Architecture - a-n The Artists Information Company

The new gallery designed by 6a architects has more than doubled its exhibition space and includes a sequence of new public spaces in and around the new gallery, plus a large learning and community studio. Jack Hutchinson reports from Milton Keynes.

More News In Brief: Axel Rüger appointed new secretary and chief executive of Royal Academy; Tate Modern wins privacy case brought by owners of £4m flats; New York art dealer Mary Boone sentenced to 30 months in prison for tax fraud.

RCA’s three-strand programme will focus on ‘Places, Projects and People’, and is the most significant development in the college’s history since it was founded in 1837.

Professor Irene McAra-McWilliam, who has been acting as joint interim director, will initially be appointed for one year with a “full candidate search” planned.

The redeveloped City Observatory site on top of Calton Hill will feature a new exhibition space for emerging artists and producers in Scotland, plus a new shop selling unique artist editions and specially commissioned products.

After an 18-month closure for redevelopment including a major extension, the Sheffield gallery has trebled its public areas and created a new 262m² gallery. Amelia Crouch reports as it reopens with the group exhibition ‘Liquid Crystal Display’.

South London Gallery’s new annexe in the former Peckham Road Fire Station, originally built in 1867 and London’s oldest surviving purpose built station, doubles the gallery’s exhibition space and will also house its Post-Graduate Residency programme.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, the chair of Glasgow School of Art’s board, Muriel Gray, has said there’s “absolutely no way” that the rebuilt Mackintosh building “wouldn’t be a working art school”.

Japanese architect Kengo Kuma describes his new £80million V&A Dundee building, which fully opens to the public on Saturday, as ‘a living room for the city’. Chris Sharratt visits Scotland’s first design museum and is seriously impressed by the architecture.

Work to stabilise the fire-ravaged building is continuing on schedule as the impact on businesses, residents and arts organisations within the security cordon continues to be felt.

In his first interview since the Mackintosh building fire on 15 June, Glasgow School of Art director Tom Inns has confirmed that the Mack will be rebuilt.

In Brief: News briefing featuring national and international stories including: Jupiter Artland marks 10th anniversary with first permanent commission by Phyllida Barlow; UK museums suffer as Heritage Lottery grants plummet; Arts Council of Ireland issues impartiality warning over abortion referendum.

Announcing the recipients of this year’s a-n Artist Bursaries which offer awards of £500-£1,000 to a-n Artist and Joint (Artist and Arts Organiser) members wishing to undertake a self-directed professional development project.