BELSAY HALL CLOSES TO MAKE WAY FOR CONTEMPORARY ARTS EXHIBITION

21st April 2010

Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens in Northumberland will close for two weeks from 19th April while the new artworks for contemporary arts exhibition, Extraordinary Measures are installed.

The English Heritage property will re-open its doors to the public on Saturday 1 May at 10am, to unveil Extraordinary Measures which will be on display until the end of September.

The exhibition will offer visitors a whole new perspective on contemporary art, the exhibition will take visitors of all ages into an Alice in Wonderland world of dark enchantment. Highlights among the specially-commissioned installations - most of which are being seen for the first time in the UK – will include the premiere of new hyper-realistic sculptures by Ron Mueck in the 19th-century rooms of Belsay Hall and photographs of tiny day-trippers facing everyday dramas within the gardens of Belsay, as documented by urban artist Slinkachu, who here leaves his usual city setting for the first time.

English Heritage is grateful to its funding partners, Arts Council England, Northern Rock Foundation and One North East, whose support for Extraordinary Measures has made the exhibition possible. A number of other supporters, including Fenwick Ltd and the Barbour Charitable Trust, have contributed to what promises to be a wonderful addition to the region’s cultural calendar.

For more information about Belsay Hall and Extraordinary Measures please visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/belsay or www.extraordinarymeasures.co.uk