COVENTRY.- About 300 people attended the official re-opening of Coventry’s multi-million pound art gallery and museum.

The final phases of the spectacular £20 million transformation and extension of The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Jordan Well in the city centre have been completed.

The Herbert redevelopment project has been jointly funded by Coventry City Council, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Renaissance West Midlands, the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) Wolfson Foundation Fund, Advantage West Midlands and English Heritage.

An impressive new courtyard entrance has been created for the 1960s venue which overlooks Coventry Cathedral and University Square.

The major 6,600 sqm project, which was designed by award-winning architects Pringle Richards Sharratt, has led to the opening of state-of-the-art temporary and permanent History, Art, Elements, Discover Godiva and Peace and Reconciliation galleries.

There is also a studio for performances and events, the History Centre for the city’s archives and local history collections, and learning spaces.

Guests including Mick Elliott, the director of culture at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, the Lord Mayor of Coventry Cllr Andy Matchet, Cllr Ken Taylor, Leader of Coventry City Council, Cllr John Mutton, the leader of the Labour group on Coventry City Council, Keith Railton, chair of The Coventry Heritage & Arts Trust, and Katie Foster, chair of the West Midlands Committee for the Heritage Lottery Fund, oversaw the event.

Keith said: “Looking out into the heart of Coventry through the great glass screen of the covered court, we can see the past of the city and its re-birth after the war so evocatively symbolised by the cathedral.

“We also see the future symbolised by Coventry University with its mission to shape the thinking of future generations.

“Against that dramatic backdrop it is very clear to see how an organisation like ours that holds some of the cultural and historic assets of the past, and is dedicated to using them as a catalyst for a vibrant future, can inspire the sort of creative thinking that was the hallmark of Sir Alfred Herbert and help to develop Coventry as one of the major cities of the region in the 21st century.”

Ludo Keston, chief executive of The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, said this was a significant event in the cultural life of the city and has seen significant investment brought to Coventry for the benefit of residents and visitors alike.

“We are all immensely proud of the transformation and I’m sure the Herbert family will share those feelings,” he said.

“The work has been carried out in phases and the new courtyard entrance will create a new tourist gateway in the city to The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum and Coventry Cathedral.

“We are already bringing high-profile national touring exhibitions to Coventry – such as the current exhibition from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London – and that will continue.

“The whole ethos here is to bring history and the arts to life and we will present a wide range of family-friendly exhibitions and events that will be of interest to every generation and we believe we can look forward with great excitement and optimism to welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.”

Councillor Andy Matchet, the Lord Mayor of Coventry, said: “The opening of the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum is a key step forward in the on-going renaissance of the city.

“Culture plays a very important role in any city, particularly one that will be undergoing a massive transformation over the coming years. An iconic building such as the new Herbert will also raise the city's cultural profile and identity.

“We want the new building to act as a centre of culture in the city; one which, local residents can use as a base for creativity and exhibiting their talents; and, one that visitors to Coventry can explore and learn more about the wonderful history of Coventry.”

Katie Foster, chair of the West Midlands Committee for the Heritage Lottery Fund, added: “HLF has supported two phases of refurbishment at Coventry’s art gallery and museum – firstly a grant of £1,912,000 awarded in 2004 for the Coventry History Centre and Galleries, and secondly a grant of £2,875,000 for Herbert Art Gallery and Museum Phase 3 which completed the vision to improve interpretation and facilities.

“We’re delighted that the museum is now read to welcome a whole new generation of users and visitors.”

John Pringle, from Pringle Richards Sharratt, said: “The courtyard roof was inspired by Basil Spence’s Cathedral of St Michael, which was built next to the ruined medieval Cathedral Church of St Michael after it was partly destroyed in World War Two. We are thrilled with the final results.”

The first phase of the development, which was already open, features creative media studios, exhibition space, education facilities, a shop and a café.