The project will involve exhibitions being displayed at Skipton Town Hall and the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate, with artworks stored in both towns being swapped to supplement each of the shows.
A total of 15 works from the Mercer Art Gallery’s collection will be on display at Skipton Town Hall as part of the Take Your Time exhibition.
The event, which will also include pieces from the fine art collection at Craven Museum in Skipton, is aimed at encouraging visitors to spend longer looking at the artworks.
In return, three works from Skipton will be on show in Harrogate, creating the first cultural exchange of its kind since North Yorkshire Council launched in April 2023.
The council’s executive member for culture and leisure, and Mid-Craven representative, Cllr Simon Myers, said: “This initiative exemplifies how partnerships like this can create engaging and accessible experiences for the community. It’s exciting to see these works presented in fresh contexts that inspire visitors to see art in new ways.”
Highlights at Skipton Town Hall include a painting of Malham Cove by Katharine Holmes, a celebrated local artist, and works by Skipton-born Arthur Reginald Smith.
Skipton Town Hall’s exhibitions curator, Megan Hickes, said: “Our focus is creating a mindful and thought-provoking experience. By slowing down and taking time to explore, visitors can recharge and discover a more personal connection to the art in their own way. The chance to display some brilliant contemporary works from Harrogate’s collection is an exciting contrast to pieces from our collection and will be a fantastic opportunity for visitors to see a diverse selection of works by artists of both local and national importance.”
At the Mercer Art Gallery, works by renowned artists including Prunella Clough and Graham Sutherland offer a glimpse into creativity of 20th century British talent.
A limited-edition collection of merchandise featuring art from the museums’ collections is being launched for the first time with every purchase going to support cultural activities and outreach work across both the Skipton and Harrogate areas.
The Take Your Time exhibition at Skipton Town Hall opens on January 22 and runs until April 21. The Look, Look Again exhibition at the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate also opens on January 22 and will run until April 4.
More information is available at: https://www.northyorks.gov.uk/leisure-tourism-and-culture
