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It is all smiles for the staff at Newlyn Art Gallery where, following
months of hard work and numerous delays, the £2.7m required to implement
its proposed scheme of developments has been secured.
The project has an impact in both Newlyn and Penzance.
It involves an extension to the historic Newlyn Art Gallery and improvements
to its entrance area and garden.
But it also involves the creation of a new gallery space, shop, cafe
and educational facility on the ground floor of the former telephone exchange
building in Penzance.
The scheme marks the biggest step forward in the 110-year history of
the gallery.
Funding for the project has been allocated on the basis of the sensitive
and imaginative designs produced by the architects, MUMA - Stuart McKnight,
Simon Usher and Gillian McInnes.
Although the necessary planning permissions were obtained a year ago,
it has taken until now to raise the funding, most of which will come from
the Arts Lottery Capital Programme and ERDF Objective One.
Elizabeth Knowles, Director of Newlyn Art Gallery, said: "Thanks
to the far-sighted vision and generosity of two private trusts - the Garfield
Weston Foundation and the Foyle Foundation - we've secured a further £125,000.
"Two other public sources have joined the list of contributors,
the Foundation for Sport and the Arts and the Heritage Lottery's 'Your
Heritage'.
"Then, too, we very much appreciate the support we've received from
Penwith Council and Cornwall County Council, which completes the package."
It is hoped that detailed design work will follow through the first half
of this year, with work on both sites being offered for tender in the
autumn.
Mrs Knowles added: "If all goes well, the actual building work could
begin towards the end of the year, with the target date for the launch
of both galleries being the spring of 2007.
"This is a capital project which will provide more flexible gallery
space and more effective educational facilities.
"This will enable the gallery's management to play a significant
role in attracting new audiences, from near and far."
She added: "As a flagship for current art that can stand at national
level, it will contribute to more than cultural activity in the area,
it will help economic regeneration as a whole, create and sustain jobs
and working opportunities, and encourage tourism and inward investment."
Anthony Frost, one of the artists currently occupying a studio in the
former telephone exchange in New Street, is among those who have welcomed
the scheme.
"It's fantastic," he said. "It will be of benefit to the
whole of Cornwall let alone Newlyn and Penzance.
"I look forward to seeing major exhibitions by major artists."
Then, with typical good humour, he added: "I particularly like the
idea of having a cafe on the premises; it means I won't have to stop work
to go out and get a drink or a bite to eat - it'll be great!"
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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