City centre cultural hub reopens after refurbishment

Published: 25 May 2022

A cultural hub in Derby city centre has reopened following an extensive refurbishment with a new exhibition and a special launch event.

Artcore received £85,000 from Derby City Council’s Additional Restrictions Grant fund to upgrade its gallery on Albert St and work began to make the building more accessible in January 2022. 

The project created a more open layout on the ground floor allowing for a new café and updated shop area to sell local handmade goods, host workshops and offer project space. Larger windows flood the area with natural light.

A new lift from the ground floor to the upstairs gallery space has been installed, making the entire building accessible.

The development has also improved the building’s energy efficiency, in line with Artcore’s commitment to help combat climate change.

Visitors will get the chance for a look around the transformation at a launch event on Friday 27 May, from 6pm.

Artcore reopens its doors with an interactive exhibition entitled Il.luminar from the gallery’s current artists in residence, Matt Woodham and Benjamin Shirley-Quirk. The two artists collaborated to reconstruct a kinetic, interactive lantern from plans found in manuscript fragments dating from the 7th to 16th centuries.

Rachel North, Deputy Chief Executive and Strategic Director for Communities & Place at Derby City Council said:

The Artcore building is in a key location for the city, sitting within Derby’s Cultural Heart priority area and representing a core element of our City Vibrancy ambition. Through its proximity to the Market Hall Transformation and Osnabruck Square it will play an important strategic role by placing culture, creativity and vibrancy centrally within the area.

Zahir Shaikh, Artistic Director at Artcore added:

We sincerely and deeply believe that all people are creative, but people need to be gently nudged into waking their creative selves. This requires effort and patience, innovation and a constant thinking out-of-the-box. The reopening of our Albert Street building provides more opportunity for this to happen and for our local communities to be engaged. The city centre location also allows us to reach new audiences. Artcore share the Council’s vision of animating Osnabruck Square. This will help to reinvigorate the cultural identity of the area.

We are delighted to include the work of Matt Woodham and Benjamin Shirley-Quirk within the overall launch. Their work is fresh, exciting and engaging. Their involvement in this important period for our organisation demonstrates Artcore’s commitment to supporting local artists.

Drinks and light refreshments are available at the launch event on 27 May. It's free and everyone is welcome but please book a place

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