like old tickets or posters.
Future Plans
In 2023, a study looked into making the Central Library and Grundy Art Gallery even bigger. The idea was to expand them into a nearby car park. This study suggested that making the buildings larger could bring in 59,000 more visitors each year. This would include 15,000 more tourists. It could also boost visitor spending by £860,000 annually.
Ellis Williams Architects were chosen to design this expansion. The project is getting nearly £6 million in funding. This money comes from the Shared Prosperity Fund, which is part of the government's Levelling Up plan.
The Grundy Art Gallery is supported by the Blackpool Council. It is also part of the Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation. This means it is a key art organization in England. It is also a long-time member of the Contemporary Art Society. Since 2018, Paulette Brien has been the gallery's curator.
What You Can See
Artworks and Artists
The Grundy Art Gallery shows its artworks in temporary exhibitions. The collection includes many different types of art. You can see Victorian oil paintings and watercolours. There are also modern British paintings, contemporary jewellery, and video art. The gallery also has oriental ivories, ceramics, and old photographs and souvenirs of Blackpool.
Some famous artworks in the collection include Aircraftsman Shaw by Welsh painter Augustus John. You can also see Sanctuary Wood by English landscape painter Paul Nash. Other notable pieces are The Yellow Funnel by English painter Eric Ravilious and The Waterway by English painter Lucy Kemp-Welch. There is also Woods and Forests by English landscape painter John Linnell.
Many other important British artists have their work at the Grundy. These include Anna Airy, Samuel John 'Lamorna' Birch, Stephen Bone, Thomas Sidney Cooper, Frederick William Elwell, Stanhope Alexander Forbes, Patrick Hughes, Laura Knight, Charles S Ricketts, David Roberts, Charles Spencelayh and Henry Scott Tuke.
Other artists whose works are displayed include Craigie Aitchison, Richard Ansdell, Thomas Sidney Cooper, Martin Creed, Thomas Creswick, Stanhope Forbes, Laura Ford, Gilbert & George, Hubert von Herkomer, John Frederick Herring, Sr., Edward Atkinson Hornel, Harold Knight, Lilian Lancaster, Henry Herbert La Thangue, Peter Liversidge, David Roberts, Lindsay Seers, William Shayer, Julian Trevelyan, Eugène Joseph Verboeckhoven and Benjamin Williams Leader.
Special Shows
Past Exhibitions
The Grundy Art Gallery often hosts special exhibitions. These shows bring in unique art from different artists. For example, on November 25, 2008, American singer Mary Wilson visited the Grundy. She launched an exhibition of gowns worn by her famous Motown singing group, The Supremes. The show was called The Story of The Supremes from the Mary Wilson Collection.
In 2016, the gallery had a big show called Neon: The Charged Line. This was described as Britain's "biggest ever survey of neon art." It featured art made with neon lights by artists like Joseph Kosuth, Tracey Emin, and Gavin Turk.
Some other important recent exhibitions at the Grundy include:
- Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences (2018)
- Artist Rooms: Roy Lichtenstein (2019)
- Artist Rooms: Louise Bourgeois (2023)
- Bloomberg New Contemporaries (2023)
The Grundy plans many contemporary art exhibitions throughout the year. These shows feature both well-known and new artists from the UK and other countries. They also display important historical artworks borrowed from major UK museums. Sometimes, they show pieces from their own permanent collection. The Grundy also holds an annual Open Exhibition, where local artists can show their work.
Visiting the Gallery
The Grundy Art Gallery has steps at its entrance. However, there is also wheelchair access to the ground floor galleries. The gallery has a shop where you can find special artist-made jewellery.
