Opening up...

So, it feels like we’ve been on a journey. Hmmm. Full of noise and dust, disruptions and a myriad of challenges along the way. You came too and we’re really grateful for that. Here’s our plan. We’ll close for two days on Sunday 18 and Monday 19 October and reopen in the ‘new and improved’ Chapter, bright and breezy at 8.30am on Tuesday 20 October. Business as usual.

In less than 16 months we’ve given our old school building the facelift she deserved. And there’s a beautiful, accidental symmetry here. As some of you will know, Chapter is based in what once was Canton High School. The school opened after a little over 16 months building work on Monday 21 October 1907 and we’ll reopen our main doors almost exactly 102 years later.

There’s still a lot to do and we might be just a little rough around the edges when we reopen… we’ll definitely need your help, and your patience probably, as we bed in new systems and new spaces.

We’re also thrilled to announce that the first artist to create an artwork for our stunning, new lightbox will be Bedwyr Williams. Known for his often autobiographical, quirky look at life’s daily banalities, Bedwyr will work within the constraints of the space to create something we think will cause quite a buzz.

Our first Assembly: Art in the Bar exhibition will get people talking too. All we’ll say now is that it’s a specially produced text work by the internationally-acclaimed artist, Louise Bourgeois. It will open the day we move back to our main space — Tuesday 20th October. Enough said.

We’re finalising ideas for our public launch in November and we’re aiming it just at A-listers — artists, advocates and you our audience. It’s you who make Chapter this special melting pot of ideas and experiences and you who create that very special magic that is uniquely… Chapter.

Download a groundplan of the new Chapter layout here

We’ll do our best to keep you in touch with all developments as they happen. You’ll find a fun redevelopment blog here, if you’ve got any questions email us at enquiry@chapter.org or just pop in and ask.