More than a million visits to Leeds and Wakefield galleries in a year

More than a million people visited the four art galleries which form the Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle (YST) according to latest statistics, making it one of its busiest years ever.

The Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Art Gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield and Yorkshire Sculpture Park attracted around 1.01 million people from April 2017 to March this year – more than the Houses of Parliament welcomed in 12 months.

Leeds Art Gallery only reopened in October 2017 after an 18-month multi-million pound renovation and in that time it was visited by 213,430 people – up 52 per cent on the same period in 2015/16 before it closed.

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The Hepworth Wakefield was up a by 22 per cent on the previous year after 248,731 passed through its doors.

And the Henry Moore Institute in Leeds attracted 73,853 people – a rise of 9.8 per cent year-on-year.

“Even better, all our galleries are free so it opens up access to the arts for everyone.

“Whether you’re a lifelong art lover or have never set foot in a gallery, there’s something for everyone – that, I think, is the secret to our success.”

The Hepworth Wakefield won Art Fund Museum of the Year 2017, adding to Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s victory in 2014.