‘Yes’ to Brighton museum
Brighton & Hove City Council has approved plans for a new museum and offices to be built in the Falmer-American Express Community stadium, in Falmer. The 22,500-capacity home ground for Brighton & Hove Albion, which is set to open in the spring, will feature two floors housing the planned institution for city memorabilia.
Artist Rooms tour 2011
Twenty-three “rooms” will open countrywide next year as part of the third Artist Rooms tour. Venues will include Dumfries, Hull, Kendal, Kilmarnock, Llandudno, London and Orkney. A Damien Hirst display at Leeds Art Gallery (July-September) will feature his formaldehyde piece Away from the Flock. The contemporary and modern works are drawn from the collection of London dealer Anthony d’Offay, which was acquired by the nation in 2008.
Shadow culture minister
Ivan Lewis, Labour MP for Bury South since 1997, has been appointed as shadow minister for culture, media and sport. Lewis has served as a minister in the education and international development departments, as well as the Treasury. He has no experience of working at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Pallant House axes fee
Pallant House Gallery in Chichester has dropped admission fees on Thursday evenings. The gallery launched a campaign last year to raise £6m towards its endowment fund, with the aim of offering free entry by the 2012 London Olympics. Director Stefan van Raay said: “It is now unlikely that we can raise the necessary £6m by 2012.”
