Kettering art gallery reopens after six years

A gallery has welcomed visitors for the first time in six years following renovation work.

Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering, Northamptonshire, has reopened with Faces and Places, an exhibition featuring landscapes, portraits and scenes by local artists.

The gallery initially closed during the Covid pandemic, with its reopening delayed by extensive building work and roof repairs following rain damage in 2023.

"We're all really excited," said gallery manager Billie Stevenson said.

"It was lovely for the team to get back handling the artworks they've been looking after behind the scenes."

The gallery, which holds nearly 1,000 works in its permanent collection, is named after Sir Alfred East, the landscape painter born in Kettering.

He was knighted in 1910 and served as president of the Royal Society of British Artists before his death in 1913.

Work to repair the Grade II listed building has cost £4.8m, although it was initially given a budget of up to £6.8m.

"My job [after the gallery opens] is to welcome people back in and then to work on the future programme of events," Stevenson added.

The gallery is displaying photographs of tiles decorated by members of the public during a community project at Kettering's Christmas market last December.

The tiles were installed on the library roof with their decorated sides facing downwards.

Stevenson said: "People have really got a piece of their art on the roof of the library, which is lovely."

The renovation has also created additional space for exhibitions, workshops, film screenings and talks.

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