Gallery could be forced to close
A LEWES gallery will be forced to close if it is not given permission to allow part of it to be rented out, says its owner.
A controversial plan was revealed last month to change part of the HQ Gallery in St John Street into an office.
The planning application attracted criticism from some townsfolk who said the building should be used for the community.
But the owner, Lewes-based firm Rees Elliott, said the business was struggling and needed to make more money out of the building
Martin Elliot, a director of Rees Elliott, told the Express: 'We set up the company to run the gallery because nobody else would come forward to do it.
'We set it up as a private company and we have run it as a business for three years and it has made a substanial loss.
'If we can't get some flexibility in terms of its use it will shut. It's as simple as that. And then it will be a question of whether another company will take it on.
'We could rent part of the space out to artists or an arts-related business but the long and short of it is in the current market it is losing money.'
The plan to change the use of the gallery has also been opposed by Lewes Town Council which agreed to 'object strongly' on the grounds it breached an earlier planning condition to provide a community use.
Sarah O'Kane, curator of the gallery, said: 'Although very popular with visitors, residents and people working in the town, HQ has experienced a downturn in sales. In common with many other businesses in Lewes and elsewhere, HQ is looking at ways to diversify in these credit crunch times.
'The building is a large one and artists have sometimes struggled to fill the space. In the light of these factors, it was felt that the top floor could perhaps subsidise the lower areas if let out as creative studios or offices.
'There has been a wonderful variety of contemporary art exhibited at HQ Gallery over the past three years, enjoyed by people of all ages and we are grateful for all the messages of support.'
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Weather for Lewes
Tuesday 07 February 2012
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