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A nationwide competition has been launched to find two architects to work
on the refurbishment of the Newlyn Gallery and the conversion of the former
Exchange building in Penzance. The Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) announced the competition last week and already there is plenty
of interest from architects.
Once the successful architects are appointed, one will work on the 1895
gallery building in Newlyn and the other on the conversion of the ground
floor of the old Exchange.
In a statement issued this week, a spokeswoman for the gallery said:
"In Newlyn, we plan to refurbish and improve our historic and much-loved
gallery to provide better space behind the scenes and better facilities.
"The gallery spaces themselves will remain as they are now, but
we need to improve the gallery shop, provide a place for coffee, improve
the entrance area and have a room for education work under our own roof.
"To do this we need to extend the building on the seaward side and
add a porch at the entrance."
In Penzance, the architect will look at creating a more flexible gallery
space as well as a proper education facility, gallery shop and a small
cafe.
"The gallery has been consulting its audience, the local community
and the arts community and has received a great deal of support and encouragement
for its development plans," said the gallery spokeswoman.
"The team that currently runs Newlyn Art Gallery will develop into
the management behind two gallery spaces, each with its own distinctive
programme."
Staff are currently working to obtain the necessary funding for the development
through applications to the Arts Lottery, Objective One and the South
West Regional Development Agency.
article copyright © THE CORNISHMAN
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