Cathedral Quarter HQ set for official opening

The Cathedral Quarter HQ will be a base for Gloucester’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) project. Situated in the heart of Westgate, the focus of the HSHAZ, it will house consultation events, exhibitions and be a base for ‘Westgate Stories’, a project to collect memories and information about Westgate’s past from local people. From November, it will also be home to an artist in residence one day a week, part of the HSHAZ cultural programme.

Cllr Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: “The Cathedral Quarter HQ will be a fantastic space, showcasing the work of our High Street Heritage Action Zone project in Westgate Street. I look forward to seeing the activities that the project and the artist in residence will be putting on there, and I would encourage people to come along and find out more about the project and what it is aiming to achieve over the next three years.”

Ross Simmonds, Acting Regional Director at Historic England, said: “Not only will the Cathedral Quarter HQ be a hub of activity as the High Street Heritage Action Zone progresses, but it’s a great example of the way historic buildings can change and find new uses over time. Opening the HQ is the perfect celebration of Gloucester Day.”

The HQ will be open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am to 4pm initially, and opening hours will increase as more activity takes place as part of ‘Westgate Stories’ and the HSHAZ cultural programme.

The first event will be a ‘Crafty Old Buildings’ stencil workshop with artist Rizpah Amadasun on Sunday 12 September from 11am to 3pm. Come along and use stencils to create a beautiful street scene, and complete our street scene survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/B86XPTQ.

Find out more about the HSHAZ on 4 September after the opening, from 3pm to 4.30pm, or come and visit on Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout September. Stay up to date with our events and activities at www.cathedralquartergloucester.uk and our social media channels.

The Cathedral Quarter High Street Heritage Action Zone project is funded through a £1.9 million grant from Historic England and match funded by Gloucester City Council. It’s a heritage led regeneration project delivering improvements to the buildings and the street scene, plus a programme of cultural activities in Westgate Street. The cultural programme is delivered by a consortium of local organisations led by the Gloucester Culture Trust.