Sainsbury Centre celebrates 40 years of success
By: News Archive
Tomorrow (7 April) the Sainsbury Centre, at the University of East Anglia (UEA), is celebrating 40 years as one of the most prominent university art galleries in Britain.
Over the last four decades, hundreds of thousands of people have visited the Centre in Norwich, including the Queen in 2017. It also played host to the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow in 2013 and was the Avengers headquarters in the Marvel film, “Avengers: Age of Ultron” in 2015, and will be featured again in “Avengers: Infinity War”.
One of the ways its 40th birthday is being marked is with a new exhibition, “SUPERSTRUCTURES: The New Architecture 1960-1990”, which shines a light on developments in architecture; a fitting tribute to the building in which it is housed.
Looking forward to the next 40 years, the Centre continues its commitment to developing the Sainsbury Centre Sculpture Park, across the 320 acres of the UEA campus, which already features sculptures by Sir Anthony Gormley.
The Sainsbury Centre was first conceived after Sir Robert and Lady Sainsbury, donated their art collection to UEA in 1973, which included art from major European artists, as well as art and antiquities from different periods and cultures around the world.
It was the first public building designed by architect Norman Foster. Built between 1974 and 1976, it has since become an iconic county landmark.
The Centre, which was an Art Fund Museum of the Year finalist in 2014, is home to numerous permanent and temporary collections, a study area, restaurant and coffee shop. It also houses UEA's School of Art History and World Art Studies and the Sainsbury Research Unit for the Arts of Oceania, Africa and the Americas.
It also offers an award-winning learning programme of gallery talks, lectures and art workshops for members of the public.
Prof David Richardson, UEA Vice-Chancellor, said: “The Sainsbury Centre has been the focus of numerous wonderful achievements, much hard work and many valuable relationships have been built between art, people and ideas.
“I visit the Centre whenever I get the chance, and every time I set foot in the futuristic and architecturally-inspiring building, it strikes me just how lucky we are to have this facility on our doorstep.
“I wish the Centre every success over the next 40 years and beyond, and I have no doubt that students, staff and visitors will continue to appreciate its incredible collections and artefacts for decades to come.”
Paul Greenhalgh, Director of the Sainsbury Centre, added: “It is a real joy to work inside a masterpiece, alongside hundreds of masterpieces. The main gallery, called the Living Area, is my favourite part of the building, though the wonderful corridor in the crescent wing, is an architectural poem in its own right.
“Our commitment is to preserve and promote the original vision of Robert and Lisa Sainsbury and their desire to give the public the highest possible experience of art remains our mission.”
“SUPERSTRUCTURES: The New Architecture 1960-1990” is available to view until 2 September 2018. Admission is £12, £10.50 for concessions and free for members and student members.
Related Articles
Nurses worldwide rely on intuition to triage patients
Nurses around the world use intuition to work out how sick a patient is before triaging for treatment according to new research from the University of East Anglia.
Read more
UEA nursing apprentice’s sky-high dive for Alzheimer's and Dementia awareness
On Sunday 24 September, University of East Anglia (UEA) nursing apprentice Francessca Turrell will be taking part in a charity skydive for Alzheimers Society, a UK care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.
Read more
New book to focus on Norwich’s medieval logos
Logo Rewind: Trademarks of Medieval Norwich is a new book from UEA Publishing Project, in collaboration with CreativeUEA and featuring the work of Darren Leader, which will focus on the stories of Norwichs medieval merchants marks found in different locat
Read more