The Hepworth Wakefield facts for kids
The Hepworth Wakefield and the River Calder
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| Established | 2011 |
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| Location | Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England |
| Type | Art Gallery |
The Hepworth Wakefield is a cool art museum in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. It first opened its doors on May 21, 2011. This amazing gallery sits right next to the River Calder. It's named after a famous artist and sculptor, Barbara Hepworth, who was born and grew up in Wakefield.
Before this museum, there was an older art collection in Wakefield that started way back in 1923. The Hepworth Wakefield now looks after these artworks, which include pieces from very old masters to more modern art.
A British architect named David Chipperfield designed the gallery. He won a special competition to create the building's plans. Many different groups helped pay for the museum. These included the local council, arts organizations, and groups that help protect history. The Hepworth Wakefield is also a special kind of organization called a charity. This means it works for the public good.
The museum cost about £35 million to build. It was very popular right away! Just five weeks after opening, 100,000 people had visited. In its first year, over half a million people came to see the art. In 2015, the museum started a big art prize called the Hepworth Prize for Sculpture. This prize is given out every two years and is worth £30,000.
Building Design: What It Looks Like
The Hepworth Wakefield building is made up of ten cool, block-like shapes. These blocks are called trapezoids. The art galleries on the upper floors get lots of natural light from big windows in the slanted roofs. From these windows, you can see the river, old buildings along the water, and the city.
The outside of the building is covered in a special kind of concrete. It was made right there on the building site! This was the first time this type of concrete was used in the United Kingdom. The architects chose this material to make the gallery look like a giant sculpture itself.
On the ground floor, there are places for visitors to relax. You can find a cafe with views of the river, a learning studio for workshops, and a shop. There's also a small theater that can seat 100 people. Some local people have different opinions about the building's design.
Amazing Art Collection
The Hepworth Wakefield has a huge space for art, about 1600 square meters! It holds 44 special models made of plaster and aluminum. These were given by Barbara Hepworth's family. The museum also hosts new art shows that change over time.
You can see many artworks from Wakefield's own art collection. This collection has pieces from the 1500s all the way to today. Some famous artists whose work you might see include Henry Moore, who was born nearby, David Hockney, Ben Nicholson, and LS Lowry.
The gallery works with a project called Plus Tate. This project helps more people see important British and international modern art.
In 2016, a man named Tim Sayer, who used to write for the BBC, gave his amazing art collection to The Hepworth. He had over 400 pieces of art! This gift included works by famous artists like David Hockney, Gerhard Richter, and Henry Moore. It was one of the biggest art gifts ever given to a museum like this. Tim Sayer was even given an award by the Queen for his help with art and charity.
Awards and Recognition
The Hepworth Wakefield has won some great awards! Just one year after it opened, the Royal Institute of British Architects named it the Regional Building of the Year for 2012. The gallery was also a finalist for the Art Fund Prize in 2012, which is a big award for museums. In July 2017, the museum was named the best Museum of the Year in the United Kingdom!
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