Tate St Ives acquires Barbara Hepworth's Palais de Danse workshop

The Palais de Danse was bought by Barbara Hepworth in 1961

Sculptor Barbara Hepworth's former workshop Palais de Danse has been given to The Tate St Ives by her family.

The former cinema and dance hall was the renowned modernist sculptor's biggest work space in the Cornish town when she bought it in 1961.

The Tate, which owns the Barbara Hepworth Museum, says it plans to open the workshop to the public.

It completes the Barbara Hepworth Will Trust's transfer of Hepworth's properties in the town to the nation.

Dame Barbara Hepworth lived in Trewyn Studios in St Ives from 1949 until her death, caused by a fire, in 1975. It was opened as the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden a year later.

Sculptures Two Forms (Divided Circle) from 1969 (left), and River Form from 1965 (right), are on display in the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden

The museum was opened by her family in 1976, following the wishes expressed in her will. Works on display include Pierced Form (Epidauros) from 1960

She used the Palais de Danse opposite her home to create prototypes to be cast in bronze for her major commissions.

Mark Osterfield, executive director of Tate St Ives. said: "It means that we have secured this key part of the cultural history of St Ives and actually our national cultural history".