The Broadway Gallery may have only been open for a matter of weeks, but a flood of people have already been through the doors to have a look for themselves at the former Letchworth Art Centre’s refurbishment.

The Comet: Broadway Gallery and Studio private exhibition.Broadway Gallery and Studio private exhibition. (Image: Archant)

Much of the layout has stayed the same – as have favoured features such as the white piano in the corner – but a substantial lick of paint, new branding and a more efficient use of the space has breathed new life into the Arcade arts hub.

As has a headline-grabbing opening exhibition by Letchworth-born artist Richard Smith, whose paintings, drawings and prints made an impression on visitors to a private viewing last week.

Visual arts director Laura Dennis, who has 10 years experience of curating exhibitions, said: “It’s been fantastic to welcome so many visitors to the Broadway Studio and Gallery over the past couple of weeks.

“Our opening events have been a lot of fun, with arts enthusiasts from across the region and further afield coming to admire the venue and our exhibitions.

“We’ve enjoyed lots of positive feedback from visitors and there’s been a great deal of interest in our forthcoming events.

“It’s fantastic that there’s so much support for the arts in Letchworth.”

The gallery is part of a collection of arts spaces owned and managed by the Letchworth Garden City Foundation, which includes a community museum in The Arcade.

Work started earlier this month to extend the Broadway Cinema to provide for theatre productions, as part of the Foundation’s plans to make the town a hub for the arts.

In April the gallery team are planning to launch a diverse programme of educational activities, workshops and talks.

Activities are being prepared to target different age groups and interest levels starting from pre-school children and upwards.

Richard Smith: Reunion will run until Sunday, June 5, and there are curator’s tours on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, April 23.

The gallery is open Wednesdays to Saturdays from 10am to 5pm and Sundays from 10am to 4pm.

For more information about the new venue visit www.broadway-gallery.com.