Heritage Lottery Fund announce £2.32 million grant to Kettle's Yard

Together with funds already raised, HLF's grant will enable Kettle’s Yard to build a new wing alongside the exhibition gallery.

The development will provide two new education spaces, a seminar room and a room for hands-on practical workshops, a space for artists’ projects and collection-related displays, a cafe, an expanded art library and enhanced storage.

The HLF award follows on from last week’s announcement of a £250,000 grant from the Clore Duffield Foundation.

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “Through Kettle’s Yard, Jim Ede was able to create an informal space where he could share inspirational works of art. With this award, we are able to continue Ede’s vision, opening up opportunities for more people from across the community to explore and learn about the collections and the history of this wonderful building.”

Artist Antony Gormley said: “Kettle’s Yard is an invaluable visual resource for the university and town that combines a foundational collection made at the birth of modernism in Britain with an evolving programme of contemporary art. Kettle’s Yard is a necessary balance to the historical collections of the Fitzwilliam Museum and a lively and living place to experience art. This investment from the Heritage Lottery Fund is vital and will allow more people than ever to experience and enjoy this wonderful place.”

Director of Kettle’s Yard, Michael Harrison said: “We plan to start building work towards the end of the year. The house will remain open throughout the work and we will continue to run a programme of events and concerts.

“We now need to consolidate and secure the future of Kettle's Yard by building our endowment base. We are in times of financial uncertainty and we must ensure that Kettle's Yard will be able to maintain itself independently into the future.”

To find out more about the plans visit http://www.kettlesyard.co.uk/development/index.html