Huddersfield Art Gallery facts for kids
The Huddersfield Art Gallery is a cool place to see art in Huddersfield, a town in West Yorkshire, England. It's like a big museum just for paintings and sculptures. The local government, called Kirklees Council, runs it.
Contents
A Look Back: History of the Gallery
When Did the Art Gallery Open?
The Huddersfield Art Gallery first opened its doors a long time ago, on April 22, 1898. Lady Gwendolen Ramsden helped to open it. The building you see in the picture was built later, in 1937. It started as both a library and an art gallery in 1940.
Why Did the Gallery Close?
The gallery closed in 2020. This happened because the town center was planning big changes. They wanted to create a new "Cultural Heart" area. This new area will have a brand new art gallery for everyone to enjoy.
What Can You See? The Art Collections
Paintings from Many Artists
The gallery has over 700 paintings. Most of these are by British artists. They show art from the 1800s all the way to today. You can find works by famous artists like L. S. Lowry and Henry Moore. There are also paintings by many talented local artists.
The Special Francis Bacon Painting
One very special painting is by Francis Bacon, called Figure Study II. This was the first painting by Bacon to be shown in a public art gallery in the UK. It was bought by the Contemporary Art Society and given to the Bagshaw Museum in 1952.
At first, the Tate Gallery didn't want it. They didn't think Bacon was an important artist back then. Later, in 1974, the painting moved to Huddersfield when Kirklees Council was created.
Why Was the Painting So Important?
In 2016, people talked about selling this painting. It was thought to be worth a lot, maybe between £19.5 million and £60 million. The council felt it was "too valuable" to keep in Huddersfield. However, they found out they couldn't sell it. This was because of the rules from the Contemporary Art Society when they donated it.
Even though it often travels to other museums, the painting is usually on display at the Huddersfield Art Gallery.
Beyond Paintings: Crafts and More
Besides paintings, the gallery also has a craft collection. They especially focus on pottery made by artists from Yorkshire. You can also find smaller collections of jewelry and textiles. There are even carved wood pieces and a collection of Japanese prints. The gallery often shows different parts of its collection in special themed exhibitions.
Special Shows: Exhibitions
Art Prizes and New Artists
Huddersfield Art Gallery has hosted some exciting art prizes. One is the New Light art prize. This prize focuses on artists from the north of England. The gallery also hosts the Contemporary British Painting Prize every year. This is a national award for painters in the UK.
Showing New Collections
In 2014, the gallery was the first public place to show The Priseman Seabrook Collection. This collection features British paintings from the 21st century.
See also
- Listed buildings in Huddersfield (Newsome Ward - central area)
External links
- Huddersfield Art Gallery
