Opening date revealed for 'spectacular' new-look Northampton Museum and Art Gallery

The Northampton Museum and Art Gallery will open to the public on Saturday, June 20, after a £6.7 million refurbishment and expansion.

The Guildhall Road museum will open with a new temporary exhibition all about the town and a gallery of Northamptonshire artist Christopher Fiddes' work.

Northampton Borough Council leader Jonathan Nunn said: “Following a major renovation programme, we are incredibly excited to announce the opening date for the town’s new museum and art gallery.

“This much-anticipated development, in the heart of our expanding Cultural Quarter, has been five years in the making and represents a significant addition to Northampton’s cultural life."

The museum has doubled in size as a result of the project, which began in 2018 and was funded by the controversial Sekhemka statue sale.

A nine-metre-high glazed 'atrium' has created space for two new galleries, a schools activity space, a cafe and a south-facing outdoor terrace.

A new temporary exhibition called We Are Northampton, which explores the character and history of the town, through people, places and events, will welcome the first museum guests.

There will also be a retrospective on Fiddes called Challenging Perspectives, presenting work from his early career up to the present day.

A new website for the museum and art gallery is set to launch on March 20.

Cllr Nunn said: “A spectacular new focal point for the town’s art, heritage and culture, the redevelopment has created exciting new galleries, alongside welcoming public spaces and high-quality visitor facilities.

“It is set to be a major attraction, where visitors can discover Northampton’s internationally important shoe collection, explore the town’s rich history, and experience an ever-changing programme of art, activities, events and temporary exhibitions.”

The new atrium links the museum to the Old Gaol Block, home to the Shoe Gallery - a showcase of Northampton’s internationally-important shoe collection - and a new temporary exhibition space.

Northamptonshire’s history and shoe heritage is celebrated in an expanded shop and selling gallery, with a focus on artists and makers from the town, according to the council.

The existing art gallery has undergone light refurbishment and will feature a range of changing exhibitions from the museum’s collections, Northampton artists and touring shows.

The revamped History Gallery includes new displays on lacemaking and post war development of Northampton.

Space for school visit activities, teaching and workshops will also be available alongside a central hall capable of hosting major events and for corporate hire.

Tom Jagger from architects GSSArchitecture said: “We are incredibly excited about the museum opening and believe it will quickly have a positive impact on the town.

“This project has been developed over the last five years and will see the previous museum offer significantly diversified, to meet the needs of modern visitors, whilst celebrating the town’s heritage.

“The new spaces will allow the museum to act as a hub for varying events and as a general meeting and social space within the fabric of the town centre.”

After a two-year delay, the museum refurbishment got underway in September 2018.

The project was supported by the £15.76 million sale of the 4,000-year-old Egyptian statue of Sekhemka in 2014, which the council made around £8m from.

The roundly-criticised sale which prompted a change in the code of ethics issued to museums and lost the Northampton museum's Arts Council England accreditation.

Take a virtual tour of the expanded museum at northampton.gov.uk/virtual-tour.