Search for a space for new art gallery in the town centre
High Town exhibition
AN art project is looking for a new home in Luton, having been awarded a grant from the Arts Council England.
Departure Lounge received £50,000 from the Arts Council for the project over the next 12-18 months, and is hoping to match this amount through its own fundraising.
Creative director Matthew Shaul ran a successful exhibition at the Hat Factory in Luton last year, and is now looking to find a new location in the town for the latest project.
Mr Shaul said: “Luton is one of the most interesting and stimulating places I have ever worked in. When we did the Hat Factory exhibition people were really responsive and enquiring and not by any means dismissive. I think we could make something really enormously interesting here.”
But the project is facing difficulty securing a location. The gallery is intended to be non-profit-making and the group is looking for a temporary lease on a disused shop, warehouse or similar to occupy on the understanding it would pay the business rates and maintain the property for the period of the temporary lease.
Mr Shaul said: “I really believe Luton is a real business opportunity for the kind of gallery I have in mind. As a contemporary international art gallery it would draw audiences locally, nationally and internationally not least because of Luton’s remarkable transport links.
“We have already proved that this is possible with two exhibitions we did in High Town Road which were tremendously popular and drew an international audience including one visitor from Moscow.
“However I am concerned if we can’t develop this in the next few months Arts Council may request the return of its grant which would be a missed opportunity both for us and for Luton.”
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Friday 25 May 2012
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