GALLERY CORNER
HAWORTH Art Gallery was thrilled to host a visit by the chief executive of Heritage Lottery Fund, Ros Kerslake, and North West committee members and officers.
They came for a presentation and tour of the Stables Block and Motor House project, funded by HLF.
Project activity manager Yvonne Robins gave a presentation to the group outlining how the Stables and Motor House were first built and used by the Haworth family and how, from the mid-1960s, the buildings gradually went into decline and became victims of vandalism.
She then went on to explain how Haworth Art Gallery and Hyndburn council first approached HLF in 2013 about developing the buildings into artist studios and how the project progressed to the present, with artists occupying the studios and engaging thousands of visitors during family fun days, workshops and open studio sessions.
Project volunteers and heritage co-ordinator, Gillian Berry then spoke about how further developments were taking place, including a Heritage Trail linking Haworth Art Gallery and Stables to Scaitcliffe Mill in Accrington (once owned by the Haworth family) and a new interpretation space to inform visitors of the history of the Stables and Motor House.
Following a tour, the Heritage Lottery Fund VIPs then had an opportunity to meet artists, volunteers and members of Hyndburn council for informal talks about the project and how it is an asset to the local community and visitors to Haworth Art Gallery.
The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday from noon to 4.45pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4.15pm. It is closed Monday. There is free entrance and parking. For all the latest information, check out www.facebook.com/haworthartGallery Accrington.
The Gallery Kitchen is open for lunch and afternoon tea Tuesday to Sunday, noon to 4.30pm, and Friday and Saturday, 5.30pm to 11pm, with a bistro menu. Telephone 01254 491660 to book.