Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Access & Interpretation

Galleries can inspire creativity, new ideas, happiness, sadness, debate, anger or fun.

The 21st Century Face of Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Beginning in 2005

Work began in January 2005 at Wolverhampton Art Gallery to provide a magnificent new extension creating a permanent gallery for Wolverhampton 's nationally acclaimed Pop Art collection, and a landmark building for Wolverhampton City Centre.

The £6.7m Heritage Lottery funded project will create two exciting and unique triangular galleries, one of which will house the gallery's Pop Art collection which is the largest of its kind outside London . The other state of the art gallery will be used for temporary exhibitions. The new developments will allow more of the Gallery's collections to be on display than ever before.

Although we aim to keep disruption to a minimum while the building work is taking place; if you are planning a special visit to the gallery it would be advisable to call ahead to check accessiblity.

Getting what you want out of a visit is very important. At Wolverhampton Art Gallery we are currently working with our visitors on several new projects to make the gallery more accessible and interesting - not just physically, through better facilities for disabled people, but also through making the whole experience of art more enjoyable to all our visitors.

Previous Projects

A series of access initiatives won us a Gulbenkian Award for the best provision for people with disabilities in 1996, an Interpret Britain Award in 1997 and 'Best Museum of Fine Art' in 1998.

Three projects have been especially designed for all visitors to enjoy a new way of finding out about art. They are

· 'At your pleasure' in which you can explore life and the arts in the 18th century in the Georgian Room. Five new pieces of furniture were made so that you can find all the information, with audio tapes, magnifying glasses, pictures, braille, objects to touch and smell, models and games, and costumes for dressing up. It is of interest to both adults and children.

· The 'Sensing Sculpture' Education Gallery is about the ideas and methods artists use when making sculpture. It was designed for young people with visual impairment who are studying Art for GCSE. The room has a tactile guide path, audio, braille, and light boxes. And lots of artworks to touch, listen to, and smell.

· In the Creation Digital Art Centre young people and teachers learn how to use ICT in art and design. The room is fully accessible for people with disabilities with adjustable computer tables, graphics tablets etc. and a range of creative software. The staff in Creation work with pupils from 5 to 19 years old and with special schools. For booked groups only.

For more information, email the Access & Interpretation Co-ordinator on info@wolverhamptonart.org.uk

© Copyright - Wolverhampton Arts & Museums Service. 2003

Resource area in ‘Dark Night of the Soul’ (touring exhibition, 2000).