Places features

Inch-by-inch: Wakefield's newest bridge

The bridge, which has only just been winched inch-by-inch into place across the River Calder, is the first new river crossing in Wakefield in more than a century - but, more importantly, it's a symbol that the prestigious Hepworth Wakefield gallery project is also coming together. Named after artist Barbara Hepworth (who died in 1975) the intention is that the gallery will be a must-visit for any self-respecting art lovers and artists not just here in West Yorkshire but also across the UK - and even further afield!

"Delighted": Simon Wallace

It's perhaps hard to believe just now, though, because if you were to go down to Wakefield's waterfront today you'd see nothing but a building site. However, under all that mud and scaffolding, a whole new £26million centre for all things arty is being created - and the new bridge is the latest sign that its opening in 2010 is now just that little bit closer. Simon Wallace, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield told the BBC West Yorkshire website that seeing the 50 metre-long, 85 tonne bridge swinging into place is a real milestone: "I'm absolutely delighted. It's a major landmark event for the project which, in itself, is a world-class event for Wakefield...It's a terrific step forward!"

Into place: The bridge on The Calder

Of course, though you might not know it, Wakefield already has a fantastic collection of contemporary art - it's just that there's been little space to show it. In fact, the BBC West Yorkshire webteam got the chance to grab a small look behind-the-scenes at just a tiny bit of that collection in late 2007 and we can guarantee that there are lots and lots of gems just waiting for their moment to be seen! The problem up until now has been that Wakefield Art Gallery is currently a small Victorian town house just outside the city centre. The new gallery, which will be part of The Hepworth Wakefield, is an altogether bigger proposition as Simon Wallace explains: "The quality of that collection is terrific but, of course, only about seven percent of that could be shown at any one time in the old building. We do have this solid base of a world-class collection to build on and that's going to be supplemented with the gift that the Hepworth Estate has given us. It'll be a unique opportunity to really explore Hepworth's working techniques and to bring her back to her place of birth."

There's still some way to go, though, before The Hepworth Wakefield can finally open its (no doubt finely-sculpted) doors to the people of Wakefield and West Yorkshire. The building's outer frame is well on its way to completion, with work beginning on the all-important interior in 2009. In the meantime, the city's artists and art lovers will have to be content with Simon Wallace's hope that it will be a truly exciting place to visit. He says Wakefield is a perfect location: "It's got a really terrific 'offer', this bit of Yorkshire. With the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and with the Henry Moore Institute, this is a place that ought to be inspirational for engaging both with historical art and the best contemporary art. And, of course, we're in this terrific landscape. We've got amazing towns and cities, but the quality of the landscape was something which was truly inspirational to both Hepworth and Moore and that should continue to be so."

The Hepworth, Wakefield, Nov 26th 2008

And, though an art gallery may not be everybody's idea of a good time, Simon is convinced that The Hepworth is going to be something different - after all, it's not every gallery that has a bridge built specially across a city centre river just to reach it! Simon says The Hepworth will, first and foremost, be for and about people: "It needs to be a good social space...I'm very concerned that the building is big, lively and social and is a destination for those who just want to socialise - above and beyond just coming to look at the art."