Work has started on the internal fit-out of the John Hansard Gallery’s future home on Guildhall Square, in the heart of the city centre’s Cultural Quarter.
Work on the fit-out follows the handover by Grosvenor Developments of the city’s arts complex structure to Southampton City Council.
John Hansard Gallery Director, Stephen Foster, comments:
“After many years of planning, it is hugely exciting to see the new John Hansard Gallery begin to take shape and we look forward to welcoming the first visitors to our new state-of-the-art premises in less than 12 months.”
Campus art lovers will be pleased to know that John Hansard Gallery has another two exhibitions programmed at Highfield before the gallery closes its doors at Easter 2016, ahead of the move to the city centre.
In addition to the John Hansard Gallery, the arts accommodation at the new Guildhall Square development will include a multi-purpose performing arts venue, operated by Nuffield, comprising a flexible 447 seat auditorium, a 135 seat studio, screening facilities, café/bar, rehearsal and workshop spaces; and film/video studio facilities operated by City Eye. Alongside the arts venues, the development also includes seven restaurants and 38 apartments.
The arts complex is part of Southampton’s Cultural Quarter VIP project, with major funding coming from Southampton City Council, and from Arts Council England, through its National Lottery-funded Capital Programme.