WARRINGTON’S town centre art gallery – The Gallery at Bank Quay House – is to close.
Opened eight years ago by developers Python Properties – owners of Bank Quay House – the gallery will close its doors for the last time on August 31.
The last exhibition, Robert John Watson’s “One” will open tomorrow (Thursday) from 6-8pm.
Over the years, the gallery has staged a number of exhibitions, including some as part of the annual Warrington Contemporary Arts festival.
Curator Emma Kelly said: “We are very grateful for the warm support we have received and would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has exhibited, supported and visited the gallery. Your enthusiasm and camaraderie have sustained and encouraged us over the years.
“It has been an absolute joy to be a part of so many artist’s journeys, whose work we have presented and who have inspired us, and hope that will continue. We look forward to future projects when the gallery may pop up in another form, until then Python Properties’ art strand will continue in Bolton and Middlesbrough.
“The last exhibition at Bank Quay House will be Robert John Watson’s ‘One’ opening this Thursday, 6-8pm. We hope you can join us to toast this new exhibition and eight wonderful years of exhibitions in Warrington.”
When the gallery opened, Python Properties said they saw it as complementing the regeneration of the town centre, helping to attract people and businesses into the town.
It was their second venture into the art work, as they had opened the successful gallery at Middlesborough three years previously.
At the time, a spokesman for the company said they believed there was a clear link between art and regeneration and expected the gallery, with its on-site bistro, to create a relaxing and inspiring space that people would wish to visit and work next to.
No indication has been given of the future use of the space..
5 Comments
This is a real shame, I have often visited this space and enjoyed the exhibitions, and Mai’s coffee.
A stark warning for those who don’t believe in Marketing! Approached the owners when it first opened and they didn’t want to spend any money promoting it – shame to lose this facility in a town which has big cultural ambitions!
Very sorry to see it close. I have bought a picture and visited quite often over the past years, but obviously not often enough.
Rather ashamed to say I have never stepped foot inside the building in all the years it has been open. I have only ever seen an small handful of events ever being advertised in there over the years too. Sad as it sounds the building itself is one I’ve always though of as being a bit of a dump and ugly blot on the landscape so that in itself has never really inspired me to go in and have a look around in all the times I’ve walked past it.
Like Gary says maybe if it had been promoted better more people , myself included, may have taken the time to actually go…but too late now if curtains are drawn and it’s closing
Maybe it could be a blessing though as it’s so close to the Cultural Quarter which is having huge amounts spent on it’s redevelopment so perhaps this ugly underused building could be knocked down and replaced with a much more fitting and inspiring building in the conservation area to house the arts etc and to serve multi purpose use. I have a vision…..does WBC though ?
I had no idea there was an art gallery in there.