A Cumbrian art gallery is set to reopen next year with a major exhibition by an internationally renowned artist.
Abbot Hall, in Kendal, is scheduled to reopen on Saturday May 20, launching a fresh direction for the gallery with the exhibition by Julie Brook.
What is it That Will Last? will run until December 30 and is a multimedia experience spanning three decades of Julie Brook’s work in the UK, Japan and Africa.
A selection of works from Abbot Hall’s collection will also be on display throughout the exhibition. Selected by Julie Brook, works including those by John Ruskin, Frank Auerbach, JMW Turner and John Piper will further explore the timeless relationship between artist and landscape.
Julie was in Cumbria last week at a local quarry getting inspiration and ideas for a new outdoor sculpture specially commissioned for the reopening.
Rhian Harris, chief executive of Lakeland Arts, which runs the gallery, said: “The reopening of Abbot Hall is great news for Kendal, culture in Cumbria and our visitors from elsewhere. We are really looking forward to May and welcoming back our visitors and supporters.
“It is incredibly exciting to be reopening with renowned artist Julie Brook. This major exhibition will signal a new direction for Abbot Hall as we focus our programme on the exploration of landscape and identity.”
Phase one of the Abbot Hall project got underway in summer and good progress is being made on improvements to the Grade I listed building’s electrics, flood resilience, and redecoration, managed by South Lakeland District Council, which owns the building.
Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, with Cumbria County Council as the accountable body, provided funding of £495,000 towards the project through the Government’s Northern Powerhouse initiative made available to the partnership from the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
