What is your role at the The Hepworth Wakefield? 

I am the Executive Assistant to the Directors here at The Hepworth Wakefield.

 How long have you worked at The Hepworth Wakefield?

2 years and 2 months.

What do you like most about The Hepworth Wakefield? Do you like the architectural design of the building?

 I love its ability to adapt to the work within. Whilst the outside is very contemporary, the inside galleries provide the space and light to transcend genres. Whether it is a contemporary artist like Helen Marten or something more traditional like our Stanley Spencer retrospective, the rooms always compliment and show off the art, regardless of its style or age. I love the design of the building and how it changes colour in the light and looks so different from alternative angles. I particularly like how such a contemporary, angular, concrete building can be so incredibly beautiful and blend into its surroundings whilst still creating an impact.

Did the building influence your decision when accepting the job? Do you enjoy working in an iconic UK Building?

The building was certainly influential in my applying for the job; I had previously worked in a Grade 1 listed stately home for 15 years and my working environment has always been important to me. As a regular visitor to the gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield was on my wish list of places to work. I distinctly remember the feeling of walking over the bridge approaching the building for my interview and being awestruck by its imposing form rising from the river Calder. The thought that I could potentially get to work in this amazing space amongst this beautiful art was overwhelming and the wait to find out if I had been successful was agonising. I still feel that same awe when I walk over the bridge every morning. Bilbao & New York are synonymous with their iconic art galleries and  to have this iconic building here in Wakefield is such a privilege and I feel honoured to be part of a small group of people who get to work here. 

Do you have a favourite lunch spot? 

 It has to be The Hepworth café! They do a fantastic posh fish finger sandwich,  delicious homemade scones and the brownies are amazing. 

What time of year do you most enjoy The Hepworth Wakefield?

It looks fantastic all through the year, but I think that the gallery is at its most imposing in the winter months. Standing in the galleries looking down at the Calder crashing against the side of the building, looking out from the floor to ceiling windows in Gallery 5, dedicated to Hepworth’s plasters, at Wakefield’s  stormy skies is breath-taking.

How does the building affect your job? 

The building does affect my job; greeting visitors to the gallery is always such a joy as everyone is blown away by this stunning building in a rather unconventional setting in this northern town. When greeting VIP’s they are already impressed by the building by the time they enter the foyer, and it makes it so easy for me to promote it. A walk up to the galleries provides a calming environment, I try to go up there at least once a week to  remind myself of how lucky I am to work here and to reconnect with the building and the artworks.

Is there anything you don’t like about the building? 

As part of my role involves arranging meetings, I would love to have more meeting space! However that is a relatively small niggle, and it keeps my role interesting to overcome through determination and innovation!   

If you left your job what would you miss most about The Hepworth Wakefield? 

Apart from the fish finger sandwiches, I would miss the lovely people I work alongside and that early morning walk across the bridge, looking to see if Patrick our resident heron is fishing in the Calder and pinching myself that yes, I really did get the job.