Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield has been awarded an OBE for services to the arts in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2015. The award recognises his contribution to the visual arts over the past seven years at The Hepworth Wakefield. Since July 2008, Simon has overseen the development of The Hepworth Wakefield, which opened to the public on 21 May 2011, just over four years ago. As the gallery’s first employee, his initial years in Wakefield were spent developing the vision, business plan, new gallery team and programme, while advocating for the project regionally and nationally. He worked closely with David Chipperfield architects to ensure that the building would fulfil the needs of its key exhibits – the Hepworth Family Gift, the Wakefield Permanent Art Collection and a changing programme of ambitious contemporary art. Alongside this an award-

Read More: Simon Wallis, Director of The Hepworth Wakefield is awarded OBE in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List