The Spanish Gallery, located in the heart of Bishop Auckland, has been crowned Small Visitor Attraction of the Year at the North East England Tourism Awards.
In a closely fought category, the gallery owned by regeneration charity The Auckland Project, was awarded the Gold accolade at the ceremony at Newcastle Civic Centre on Thursday, February 29.
Described as a ‘world class visitor attraction’ by the judges and a place where ‘every visitor is made to feel like a special guest’, The Spanish Gallery was commended for its ‘accessible and inclusive’ gallery and the judges’ feedback highlighted its impact on the surrounding area.
Edward Perry, CEO of The Auckland Project, said: “This award is a testament to the passion for culture, art and heritage carried by our founders and staff team; and of course, our wonderful volunteers, who dedicate hours of their time.
"They share a phenomenal level of passion, commitment and knowledge with each and every visitor, and it is this, as well as the masterpieces displayed within our walls, which make the Spanish Gallery a unique place, not just in the North East, but in the country.”
The Spanish Gallery, the first of its kind in the UK, is a unique collection of art, history and culture celebrating the Spanish Golden Age. Visitors are immersed in the "majesty and melodrama" of one of the UK’s largest collections of 16th and 17th-century Spanish artworks outside London, experiencing masterpieces by renowned artists including El Greco, Murillo, Zurbarán and Velázquez.
Spread across four floors and housed in two Grade II listed buildings, the gallery has been described by visitors as ‘enthralling’, ‘outstanding’ and ‘inspiring’ and is fast becoming a must-see for art enthusiasts across the North East of England and beyond.
The Spanish Gallery opened in 2021 following a ten-year project to transform the former Backhouse Bank and Barrington School Grade II listed buildings into a gallery dedicated to the art and culture of Spain.
The Spanish Gallery was inspired by the collection of paintings by Francisco de Zurbarán which have hung at nearby Auckland Castle for more than 250 years.
Like Auckland Castle, the Spanish Gallery is part of The Auckland Project, a regeneration project transforming Bishop Auckland into a premier visitor destination through a unique collection of heritage attractions, galleries and gardens.
The Auckland Project’s achievements to date have been made possible thanks to the generous support of the charity’s benefactors Jonathan and Jane Ruffer, and the project now includes Auckland Castle and Gardens, the Spanish Gallery, the Mining Art Gallery and the recently opened Faith Museum.
Carol Hargreaves, Spanish Gallery Volunteer who collected the award on behalf of The Auckland Project, said: “The Spanish Gallery is completely unique and we are very fortunate to have it in this part of the country.
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"It’s a pleasure to volunteer there and be amongst so many important cultural artefacts and artwork. We welcome many visitors, so please do come and see us!”
Run in partnership with Visit England Awards for Excellence, the North East Tourism Awards celebrate and showcase the range of quality tourism businesses in the North East.
For more information on the Spanish Gallery and to book tickets, please visit: www.aucklandproject.org
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