The University Gallery reopened in Summer 2018 in a new home in Sandyford Building on City Campus. The space comprises Gallery North, the University Art Collection and the Woon Gallery of Asian Art.
- Gallery North is an experimental space used to showcase contemporary arts through a regular programme of practice research events and exhibitions.
- The University Collection is made up of around 3,000 paintings, drawings and sculptures as well as the archives of artists such as Norman Cornish and Charles Simms, which are used to support teaching, learning and research.
- The Woon Gallery of Asian Art presents the Woon Foundation Collection of Asian Art on long-term loan to the University alongside a number of contemporary pieces by Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol and Damien Hirst.
The refurbishment of the gallery spaces is the start of an exciting new period with a focus on widening participation and external engagement for the University and for Newcastle as a city.
The Woon Gallery of Asian Art
The Woon Gallery of Asian Art is the latest chapter in the University’s long and successful relationship with retired Singaporean lawyer and Northumbria alumnus Mr Wee Teng Woon and the Woon Brothers Foundation.
Created through the generous support of the Woon Brothers Foundation, the new gallery space houses 47 rare and unique items from the Woon Brothers Foundation’s collection to support research and public exhibition in the region. Each item has been selected for its contribution to the understanding and application of craft and making, as well as the relationship of Buddhist art to culture and religious belief, practice, and devotion.
The collection also includes contemporary artwork by celebrated artists such as Damien Hirst, Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, among others. Together, these pieces will be used as an education and research resource and will support Newcastle’s Cultural Strategy, providing for wide and inclusive access to unique items of artistic and cultural significance.
The Gallery and Collection is a dynamic centre for teaching Northumbria programmes including Conservation; Fine Art; Creative Industries Management; Visual Cultures; Fashion; History; and Design. It is also used to develop a programme of workshops and school visits, which are supported by educational materials.
