HRH The Countess of Wessex officially opens The Hepworth Wakefield
30 Mar 2012
On 27 March 2012 the sun shone as The Hepworth Wakefield was officially opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex.
On 27 March the sun shone as The Hepworth Wakefield was officially opened by HRH The Countess of Wessex.
Her Royal Highness was greeted by fans from the region and several dignitaries from across Wakefield District, before joining Cllr Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council and Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield for a tour of the award-winning building.
During her visit HRH The Countess of Wessex enjoyed the Hepworth Family Gift galleries, collection displays, the contemporary exhibitions by Heather & Ivan Morison, Ben Rivers and David Thorpe, before joining David Liddiment, Chair of The Hepworth Wakefield Trust for afternoon tea, and a chance to meet supporters and key staff from the gallery.
Her Royal Highness then toured the gallery’s Learning Studios and met Year 4 school children from Greenhill Primary School, who have been participating in creative projects and activities with the gallery. The visit concluded with HRH The Countess of Wessex unveiling a plaque in the gallery to officially commemorate the opening of The Hepworth Wakefield.
Cllr Peter Box, Leader of Wakefield Council, said: “I am very pleased to welcome Her Royal Highness to the Hepworth Wakefield, which has achieved so much in such a short space of time. This journey started with a visit from Prince Charles a decade ago and it is fitting that the official opening ceremony has a royal seal of approval.”
Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield added: “The visit by Her Royal Highness has offered a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase our world-class collection and gallery spaces, the recently opened exhibitions by Heather & Ivan Morison and reaffirm The Hepworth Wakefield’s campaign to become the art museum of the year for the Art Fund Prize 2012.”
