The Holburne Museum of Art © The Holburne Museum

The Holburne Museum of Art in Bath will close its doors on Monday, March 24 2008 to undergo its much-anticipated refurbishment.

Preliminary building work on the redevelopment has already begun with the excavation of vaults in the building’s basement, while Holburne staff have been busy packing and storing the collection.

Key objects are being loaned out to other museums and galleries both around Bath and elsewhere in the UK, but Monday will be the last chance to see the items in situ at The Holburne until 2010.

The National Gallery in London will be taking care of Gainsborough's portrait, The Byam Family, and Number One Royal Crescent, Bath, will take delivery of some of the museum’s paintings and miniatures by Bath artists.

Many events are planned despite the closure, with a final year art degree show being hosted inside the empty museum building from June 6-11, for instance. The museum will take advantage of the empty galleries by using them for art workshops and other events.

“This is an incredibly exciting if slightly daunting moment for the museum,” said Alexander Sturgis, The Holburne’s Director. “Even though our doors are about to close, The Holburne will remain very much alive.”

“Many of our best-loved works will remain of public display in the city and elsewhere and our wonderful education service will be taking more of the collection out to schools so that it can continue to inspire and engage our young audience.”

“Meanwhile, all of us at the museum will be working hard to realise our plans for the reopened and renewed museum.”

The redevelopment will see an extension built at the rear of the museum, leading on to the garden square. The modern extension, designed by Eric Parry, has been supported by £4.9m from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The biennial Holburne Portrait Prize will open in October at the Chapel Row Gallery, Bath, and then go on tour, while education activities will continue in the museum’s Gardener’s Lodge.

After the packing-up, the empty museum will open temporarily for a month of celebrations in June. These will include a free exhibition, Painting Aardman, showcasing a portrait of the animation company directors and loans from the Aardman archive. The exhibition will run from June 6 to July 7 2008.