The Hepworth Wakefield
Art gallery in Wakefield designed by David Chipperfield, with the Barbara Hepworth family gift, Wakefield's modern art collection, exhibitions and a free garden.
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About the museum
The Hepworth Wakefield opened in 2011 to house Wakefield's art collection and to honour Barbara Hepworth, who was born in the town. Its roots lie in the Wakefield Art Gallery, founded in 1934, which was a progressive gallery for its time and supported artists such as Hepworth and Henry Moore early in their careers. Gifts from local industrialists built up a collection of important twentieth-century British art.
In 1996 Wakefield Council began to promote a new purpose-built gallery as a way to help regenerate the area and attract visitors and investment. An international architecture competition in 2003 was won by David Chipperfield Architects, design work began in 2004 and building started three years later. The gallery cost 35 million pounds and reached its first-year target of 150,000 visitors in only five weeks.
A key part of the collection is the Hepworth Family Gift, donated through the Art Fund by Hepworth's daughters. It consists of 44 plaster and aluminium prototypes together with the artist's work bench and tools, shown in two galleries about her working methods. The building has ten linked galleries on the first floor, and a garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith is open to all. The gallery won the Clore Learning Award in 2013 and was named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2017.
Highlights
- Hepworth Family Gift of 44 plaster and aluminium prototypes
- Wakefield's collection of twentieth-century British art
- Gallery building by David Chipperfield Architects
- Garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith, free to enter
- Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017
- Family workshops and Explore and Draw kits
Permanent exhibitions
- Hepworth Family Gift – Barbara Hepworth's plaster and aluminium prototypes with her work bench and tools, shown in two galleries about how she worked.
- The Hepworth Wakefield Garden – A garden designed by Tom Stuart-Smith beside the gallery, open daily with free entry.
- Founded
- 2011
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | £10People with disabilities, seniors aged 65 and over, full-time students, people on Universal Credit or Pension Credit and Art Fund members |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Children and young people under 18 are admitted free. |
| Seniors | £10Aged 65 and over. |
| Visitors with disabilities | £10companion free · A person accompanying a disabled visitor is admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | £10Full-time students aged 18 or over with photo ID. |
| Groups | –Pre-booked self-guided groups pay a reduced admission; guided tours must be requested at least 7 days ahead. |
| Toddler Tuesdays (first Tuesday of the month) | £11For one child and one adult; £5 for each additional adult and £4 for each additional child. |
Exhibition entry costs £13 for adults and £11 for concessions at the door; booking online saves £1 on each of the standard adult, senior, student and disabled tickets, which brings the adult price from £13 to £12 and the concession price from £11 to £10. The ticket includes all gallery spaces on the day. Entry is free for Wakefield District residents (proof of address needed), members and patrons, under 18s, people receiving Universal Credit or Pension Credit and similar benefits, and the assistant of a disabled visitor. The garden is open daily with free entry. Membership is available.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The galleries are on the first floor, reached by two lifts with visual and audio announcements, and all ten galleries have level access and double doors. Two manual wheelchairs can be booked in advance. There are three accessible toilets, including a Changing Places toilet in the Clore Learning Studios, and a baby change area. Induction loops are at the Welcome Desk, the cafe and the auditorium. Six Blue Badge bays are on Gallery Walk next to the gallery. Ear defenders can be borrowed, a quiet space is in the Clore Learning Studios, a visual story is online, and sighted guiding is offered when trained staff are available. Touch tours are held on the first Wednesday of each month. Assistance dogs are welcome in the galleries. Carers' tickets are free.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Hands-on stations
- Baby changing facilities
Family workshops and the Art Pod run at weekends and in school holidays for children aged 2 to 12 and are free with an exhibition ticket, and Explore and Draw kits and stations are available every day. Toddler Tuesdays offer playful sessions on the first Tuesday of the month. The council-owned play area next to the gallery is closed until further notice. A baby change area is in the main toilets, and entry is free for under 18s.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Wakefield Kirkgate station · 8-min walk
Wakefield Kirkgate station is 0.3 miles away (about 8 minutes on foot) and Wakefield Westgate station is 1 mile away (about 20 minutes). The free city bus (FreeCityBus) stops by the gallery on Monday to Saturday, and other buses stop on Bridge Street next to the gallery.
By car
Paid parking
The gallery's own car park is on Thornes Lane (WF1 5QJ) with 85 spaces and a 2.5 m height limit. With an exhibition ticket parking costs £5 for the whole visit (paid at the Welcome Desk); otherwise it is £3 per hour. Blue Badge holders park free in six bays on Gallery Walk (WF1 5AW). Other car parks nearby are not run by the gallery.
- Accessible parking
Coaches may drop off on Thornes Lane by prior arrangement; there is no coach parking. A cycle rack is next to the Blue Badge bays near the main entrance. The car park uses number plate recognition.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant: not available
- Museum shop
- Coat check: not available
- Lockers
The Hepworth Wakefield Cafe serves brunch, lunch, drinks and cakes. There is no cloakroom, but lockers in the foyer cost a refundable £1. A shop is next to the main entrance.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Hire for parties, weddings, conferences, meetings, filming, photography and launches; creative workshops can be added.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 30 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes |
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Photography for personal use is permitted in the galleries; flash and selfie sticks are not allowed, and tripods must be booked in advance. |
| Good to know | Highlights tours on the permanent collection run on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 11.15am (30 minutes, up to 15 people, free with an exhibition ticket), also in French on request. Group tours can be requested with at least 7 days' notice. A free Bloomberg Connects digital guide with an audio guide is available as an app. Schools, colleges and universities can book visits and workshops. |
