Keys to cultural and learning hub handed over

Danum Gallery, Library and Museum is one step closer to opening its doors as the keys to the impressive new building in Doncaster town centre have been handed over.

Doncaster Council has received the keys for the building from the main contractor Willmott Dixon and will now start the process of kitting the building out and then moving the library elements and displays across.

The focal point of the new building is the front of the former Doncaster High School for Girls which has been carefully restored and encased in glass to create a unique feature.

Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, said: “The building is visually stunning, unique and iconic, particularly the frontage of the former Doncaster High School for Girls which we have beautifully restored and showcased as an exhibit in its own right.

“It has changed the skyline in Waterdale, but it’s more than just a great looking, cutting edge facility.

“As a new public attraction, it will contribute to our wider regeneration plans for the Civic and Cultural Quarter and the rest of our town centre.

“Given the budget cuts councils up and down the country have faced in recent years, it is a great achievement to be delivering this public building and bringing together a number of services all under one roof.”

Councillor Nigel Ball, cabinet member for public health, leisure and culture, said: “We are raising the bar with the Danum Gallery, Library and Museum by creating a state-of-the-art public building with a range of modern and quality services for our residents.

“It will showcase the varied history and many achievements of this great borough and has been designed to inspire creativity, encourage learning and drive innovation.”

Anthony Dillon, managing director of Willmott Dixon in the North, said: “The Danum Gallery, Library and Museum is our eighth project with Doncaster Council, a partnership that has seen more than £40m invested with local businesses so far.

“This really is a building built by, and for, the people of Doncaster, so we’re hugely proud to hand over a cultural hub that will inspire, empower and bring people together.”

Matt Hutton, director at Bond Bryan architects, said: “This project shows the council’s clear intent to continue to invest and support the Arts, Culture and Education for the people of Doncaster and the wider Sheffield City Region.

“At its heart, it is a community focused project providing real opportunities to create positive impacts on public health and wellbeing through engagement with the local communities.”

The art gallery will display some of the most important and impressive works from the art collection cared for by Heritage Doncaster.

The library will include dedicated spaces for families, young children and teenagers and various facilities for people to learn and carry out research.

And the building will include a rail heritage centre, featuring exhibits from the rail collection at Hall Cross Academy.

An announcement about when the building will be ready to open will be published in due course.