News
New Art Gallery’s first director returns for talk
6pm to 9pm, free event
Peter Jenkinson, the New Art Gallery Walsall’s first Director, makes a welcome return tonight (Thursday) to talk with Jo Digger, Head of Collections, about how the gallery came into existence and all the people who made it possible.
Peter Jenkinson, the then Head of Museums and Galleries, was appointed as project director to lead the new development and was instrumental in the leadership and development of The New Art Gallery Walsall. The talk will also present the perfect opportunity for visitors to hear about how the design, planning and scheduling of the Gallery were developed and how the construction of The New Art Gallery Walsall formed part of a wider regeneration strategy for the borough of Walsall.
Jo Digger, Head of Collections, says “Thousands of people helped to build The New Art Gallery Walsall but Peter was absolutely central to the creation of the gallery. Without him it would never have happened. It is wonderful to welcome him back to Walsall to help celebrate the fantastic achievements of the last 10 years”.
After ten years of planning and three years of construction, The New Art Gallery opened its doors to the public on 16 February 2000. It is one of the most successful projects that emerged from National Lottery funding, built on time and within budget. The building was designed by Caruso St John, following an international architectural competition, and has since received widespread acclaim. Peter and his team worked closely with the architects to develop the design and refine ideas whilst retaining elements of the architects’ original proposal.
As The New Art Gallery Walsall celebrates its 10th birthday, attendances are at an all-time high, with total attendances approaching 1.6 million. Attendances over the last year have amounted to 197,000. This year, for the week ending on Sunday 1st November, the gallery recorded an attendance of 9,289, the highest since the opening weeks.
Throughout the years, visitors have enjoyed a wide range of contemporary, modern and historic art exhibitions and associated workshops and events. The Garman Ryan Collection provides the core of the Gallery’s resources. Collected by Sir Jacob Epstein’s widow, Kathleen Garman and her friend, sculptor Sally Ryan, the collection boasts an eclectic range of works which span across time and across continents. Epstein and his family are well-represented. Works by van Gogh, Picasso, Braque, Matisse, Degas and Géricault sit alongside works by lesser known artists from Europe and beyond.
The temporary exhibition programme focuses on contemporary art and seeks to support the work of living artists and to build and extend audiences for contemporary art. Solo shows by artists such as Hew Locke, Conrad Shawcross, Gavin Turk, Joana Vasconcelos and Christopher Le Brun have been complemented by thematic group shows such as Fairy Tale, In Memoria, Re-Imagining Asia, Pot Luck, Outsiders and the gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Blue. These exhibitions have taken place in the beautiful and spacious third and fourth floor galleries.
Walsall’s permanent art collection continues to grow with new contemporary artworks by artists of international status purchased through Art Fund International. Further important historic works have also been acquired through private donations and the Art Fund.
The event is part of the celebrations for the 2010 Contemporary Art Society Centenary Year.