Gallery set to unveil major improvements

5.29.21pm GMT Fri 7th Dec 2007

Further major improvements to the Orleans House Gallery site will make 2008 a year to remember and bolster the gallery's already burgeoning reputation.

Next year will see the opening of the North Stables in April, including an artist-in-residence studio and the first-ever café on the site. The Stables Gallery is being refurbished and the grounds improved. There will be a new gallery shop, selling gifts and souvenirs and offering a range of publications linked to exhibitions and the local area. The development marks Phase Three of a major programme at the Twickenham site, funded via a £1.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The net result will improve arts facilities for the whole community.

Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure, Cllr John Coombs, said: "2008 promises to be a truly exciting and memorable year in the history of the gallery. Orleans House has established a national reputation not only for its exhibitions but also for its award-winning education programme, which caters for people of all ages and needs. The improvements will further enhance the gallery's status and boost facilities for the entire community."