Cecil Higgins Art Gallery and Bedford Museum is Now Closed For A Major Redevelopment Project
Monday 25th
October 2010
Cecil
Higgins Art Gallery &
Bedford Museum is Now Closed
For a Major Redevelopment Project
The £6.6m redevelopment project will integrate
and revitalise the buildings, which are currently separated. The
project will include:
- providing re-designed and re-displayed collections in existing
and new galleries
- new stores
- larger spaces for learning activities
- corporate hire opportunities
- a new shop and café
The new facilities will be an excellent
resource for local people and visitors to Bedford right in the
heart of the cultural quarter at Castle Lane.
Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: “The £6.6
million project for the Museum and Art Gallery represents a
fantastic development for Bedford Borough. Through the exciting
plans for revitalising the buildings and providing excellent new
facilities, we want to make Cecil Higgins Art Gallery & Bedford
Museum the place to go for residents to enjoy art and culture, meet
friends and bring visitors to the Borough.”
Bedford Gallery will remain open until April
2011 for two temporary exhibitions ‘R100 & R101: Airships at
Cardington’ until December 19th 2010, followed by ‘High
Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec Prints’ on tour from the
British Museum from January 13th – April 10th
2011. There is also a lively programme of events to accompany both
exhibitions.
All facilities will be closed from April 2011.
Building work will start in May 2011 for approximately 12 months
followed by a full re-fit of all galleries and the re-display of
collections which will take a further 6 months. Facilities are
scheduled to re-open (subject to confirmation by contractors) in
late 2012/early 2013.
The redevelopment work has been made possible
through capital investment by Bedford Borough Council and grants
from a number of partners including, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the
Bedford Charity, the Wixamtree Trust and others. The completed
project will provide Bedford with a flagship facility that will
enhance the town centre as well as being an excellent resource for
the local community.
The collections will be displayed thematically
rather than by collection or object type as has been the case in
the past. The new displays will tell the story of the development
of Bedford as a place, the people
of Bedford and the collections.
People will be at the heart of the new displays.
The new galleries will include:
- Place galleries, telling the story of the development of
Bedford
- The People Gallery, looking at some of the old, new and famous
inhabitants of the area
- An improved and extended Watercolour & Print Gallery
- The Design Gallery, looking at stylistic developments in the
decorative arts
- A new Edward Bawden Gallery, providing a home for this unique
archive
- A new William Burges Gallery, housing this collection of
international importance
Cllr Doug McMurdo, Portfolio Holder for
Leisure and Culture, said: “Bedford Borough Council is delighted to
be working with so many partners who share our vision for these
excellent cultural facilities. The proposals will dramatically
improve the cultural offer in the town providing an exciting
attraction for local people and visitors to the town.”