| Product: |
New Art Gallery Walsall |
| Date: |
07.09.07 (127 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: well laid out, good facilities, well maintained
Disadvantages: not quite as much as you expect
Quotation from Walsall Art Museum:
"The New Art Gallery Walsall opened in February 2000 in the heart of Walsall town center. It is a unique civic building for Walsall and was made possible by £15.75 million Arts Lottery Funding and commissioned by Walsall Council which wanted the best for this vibrant West Midlands town."
How to get there
Placed in the town center, the New Art Gallery dominates the west end of the main high street. Situated a stones throw away from the train station and not far from the bus station, it is quite easy to get too. Its cube design and sheer height means that anyone entering the town center by any means will find it easy to spot.
Parking
Disabled parking is available right next to the museum, however you'll find it a nightmare to get to as its a maze trough the back streets to get there. There is a car park at the Wharf10 bar next door, however that is for clientèle really and is quite small. The nearest half decent car park is either the Saddler's Center (entrance on Bridgeman street, but come in from the east side as from the west its very very tight corner) or the multi story car park on St Paul's street next to the college. Both have parking charges, and the Saddler's center has a more reliable (and clean) lift. If you use the Saddler's center, simply go down to the shop floors, up the escalator or lift by Goldsmiths and follow the entrance for Park street, then take a left and you cant miss it next to Woolworth's.
Please, don't try to find the car park mentioned on their website! It was right next door to the Leather Museum, but they are building a new ring road and at the moment its shut off and some of it is being dug up!
Cost
Admission is free, however in the children's section there is a chance for a photo to be took and that costs about £6. Various activities and events may cost, however they usually do label these rather carefully.
Views & exhibits
The main public gallery itself is on the 2nd floor. the ground floor is where the childrens center, shop and cafe are situated, the first floor is a library and archive, the third floor seems to be conference rooms and special displays/exhibits, and I assume the other remaining floors are storage and offices.
The public gallery floor is well laid out and rather open plan. Although the walls are plain white, the laminate wood flooring removes some of the 'clinical' feel of the place. All artwork is brilliantly labeled, and there is a children's activity station in each 'room' usually associated with a piece of art that is probably part of the 'staple' of the galleries displays.
Staff are around and helpful, however on the main gallery floor I did feel that at least one more attendant may have been necessary.
One of 'core' exhibits is that of a local artist. Called the 'Garman Collection' the exhibits house most of the artworks of Jacob Epstein. It was donated by his daughter I believe, who carries her mothers maiden name of 'Garman' (Just to confuse people). Part of the display is a really interesting video of Jacob Epstien's life and work.
* Quick note, when I visited they had a 'guest' painting in - it was Rolf Harris's portrait of the Queen and it was brilliant to look at!
Facilities
Cafe
The cafe is almost a run of the mill reasonably priced Costa Cafe franchise. Hot and cold food can be purchased and eaten on the premises. If you prefer something a little more 'alcoholic' the Wharf10 bar is just outside the door.
Disabilities
As you would expect of a building built in the last 10 years, facilities for the disabled have been carefully designed and installed so they dont look out of place. This includes some rather nice lifts.
Families
On the ground level is a children's room. Various activities designed to stimulate and entrance the young are here, including various displays, peephole finders, crayons, art activities and even a 'what do you think this is made out of?' that will even amaze the parents.
One of the facilities in this room is dress up, with clothes from around the Victorian era. Staff can and will take photographs of your little darling all dressed up for a fee (about £6) on request so take your own camera.
Although there are some activities in the main gallery, I wouldn't possibly bother taking by 7 year old up as she would be bored.
Library & Archive
I didn't actually go in to see this, but did peep through the door. Apparently they have story time for children at 12:30 every Saturday and you can book to see their archive.
Overall view
I feel that a lot of people will enjoy this museum, not just for the displays, but for the views out of the window! Its probably a wise idea to sign up for their mailing list in my opinion, as it would give you a good guide as when to go or not.
As an adult I did enjoy the museum, however as a parent I probably would have to mix this educational outing with one to say the Leather Museum and the main library simply because I feel although there is a lot in the children's center, it just wouldn't be enough to keep my children amused for a whole morning or afternoon.
Outside and in Walsall Art Museum doesn't just home art, it is art!
Summary: Specially designed to bring Art into the community once more,
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