Galleries - Arts - Dean Clough


	Bill Brandt's iconic mill image was taken at Dean Clough c.1960". © Bill Brandt Estate

The Galleries

Dean Clough regularly devotes up to nine of its public spaces to a rolling programme of gallery exhibitions that typically reflect contemporary art practice in the North of England.

The Crossley Gallery at Dean Clough

The Crossley Gallery is one of the largest contemporary arts spaces in Yorkshire. It provides a prime venue for group shows (for instance 'Jerusalem' in 2006, which included work by Gordon Cheung, David Hancock and Simon Woolham) and for artist who paint on a large scale (for instance Albert Irving in 1997), or who are candidates for major retrospectives (for instance Derek Hyatt in 2005). The gallery has also been used for textile exhibitions (The Quilters Guild in 1999) and display installations (notably, a retrospective of the Sheffield-born designer David Mellor in 1999).

The Upstairs and Mosaic Galleries are typically used to display recent contemporary work (for instance Tom Palin 2004 or John Ross 2005); and are sometimes combined to accommodate smaller retrospectives (for instance Burnley-born illustrator Paul Slater in 2007).

The Community and Education Gallery is available to local groups and projects with a community focus. Exhibitions can reflect arts initiatives such as school projects, or have only a minor involvement with the arts - such as an Age Concern show in 2006 about memories of Halifax that featured photographs by Tim Smith. Local groups are encouraged to carry out their own exhibition 'hanging' for the 'ComEd Gallery' in order to gain experience. The Seminar Room - a small room which is incorporated in the ComEd Gallery - is often used for installations (examples have included a rope maze by Lesley Tett and an installation by Paul Hillier that included a crime scene investigation tent).

The Photography Gallery comprises an atrium and intimate corridor area appropriate to the scale of most camera work. Local photographers (Allan Ivy, Porl Medlock, Katrin Olroge etc.) are often featured here but - as with the other gallery spaces - there is no dogmatic approach to the selection of artists. These have ranged from 'famous names' like Nick Danziger or Professor Paul Hill, to promising, often experimental student work.

Chittagong Boat Yards by Allan Ivy

Other public access spaces at Dean Clough are used to display the Dean Clough Collection (qv), recent paintings by the Gallery Curator, Doug Binder, and the large-scale series of Derek Jarman paintings associated with his film 'The Last of England' (1987). Dean Clough also selects from the Hayward Gallery touring programme: recent examples being spotlights on Ewan Uglow, Victor Pasmore, and Leon Kossoff.

The public is very welcome to visit the galleries between 10.00am and 5.00pm, seven days a week. HOWEVER, SINCE THE GALLERIES ARE OCCASIONALLY USED FOR CONFERENCE PURPOSES YOU ARE ADVISED TO CHECK ON THE AVAILABILITY OF PARTICULAR SHOWS BEFORE TRAVELLING ANY DISTANCE BY PHONING 01422 250250.

There is no charge for entry to the galleries, but please note that there is an on-site parking fee during weekdays. Refreshments are available at the Viaduct Cafe Bar during visiting times.

The Snowstorm by Victor Passmore

Items in the rolling programme of exhibitions are often available to buy. Purchases can be made through The Design Shop at Dean Clough, which also stocks prints, craft items and designer jewellery. Dean Clough is a member of the Arts Council's loan scheme that enables people to buy art and pay for it in interest-free instalments.

If you would like to be included on the regular invitation list to gallery openings then please e-mail your address to: pressoffice@deanclough.com with the subject headline "DC Gallery Openings".

How to propose an exhibition at Dean Clough, click here.

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