The ACDC Dean Clough Galleries
Would you like to exhibit in either the Crossley, Mosaic, Upstairs or The Photography Gallery?
Exhibitions are by application or by invitation.
To apply for an exhibition please forward a proposal. This is straight forward. Send us details about yourself, a cv, information about your work and an outline of the focus of your proposed exhibition. If there is a theme please describe it. Forward a few examples of your current work with details of the medium and size. This can be sent electronically to info@artscharitydeanclough.org or as hard copy to ACDC, Exhibition and Selection Panel, Fletcher’s Mill, Dean Clough, Halifax, HX3 5AX
The advantage of sending hard copy, if you can, is that this guarantees the quality of the images seen by the Exhibition and Selection Panel members.
Proposals for a group show are also welcome.
The Galleries
Click an image to see further details
ACDC boasts both one of the UK’s largest and also the smallest private galleries and a nationally acclaimed contemporary arts programme. Work is displayed in 6 main gallery spaces.
Incorporating most art forms, painting, sculpture, photography, installations and digital media, the exhibitions span the gamut from retrospectives to innovative solo work.
Exhibitions are changed approximately every three months when everyone is welcome to attend the formal openings. These are key events in the regional arts calendar. You can subscribe to receive information and invitations to events by sending an email.
The Galleries are Open every day from 10 am – 4-pm. They are closed for Christmas Day, New Year Day and occasionally for private events or conferences.
The Crossley Gallery is occasionally hired for events, with no public access. If you are travelling specifically to view an exhibition in The Crossley Gallery please contact Dean Clough Reception (01422 250250) beforehand to ensure that the gallery is open.
The Crossley Gallery
Occupying a large part of the ground floor of D Mill, this is our main exhibition space, the largest private gallery in the whole of the region. It holds a maximum of 200 people and is regularly visited by art audiences across the country. Some of the walls are movable adding to its versatility, and it is easily accessed from D Mill Main Reception. It is lit with halogen spots as well as uplighters and is air conditioned with wheelchair access. There are regularly spaced plug sockets and a projector and screen installed to the ceiling. It features many of the original structures from the days when the site was the world’s largest carpet factory. It has a high ceiling and airy feel.
The Mosaic Gallery
Named after the original mosaic floor from the days of Crossley Carpets. This space was once the main reception entrance to the mill and to the carpet showrooms. The ceiling opens out to a balcony on the 2nd floor which enhances the perceived scale. Benefitting from business footfall as well as gallery visitors, this is a lively area well suited to small or large works as well as 3D. It is en-route to the renowned Lego model of Dean Clough, the Photography Gallery on the 2nd floor, the Collection Corridor, the Lost Workers exhibit and the Douglas Binder Collection.
The Upstairs Gallery
Frequently used in conjunction with the Mosaic Gallery to which it is connected, the Upstairs Gallery is slightly smaller with a more minimalist feel. It can accommodate large works as well as small, and also has room for sculptural work. It is situated at the top of the stairs from D Mill Reception which is the main route to and from the upper galleries.
The Photography Gallery
On the 2nd floor, this gallery consists of a balcony and a long corridor. Images that need more distance are perfect for the balcony or the end wall, while the corridor is more appropriate for pictures in sequence viewed close-to. While being capable of displaying a large amount of work, it can also look full with less. Currently being used to display our photography collection, it was previously used to host visiting shows, and we are open to submissions from artists interested in showing work here.
The Long Link Gallery
This recently refurbished space is currently displaying work from our Permanent Collection. It consists of three long, wide corridor spaces that connect the lift lobby and the north entrance. There are several original windows that were bricked up at a later date, suited for small 3D work. The unveiling of the original stone lends warmth to compliment the other building improvements. Backing onto various commercial businesses, customers and staff associated with these often pass this way.
The Short Link Gallery
This is a busy space, largely owing to the link and access to D Mill Yard. It currently displays work from the permanent collection, but has also been used for temporary exhibitions. It is suited to smaller shows, but can accommodate a few larger works.
The Tiny Gallery
While we have the largest gallery in the region we also have the smallest. Featuring exclusively the work of the Dean Clough Artists, (we have over 25 artists based on site), this area has limited wall space and a bench running around it to show small original works as well as postcards and other ephemera. It is directly opposite the main reception and near the Design Shop, so gets good exposure.
The Focus Wall
This is used for community projects and pop-up exhibitions. It is the wall opposite reception leading to the Crossley Gallery.
The Douglas Binder Gallery
Born in Bradford in 1941, the painter Douglas Binder achieved renown in the sixties as one of the ‘Young Contemporaries’. As a co-founder of the iconic underground design group Binder, Edwards & Vaughan, he was a significant influence on the graphics of the era, and his cartoon-style paintings of the time brought him international sales. A brief engagement with the influential Systems Group in the Seventies preceded his return to the north of England where he was, for over 20 years, the founder curator of the Dean Clough Galleries. His current work, exhibited here, focuses on the human figure derived from studies made during regular life drawing and painting sessions.
The Collection Corridor
Dean Clough has over 800 works in its Permanent Collection. These are displayed in corridors, offices and reception areas throughout the site for the benefit of the business community. The work in the Collection Corridor, which is on the 2nd floor off the Mosaic Gallery, is a selection from the permanent collection and illustrate the range of expressive styles, media, techniques and subject matter.
The Lego Room
This room displays photographs, objects and art work relating to the history and development of Dean Clough. The centrepiece is the famous Lego model of the current Dean Clough site. This project, designed and built by Lego enthusiasts Michael Le Count and Tony Priestman, commenced in 2009. It is built to a scale of 1:40 and consists of over a million bricks.
Lost Workers
The Lost workers is a permanent archival installation. It was originally created by the renowned French artist Christian Boltanksi and is a self-curated archive of boxes containing pictures and possessions related to the working life of individuals who were in the employment of Crossley Carpets. The original work had to be adapted due to flood damage when the installation was originally on display in the basement. Also, in this room are prints by the artist Ros Furness produced during the artists residency in 1981with Crossley Carpets. An original draughtman’s desk and a Dobby Loom, (a hand loom capable of being programmed with pegs), are also in this room. This loom demonstrates how the first commercial carpets were made in Halifax.