The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts unveiling the new exhibition spaces and redesigned layout. The new Modern exhibition space.Photo: Steve Adams

The first stage of a four-year revamp of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts has been unveiled.

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The centre, based at the University of East Anglia, is seeing its world renowned collections, exhibitions and building undergo a series of developments – which has begun with the transformation of the west end of architect Lord Norman Foster’s building.

The centre’s doors opened today to reveal a new exhibition programme, a post-graduate study centre, a sculpture garden and a new restaurant and bar.

The theme of the entire first phase of development is “The Modern”, as Lord Foster’s building is widely considered one of the most important late Modern buildings in Europe.

The centre’s director, Professor Paul Greenhalgh, said: “The Sainsbury Centre has always been known as one of the country’s great centres for scholarship in the visual arts, anthropology and archaeology, and the use of our collections and libraries by researchers from all over the world is one of our main roles.

“But we have some of the greatest works of art imaginable in our building, as well as an extraordinary environment, inside Norman Foster’s masterpiece.

“We want to share all of this more with the public at large. What better way to do that than to create new vibrant galleries with a superb restaurant facility?”

Are you organising a major event in Norwich? Contact reporter David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk