Culture Minister opens 'stunning' arts hub

9.46.00am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 6th May 2008

• MINISTER for Culture, Creative Industries and Tourism, Margaret Hodge officially opened a £2.5m, bespoke arts and education hub at the redeveloped Orleans House Gallery and Stables in Twickenham on Thursday 24 April.

The redevelopment of Richmond Council's flagship arts venue was part-funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and has taken three years to complete. Over three phases, the project has created a new picture store, converted the once empty Coach House and stables buildings into a multi-purpose arts education centre, gallery, artist-in-residence studio, heritage display and café. The gallery grounds have been enhanced with improved site orientation, disabled access and parking facilities. The sensitive redevelopment has conserved the features of the Grade I listed buildings. Horse stalls have been transformed into seating areas in the café while stable doors and original stone floors have been carefully restored, allowing the North Stables to be accessible to the public for the first time. Visitors will be able to enjoy exhibitions in two separate galleries, improved access to the grounds and a café offering a healthy eating menu. It will also enable the borough's Arts Service to expand its education programme for after-school clubs, workshops for schools, courses and projects for young people as well as adult and family programmes through the new facilities including the artist-in-residence studio.

. . Cllr John Coombs, Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure on Richmond Council, said: "We are delighted to be joined by the culture minister at the opening of this stunning new complex, which aims to make arts and cultural activities available to everyone, giving people from all backgrounds the chance to work with professional artists and learn new skills. We hope the new café and Stables Gallery will attract even more visitors to the site to enjoy the exciting and stimulating shows on offer."