Tate St Ives in Cornwall, England is to restore and reopen the historic Palais de Danse, a former cinema and dance hall, and artist Barbara Hepworth‘s studio.
The art gallery has been awarded £2.8 million in funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund to restore the landmark building, which has been closed to the public for 65 years.
Anne Barlow, director of Tate St Ives, said the funding “brings us to two-thirds of our fundraising goal and marks a significant milestone in our journey to transform this historic building”.
“We are excited to be working towards re-imagining the Palais de Danse as a vibrant heritage site that builds on Hepworth’s remarkable legacy and actively engages our local communities,” she added.
The Grade II-listed Palais de Danse was originally a cinema and dance hall in the early 1900s, and later became Hepworth’s second studio from 1961 to 1975, where she created some of her most iconic works.
Tate St Ives will restore key elements of the building, including the grid-marked floor in the lower workshop, which still bears the outline of Hepworth’s Single Form bronze sculpture.
The dance hall will also be revitalised, including its 24-metre sprung maple floor and recreated glassine screens designed by Hepworth.
This will become a “living heritage” space, said Tate St Ives, and will host performances, screenings and community activities.
New cultural venue for Cornwall
Additionally, the new venue will feature an immersive recreation of Hepworth’s workshop spaces on the ground floor
For the first time, the yard outside will be opened to the public, serving as a new workshop and outdoor space for hands-on art making.
Stuart McLeod, director of England – London & South at the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “One of the things that stood out for us with Tate St Ives and Palais de Dance was the huge impact this project will have on the community and people of St Ives, as well as the wider impact for Cornwall.
“The project will help boost the local economy and create new spaces for interpretation with creative engagement, and focus on developing young people through new skills and apprenticeships.”
Images courtesy of Tate
