Major Works Unveiled at Coventry Biennial 2025
Dozens of works from the Arts Council Collection and British Council Collection have gone on display as part of the Coventry Biennial 2025
Coventry Biennial 2025 is showcasing major works from the Arts Council and British Council collections, ahead of the launch of the City Centre Cultural Gateway.
The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum is hosting exhibitions featuring highlights from both collections, which runs until January 26, with a series of exhibitions at four other Coventry and Warwickshire venues.
Marguerite Nugent, Cultural Director at CV Life, which operates the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said: "Welcoming both the Arts Council Collection and the British Council Collection ahead of the launch of the Cultural Gateway is a cultural milestone for the Herbert and for the city.
“These exhibitions give audiences here a chance to encounter two national collections of international significance, while also showcasing ambitious new commissions created in and for Coventry.
“It underlines the Herbert’s role as a place where national and global culture connects directly with local communities."
Exhibitions at the Herbert and other venues give a first look at the City Centre Cultural Gateway. The project is set to transform the former IKEA building into a national hub for art, culture, and community.in the heart of the city centre.
The Gateway aims to create national collection management facilities, dedicated spaces for research and teaching, and areas designed to host community and cultural activities.
Led by Coventry City Council, the project involves a number of organisations working in partnership including the British Council, which will move its collection to the city in 2027, Arts Council England, CV Life and Coventry University, with a new management organisation for the Arts Council Collection being established in Coventry.
Councillor Naeem Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities at Coventry City Council, said: “The partnerships we are building via the City Centre Cultural Gateway will be brilliant for our city. It will place Coventry at the heart of national and international cultural conversations, while creating a space that people of Coventry can utilise and enjoy.
“This year’s Biennial offers a vibrant programme that reflects Coventry’s creativity, diversity and resilience. I encourage everyone to visit these brilliant exhibitions whilst they’re on offer here in Coventry.”