Sir Richard Leese visits Castlefield Gallery’s New Art Spaces Federation House.

“Art and culture are at the heart of Manchester’s future and Federation House is an opportunity for such creativity to flourish in the city.” Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council

Castlefield Gallery (CG) was this week delighted to show leader of Manchester City Council, Sir Richard Leese around Castlefield Gallery’s flagship offsite project, New Art Spaces Federation House.

CG has transformed the huge temporarily unoccupied former Co-operative premises with the support of NOMA, who are allowing CG to use the building for up to five years to nurture early career visual artists. Officially launched in March 2014 the impressive eight-storey (approx 80,000 sq ft) space encompasses exhibition spaces, artist workspaces, a film-making and screening space, and classrooms for artists training events.

Sir Richard Leese met with members of CG’s trustees and staff, as well as artists who are utilising the space, on Monday 8 September.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Castlefield Galleries is a real hive of innovation and creativity where many different art forms interact. Art and culture are at the heart of Manchester’s future and Federation House is an opportunity for such creativity to flourish in the city.”

Castlefield Gallery’s Director Kwong Lee said: “I’ve been aware of the importance Sir Richard Leese puts on the value of culture and the visual arts to Manchester for a long time, and it was our pleasure to be able to show him the work that is going on at the grass roots level and to introduce him to some of Manchester’s home grown talent who are going out and representing the city nationally and internationally. CG’s vision is for Manchester to be a place where artists can live and produce work, and New Art Spaces Federation House is proving to be able to provide that base.”

Roger Bygott, an artist working at New Art Spaces Federation House said: “CG’s New Art Spaces programme, and especially New Art Spaces Federation House, is a significant development for the arts scene in Manchester, meeting a need for project studio space, innovative curation, and artistic community interaction right in the heart of the city.”

Opening in 1984 on Liverpool Road, and moving to its current home on Hewitt Street thanks to an Arts Council England Capital Lotteries Grant in 2000, CG as a visual art venue and artist development agency has been actively involved with brokering ‘pop-up’ project and gallery spaces for artists and artists groups for several years. Through its New Art Spaces initiative, CG currently has spaces in Leigh, Widnes, Salford and city centre Manchester with Federation House, making use of temporarily vacant retail, office and light industrial units for artists, artist groups and artist development agencies.

Castlefield Gallery (CG) Founded in 1984, CG is one of Northern England’s most active and successful organisations/agencies for developing emerging contemporary artists and practice. Its ambitious curated exhibitions programme responds to national and international trends, promoting artists at key stages of their careers, including subsequent Turner Prize nominees/winners and exhibitors at international festivals. Central to CG’s activities is an artist development programme including the CG Associates members scheme and the recently launched New Art Spaces.   CG’s vision is for the North to be where artists can develop work of international standing. Its mission is to nurture talent, explore cultural trends and deepen audience’s relationship to contemporary art.

Castlefield Gallery’s New Art Spaces (NAS) is an initiative to create dynamic project spaces for artists, artist collectives and artists development agencies. Making use of temporary vacant retail, office and light industrial units, NAS provides opportunities for emerging creatives to incubate their practices, produce new work and showcase new art to local communities. Currently CG runs New Art Spaces in Leigh, Widnes, Salford and city centre Manchester.