Ulverston will gain a new arts and learning centre after Turner Prize winner Keith Tyson purchased the former Mercedes-Benz garage on Princes Street, the artist said. The building will be adapted to host exhibitions, a reference library and programmes aimed at schools and the wider community, with private funds paying for the project.
Tyrson said the initiative grows from his own experience of limited local gallery access while he was young, and from the role libraries played in his artistic education. He described the scheme as an opportunity to "give young people in the community an opportunity to see and learn about art" in ways he did not have, and added that he was "excited by the building's potential to become an arts destination" for the north.
The project remains at an early stage. Tyson told local contacts the centre will celebrate creativity and support learning through exhibitions, education and other resources, but offered no timetable for renovation or opening. The purchase signals commitment to a long-term conversion rather than a short-term pop-up, and the decision to fund the work privately removes immediate reliance on public grants.
Local voices welcomed the plan. Adrian Newnham, who taught Tyson art as a child, recalled discovering the artist's early talent and kept some of his schoolwork. Newnham said he hopes the new venue will raise Ulverston's cultural profile, noting the town already has a festival culture and a growing creative scene.
Tyson has previously worked across painting, sculpture and installation, often combining elements of art, science and technology. The new centre is positioned as both a public-facing exhibition space and an educational resource, with a particular emphasis on giving young people direct access to art. For now the next steps are planning and development of the site on Princes Street, and confirmation of specific programmes and opening dates as the project moves beyond its initial phase.
