Castle Fine Art reopens Exeter gallery
The UK’s leading art retailer, Castle Fine Art, has announced the reopening of 30 of its galleries nationwide, including its store in Exeter, from Monday 15 June.
As the nation welcomes the easing of lockdown, the doors to 30 galleries have reopened, with a series of measures put in place to keep customers, employees and artists safe amidst the “new normal”. Social distancing floor markers, dedicated sanitation points and limited customer numbers are some of the new in-store measures introduced. In addition to this, Castle Fine Art is offering private out of hours appointments, which can be booked in advance.
Group Managing Director, Ian Weatherby-Blythe, comments: “We welcomed the announcement that non-essential retail could open this week and have spent a lot of time examining every element of our operations. From how we work with our artists to managing the specialised in-house teams that frame all of our artwork by hand, through to our online service and estate of galleries; we wanted to be confident that we could protect the Castle Fine Art family… our artists, collectors and incredibly loyal staff.
“It has been a challenging time for all businesses, to say the least, and ours has been no different. Closing 40 galleries pretty much overnight had a massive impact, but we’re looking ahead to the future now, thanks to the hard work of our employees. Whilst we’ve continued trading online, Castle Fine Art has its heart within the communities where the galleries are located, so being able to throw their doors open and showcase the work of our amazing artists really is a milestone.”
10 of the group’s galleries remain closed for the time being, including the ICC and Mell Square, Solihull locations, but they will return at a later date as part of Castle Fine Art’s planned phased reopening.
Exeter gallery manager, Chris Hawkins, adds: “I am so happy that we’re back open again; the team is already adapting well to the “new normal” and our priority is that customers and staff feel safe and protected whilst with us in the gallery. New social distancing measures and increased cleaning regimes are just part of how we’ve changed the way we work, and I hope that it reassures customers that Castle Fine Art is safely back open for business! In these ever-changing times, we really appreciate the patience and support from our collectors, and I can’t wait to welcome them back through the doors.”
Castle Fine Art represents over 50 artists; from Bob Dylan and Billy Connolly, to Domingo Zapata and Lorenzo Quinn. Founded in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1995, the network of galleries has one aim: to make art accessible to all, under the motto: Your World, Our Art®.
