The Kirkcudbright Art Gallery project works took a significant step forward today (5 December), when on-site works commenced.
The Gallery project is part of the Kirkcudbright Charter, which was developed by the Kirkcudbright Community Trust and Dumfries and Galloway Council in 2012, and is designed to increase future use of community buildings in Kirkcudbright.
The Charter set out proposals to have a national Gallery of significance within the current Town Hall building complete with a permanent gallery to tell the Kirkcudbright Artists’ Story using the newly ‘Recognised Collection’; temporary exhibition galleries; a mezzanine floor used as an learning and activity space; a café and a ‘very secure’ gallery space to house high value exhibits, such as the Viking Hoard that was recently found in the region.
The Gallery is estimated to bring in 40,000 visitors per year to the town of Kirkcudbright, which will in turn bring in up to one million pounds annually to the local economy. The project has been supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Hollywood Trust and the National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open Project Fund.
Chairman of the Council’s Communities Committee, Councillor Tom McAughtrie said;
“I’m delighted to see that work on the building has commenced. Building the local economy is a key priority for our Council. Having a gallery of national significance on our doorstep will help bring many visitors to Kirkcudbright, and indeed to the region as a whole. We are very grateful to all the funding partners who have assisted us. The Kirkcudbright Charter came about via a local need from the people of Kirkcudbright. This demonstrates that we are a listening Council and that we’re committed to working with communities throughout Dumfries and Galloway.”
Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said,
“This is great news that the transformation of the Town Hall has started. Thanks to players of the National Lottery, Kirkcudbright will have an art gallery worthy of the exceptional art works it will house attracting more tourists to the area and benefitting the wider community as they’re encouraged to explore and enjoy their rich art heritage.”
Phil Deverell, Director, Strategy at Creative Scotland said:
“We are delighted to support this project and the realisation of a space for the exhibition of contemporary art and craft and for the exhibition of touring work, ensuring this development is not only a celebration of the heritage of this artistically rich area of Scotland, but supports the development of contemporary and emerging artists and arts organisations, as well as providing spaces for creative learning, audience engagement and participatory activity. The Kirkudbright Art Gallery will make a significant contribution to Dumfries and Galloway’s cultural offer.”
Joe Campbell, Chairman of Kirkcudbright 2000 added;
“Kirkcudbright 2000 was formed in 1999 and comprised local people who had a passion for art. Kirkcudbright deserved international recognition as an “Artists’ Town” and we felt the best way to begin the process of providing an art gallery suitable for displaying the finest works was to create yearly exhibitions to attract art lovers and to benefit the town and district in economic terms. Dumfries and Galloway Council gave their full backing to our efforts and after seventeen years on we now have a guarantee that the burgh’s Town Hall will be designed for that purpose. The work carried out by the Committee of Kirkcudbright 2000 has been unstinting and selfless and is an example of what can be achieved when influential groups can be brought together.”
The architects for the project are ARPL of Ayr and the building contractor is Ashleigh of Dumfries. The works will be complete at the end of next year, with the gallery due to open early in 2018.
