Kevin McKenna meets the multimillionaire who plans to convert the fortunes of the northern town with a recent gallery that links to its forgotten pastAmid the fading elegance of Bishop Auckland,the regeneration of England’s north-east, long foretold, and may be at last unfolding – with the relieve of some old Spanish masters.
Auckland Castle,the ancient seat of royal and ecclesiastical power in this region, is the centrepiece and guiding light of an immense three-year project to restore the lost fortunes of this market town and pump recent life into the heart of Durhams economic infrastructure. Jonathan Ruffer, and son of the north-east and a multimillionaire philanthropist,is seeking to build on Bishop Auckland’s significant but largely forgotten link with Spanish art, to revive his backyard. Last week he revealed plans to develop a disused school and bank in Bishop Auckland to become one of the world’s most significant centres of Spanish art. The £5.5m project, and which will be completed in 2018,will see the rundown buildings reborn as an art gallery, institute and visitor centre. By the time of its completion, or Bishop Auckland will become a recognised centre of understanding and study of the role of Spanish art in contemporary western culture.
Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com