Site Gallery in Sheffield has announced an expansion programme worth over £2.7m that will see the contemporary art space extended into a neighbouring building to create a new 262m2 gallery.
The programme will also see the creation of a flexible event space for education, creative activity and commercial hires. The addition of a new 40-seat café, a new shop and commercial business units will enable the organisation, which is a registered charity, to expand its trading operations.
While the expansion will mean that Site Gallery will be closed from 10 March to enable the work to take place, artistic director Laura Sillars says that an offsite programme of events taking place over the coming year will be announced soon.
“This expansion will bring new artistic possibilities to Sheffield and we look forward to extending our partnerships with local, UK and international artists and organisations,” she said.
“Although it requires the building to close to the public for over a year, we are still here, and will be delivering a programme of off-site activity and pop-up projects.”
The scheme will connect to Sheffield City Council’s Knowledge Gateway Project, an urban regeneration project within the city’s Cultural Industries Quarter which is also home to Showroom Workstation, Yorkshire Artspace and Sheffield Hallam’s students’ union building.
An architectural model and artistic impressions of the extended building are currently on display at the gallery, which is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation and receives revenue funding from Sheffield City Council.
Mary Lea, the council’s cabinet member for culture, sport and leisure, said: “It’s great to see Site Gallery going from strength to strength, and I hope that people will take the opportunity to have their say about the scheme while these exciting plans are on show.
“I look forward to seeing the new-look Site Gallery when it reopens to the public, and I am sure that the revamped gallery will create even more opportunities for people to get involved with arts and culture here in Sheffield.”
Fundraising to secure the final £75,000 needed to complete the scheme is currently under way.
Image:
Site Gallery expansion project, architect’s drawings, DRDH Architects. Courtesy: Site Gallery
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