The Ferens Art Gallery Hull was closed for around 16 months for a revamp.

This regional art gallery with an international reputation was to be a prime feature of Kingston-upon-Hull's year as UK City of Culture 2017.

It reopened to the public on January 13, 2017 following a £5.2m refurbishment.

Representatives of the mainstream media were allowed a special publicity visit Thursday January 12 and the morning of Friday January 13 and then it was once again open to the public.

We visited Friday January 13 within its first hour of reopening and it was bustling with activity.

The open or winter exhibition was and still is occupying more than one gallery as locals, not so locals, amateurs, semi pros and professional artists work is put on display. Most of the art works are available to buy but the majority are quite pricey.

You could purchase a catalogue from the gallery shop to check out prices, artists and more. We visited around 10 days later though and a chart of the works in the open exhibition including prices is on one gallery wall.

Red stickers on art works denotes they are SOLD.

The open exhibition includes at least a dozen or so sculptures. There are also works of art using mixed mediums such as paint and material.

The other temporary exhibition, and one attracting huge numbers of visitors, is the Pietro Lorenzetti Renaissance masterpiece which was bought by the Ferens Art Gallery for £1.6m. This is in the first gallery to the left as you enter.

Other galleries are occupied by some of the gallery's excellent core pieces including old masters and maritime work.

We checked with gallery staff and you can take photos in all galleries, preferably without flash photography, except for in the Pietro Lorenzetti Renaissance gallery.

I did note however that the press and mainstream media who visited the gallery pre-opening had snapped plenty of images of that work of art.

Ferens has a large shop, decent sized cafe and clean unisex toilets. There is also toilet access for people with disabilities and a lift to reach the upper floor.

To the right as you enter the Ferens there is a gallery specifically for children, young and old. Take a look and have a play. Some of the activities and exhibits are perfect for children with physical or mental disabilities.

The Ferns is situated in Victoria Square close to the Hull City Hall, Queen's Gardens, Princes Quay shopping Centre, and Maritime Museum. Other museums, shopping areas and the Marina is within walking distance.

The Ferens comes under the Hull City Council and like the city's other museums is free to enter.

These are a few snaps from our first visit.

A huge wind turbine blade made in the Hull Siemen's factory has been temporarily installed in Victoria Square.

The following are just a few on display as part of the open exhibition.

A couple of the old faithfuls in the Ferens.

Address: Queen Victoria Square, Hull HU1 3RA
Established: 1927

Opening Hours
Mon - Sat 10:00 to 17:00
Sun 01:30 to 16:30
Hours subject to change

Related reading:

1. Hull Museums
   
2. Kingston upon Hull City of Culture 2017
   
3. City of Culture in with a bang but Daily Mail focuses on New Years Eve drunks
   

Welcome to Kingston-upon-Hull

Kingston-Upon-Hull is situated on the North Bank of the River Humber in the southern area of Yorkshire. Traditionally it was classed as being in the East Riding of Yorkshire until government boundary changes. For more years than it liked Hull, as it is popularly known, was classed as being part of the newly created county of North Humberside. Few liked this new region and although it meant further costly changes back to East Riding of Yorkshire signs the people were happy to comply.

Kingston-Upon-Hull may be a fairly large City with more than its fair share of problems but it is a fighter, and so are its people. In recent years access has been easier due to the long awaited construction of the Humber Bridge. At time of completion this Bridge held the record as the world's longest single span suspension bridge in the world. It held this record for about 17 years.

Costing locals a small fortune, even today, this bridge has been both a blessing and a millstone. By the time it was completed in 1981 it was too late to help locals as much as was hoped. Ever increasing tolls have also been more than just a pain. However, it has brought visitors and businesses to Hull, many of whom would have bypassed the city previously.

When Hull's vibrant Fishing trade died so did many of the local industries. Add to this the severe bombing that Hull suffered during the Second World War and it is easy to see that Hull has not an easy ride during the last 60 years or so. In 2007 many Hull Homes were severely hit with the June floods.

In the fifties Hull had the reputation of being the third largest Port in the country but that record was lost years ago as many of the city's docks closed.

Hull has hit unfortunate dizzying heights in more than one way as a hit in a "Worst place to live in England" poll, but hopefully those days are gone.

So, fighters we are and the 21st Century has seen many changes around the City. The local Council has tried to revamp our active Museum quarter, our sporting heritage, shopping, theatre and more.

Further renovations have been underway for our City of Culture year.

Famous local people. past and present, include:- Tom Courtney, The Housemartins, Mick Ronson, John Alderton, Norman Collier, Maureen Lipman, Phillip Larkin, Andrew Marvell, William Wilderforce, Joe Longthorne, John Prescott, Alan Plater, Trevor Bolder, Amy Johnson, Roland Gift, Andrew Motion, Keith Devlin, Nick Barmby, Barrie Rutter, Sheila Mercier, Francis Durbridge, Ian Carmichael, Herbert Baker, Thomas Ferens and Maria Gilhooley(aka Waterson). This list has politicians, philanthropists, poets, actors, actresses, rock musicians and more, but is not exhaustive.

VISITING HULL AND THE SURROUNDING AREA
Hull offers:

• Two Rugby teams
• Numerous free to enter Museums including Wilberforce House
• Renowned free to enter Art Gallery
• New venue for Hull Truck Theatre
• Excellent University
• Hull New Theatre
• New Shopping Centres
• Many pubs and restaurants
• North Sea Ferries
• Good train and bus links
• New Interchange travel station
• Within easy reach of York, Beverley and Leeds
• Humberside Airport only 19 miles away
• Easy to reach coastal towns such as Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington
• State of the Art modern Multi-plex cinemas
• Hull City Football Club
• Annual Fair each October which it is claimed is the largest travelling Fair in Europe
• A vibrant night-life

See you there in 2017.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-38358407
​https://www.absolutelycultured.co.uk/