If you were in the loop with the news cycle over the weekend, you probably saw the fire that broke out at the capital’s iconic art gallery Somerset House. Parts of the building remain closed, but its Courtauld Gallery has reopened following no effect from Saturday’s blaze.
The fire, which erupted in the west wing of the building, involved a part of the structure that’s mainly used for offices and storage, with no artwork in the affected area. The London Fire Brigade were swift to respond, deploying over 125 firefighters to bring the blaze under control.
According to the Guardian, it’s said that there were about 150 staff on site before the LFB showed up. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and Somerset House continues to work hard to reopen its entire space.
In a statement on their website, they state: “Somerset House will remain closed until further notice. The Courtauld Gallery has not been directly impacted by the fire and shall remain open.”
“The safety and well-being of artists, visitors and staff is paramount to Somerset House. We apologise for any inconvenience this change of circumstances may cause.”
Their Courtauld Gallery is their most significant space throughout the gallery, which recently reopened following extensive renovation and remains open to the public despite the fire. It houses Somerset House’s most significant artworks, including masterpieces by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Paul Cezanne, all of which were unharmed.
Their summer programming did undergo some cause and effect, with their ‘Summer in the Courtyard‘ series and its coinciding breakdancing event, which were scheduled over the weekend and immediately cancelled following the fire.
There was also an entire day of activities planned on Saturday entitled Daytimers x RepresentAsian, which would’ve been a celebration honouring ‘South Asian creativity’ and culture.
So, as we wait for Somerset House to reopen, feel free to visit their beloved Courtauld Gallery. While no date has been given for the official reopening of the entire building, visit their website to stay up to date.