Following four years of building work, Saturday 25 May sees the reopening of the Manchester Art Gallery. The architects responsible for the extension which has doubled the amount of space are London practice Michael Hopkins and Partners, winners of an international competition set in 1994. The project, which cost 35 million pounds (55.555.000 euro) consists of a new building and a monumental glass atrium to link the new part to the existing Victorian building, constructed between 1824 and 1835 by the architect of the Westminster Palace, Charles Barry.

An extensive area is given over to the permanent collection whilst the top floor is dedicated to temporary exhibitions, new bars, restaurants and shop, as well as a gallery for younger visitors.

To mark the opening, artist Michael Craig-Martin has created an installation “Inhale/Exhale” designed especially to emphasise the scale and possibilities offered by the new space. Something of an ephemeral piece – everyday objects painted on the walls out of scale – which will be destroyed with the next exhibition.

25.5.2002
Inhale/Exhale
Manchester Art Gallery
Moseley Street, Manchester
https://www.cityartgalleries.org.uk