LIVERPOOL.- The Lady Lever Art Gallery will celebrate the reopening of its new South End galleries with a free programme of Easter fun for all visitors to enjoy.
Opening on Good Friday, 25 March 2016, the new galleries have been returned to their original architectural glory following a £2.8m major development project, part funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
From hands-on crafts and messy play to face painting and balloon modelling, Easter marks the start of an exciting programme of activities for families, including Early Years. A series of free talks and tours for adults will also begin in March, exploring both the restoration project and the impressive South End collections.
The new galleries and opening events programme have been designed to encourage visitors of all ages to enjoy William Hesketh Lever's internationally-renowned collections, in line with his belief that “art is within the reach of all of us.”
Jo Keenan, Education Manager at the Lady Lever Art Gallery, said: “The new galleries tell the story of Lever’s collections in an engaging and imaginative way, bringing star objects to the forefront to reveal their significance and beauty. We’ve also introduced a number of interactive points, where visitors can get hands-on with items from the collection.
“We’ve been working closely with schools and community groups throughout the duration of the project. The groups have been inspired to create some wonderful artworks of their own as a result, which we’re looking forward to displaying in our Reflections exhibition, which opens on 18 March.”
The galleries, which closed for the refurbishment in November 2014, house more than 1,500 objects, including the best collection of Wedgwood jasperware in the world, one of the finest collections of Chinese porcelain in Europe and outstanding 18th century paintings, furniture and sculpture.
Younger visitors can take inspiration from Lever and build their own gallery using magnetic building blocks, or take a seat at a fun tea party, complete with a Wedgwood-inspired tea set. Families can also pick up a sketch book trail, encouraging them to look out for a number of fascinating objects to draw as they explore the galleries.
Sandra Penketh, Director of Art Galleries at National Museums Liverpool, said: "The new South End galleries are a true representation of Lever's remarkable vision. He believed that art should be an inspiration to all, and the rooms in this spectacular space were re-imagined with this message at heart.
"We've reversed some of the changes that were made to the South End in the 1960s, opening up the galleries to allow us to display Lever's outstanding treasures in the best possible way. We're incredibly excited to reveal the new galleries to visitors and hope that they'll enjoy exploring the collections in new and inspiring ways."
A number of architectural changes have been made to the galleries in order to return them to their impressive former grandeur, including the opening up of original doorways to improve circulation within the galleries.
The striking, original double-height spaces with barrel vaulted ceilings have also been revealed by removing the low, suspended ceilings that were installed in the 1960s. The new galleries boast an array of beautiful period features, from elaborate plasterwork architraves and skirting, cast from the original designs, to parquet flooring throughout.
New glazed doors provide picturesque views of Port Sunlight village from the South End, while innovative architectural lighting highlights some of the Gallery’s most beautiful and iconic features, including the South End glass dome.
An exhibition of artwork created by local school and community groups will accompany the reopening. Reflections (18 March – 5 June 2016) will display a number of works inspired by the South End collections, including paintings, collages and ceramics.
