New gallery to champion art and culture and inspire next generation

A NEW gallery now open to the public aims to celebrate the heritage and culture of Mexborough, as well as helping creative children engage with art.

Mexborough Business Centre is the home for the new Fox Gallery.

Helen Watson, the creative director at Fox Gallery, said: “The gallery is on the upper floor of the Mexborough Business Centre which was the old grammar school.

“I moved to the centre as a business — I’ve got a production company and I work as a designer in film and television.

“When I moved in, there was already a lot of heritage, art and culture connected to the building and it inspired me to move forward and create a gallery.

“It’s at a very early stage at the moment, but eventually I hope the building will become an art and culture space.

“At the gallery, we will exhibit Doncaster artists.

“I’m so passionate about reaching out to local communities and just engaging them in art and culture.”

A blue plaque unveiling for late Mexborough poet Ted Hughes is also planned outside the centre, which is his former school

She said: “Ted Hughes was born in West Yorkshire and moved over to Mexborough as a young boy.

“He studied at the old grammar school before then going to Cambridge.

“The blue plaque reveal has been commissioned by Mexborough and District Heritage Society."

A blue plaque trail planned for Friday was postponed following the announcement of the Queen's death - and no new date has been announced - but the gallery opened with a family fun day on Saturday and an official opening in the evening.

Helen said: “We’re encouraging children in Mexborough to come and engage with artists.

“It’s just about engaging them with the history, the heritage, the culture and the art as what’s in Mexborough, Doncaster, South Yorkshire and beyond.

“Hopefully, it’s going to inspire some young creatives.”