Excitement grows in the Learning Team!

Last week the Whitworth’s Learning & Engagement Team were treated to their second sneaky peek of the new development. Lucy Turner, Early Years Coordinator describes their visit:

‘Our first visit was way back in the Spring when spaces were only just being marked out on the ground. This time was a whole different experience! Now you get a real sense of the scale of what’s being done…this is going to be one hell of a gallery!

The first thing you see as you walk through the ISG offices and onto the site is the Art Garden, it’s at least twice the size I’d imagined it would be. It’s going to be a fantastic space for all our visitors, particularly for the under 5s that I work with on my programme. I can just picture them running around, exploring secret paths and discovering gaps in the hedgerows, all the while having their senses stimulated by the vibrant colours and smells of Sarah Price’s gorgeous designs, (see: https://capitaldevelopmentwhitworth.wordpress.com/2013/10/10/using-a-painters-palette-to-create-a-beautiful-wilderness-with-sarah-price-2/)

The space that the Learning & Engagement Team are most excited about is the new Learning Studio. Never before have we had a designated space to use with our groups – whether they be adult learners, families or school groups. Previously we have used the gallery spaces for all our engagement work, which we will still continue to do in the new gallery, but it will be great to have our own purpose built space to enable us to do more messy, loud and focussed workshops. The Learning Studio is on the ground floor and opens out, via huge glass doors, onto the Art Garden.

Whilst a bit predictable, I have to say that my favourite space of all might well be the new cafe space. This glass box, set up in the trees, overlooks Whitworth Park on one side and the new Art Garden on the other, the views are incredible – what an amazing place it’s going to be to have a well earned cuppa…the best in Manchester!

We are all delighted to see the building developing so quickly and we can’t wait for our next tour!