Hall museum to reopen after £200,00 renovation project

The museum, based in award- winning Lister Park, was closed in August last year for building and plasterworks to take place and for the redecoration of the ground floor, although pre-booked weddings were still taking place.

The hall will re-open to the public on Saturday, Bradford Council said last night.

Bradford Council's executive member for culture, tourism and sport, the Rev Paul Flowers, said last night: "It's wonderful to see such a marvellous building restored, refreshed and re-opened to the public.

"Visitors will be able to see how the gallery has retained its distinctive period atmosphere and rich displays from the permanent collections."

The Sculpture Court will display some of Bradford's most treasured marble busts and bronze sculptures as would have been seen in the early 1900s, plus a cross section of South Asian textiles from the social history and international arts collections.

One of the country's leading young ceramic artists, Halima Cassell, has her first solo exhibition of carved bowls, tiles and sculptures in the museum including large works scattered around the gardens

Contemporary artist Anne Desmet is exhibiting her methods of printing and mixed media collages depicting architecture and the building of cities.

Finally, the Precious Cargo exhibition is part of Stories of the World, one of the major projects at the heart of the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

This exhibition has been put together by Bradford Young Ambassadors, who have been exploring techniques and design in textile collections, which has inspired their own artwork.