Huddersfield Art Gallery takes next step on Cultural Heart Journey

Huddersfield Art Gallery has closed its temporary Unit 7 space located on the Piazza shopping centre after two years of successfully bringing art to the High Street.

The closure is part of the preparations for the development of the Cultural Heart.

Since Unit 7 opened in August 2021, it has hosted 20 exhibitions featuring works of established international artists as well as new and emerging local talents, making it accessible to wider audiences. The gallery has also hosted community exhibitions, such as 'TOWNSOUNDS', which celebrated the diverse musical heritage of Kirklees, and 'A Year Like No Other', which explored the pandemic's legacy in the area. The Contemporary British Painting Prize exhibition debuted three times at the gallery before moving to London.

The closure of Unit 7 is necessary to start the Cultural Heart capital works. However, the gallery will continue its journey by creating new opportunities for people to access and enjoy visual art. This will be supported by Arts Council England's National Portfolio Organisation funding awarded to the Kirklees Museums and Galleries service in 2023.

Huddersfield Art Gallery will continue to work with various partners and communities to develop an exciting visual arts programme during the town centre's cultural regeneration period. The gallery will explore innovative ways of maximizing access and maintaining the Kirklees Art Collection's profile, including work across all museum and gallery sites in the service. It will also explore outreach offers and new digital provisions to collaborate with local and national visual arts partners.

Councillor Yusra Hussian, Cabinet Member for Culture and Greener Kirklees said:

"It's a farewell for now from Huddersfield Art Gallery, not a permanent goodbye. Our committed and passionate gallery team will test new ways of working, deliver co-produced activities, provide learning opportunities and engagement with communities, and contribute to plans for exciting new art gallery provision in Huddersfield's Cultural Heart."