Towner art gallery in Eastbourne has transferred to trust status, with the broadcaster David Dimbleby as chairman and a new board of nine trustees.
The announcement was made yesterday and coincided with the confirmation of national portfolio funding of £1m from Arts Council England between 2015-18.This is 7% less than it received in 2012-15.
Eastbourne Borough Council will continue to provide £600,000 funding a year between 2015 and 2018, which is unchanged from previous spending periods.
Emma Morris, the executive director of the Towner, will lead the organisation as an independent charitable trust.
She said: “This is a significant milestone for Towner, and being a trust should enable us to raise more money to do more great art for all.
“We know first-hand that art enriches the lives of the people we work with, from the very old to the very young, and inspires the next generation of leaders. Thousands flock to our gallery every month, generating income in Eastbourne and East Sussex.
“We know we can continue to achieve great things by working with our local partners and agencies.”
It will celebrate its move to trust status with a weekend of activities, including the opening of a room devoted to the work of the English painter Eric Ravilious.
The announcement was made yesterday and coincided with the confirmation of national portfolio funding of £1m from Arts Council England between 2015-18.This is 7% less than it received in 2012-15.
Eastbourne Borough Council will continue to provide £600,000 funding a year between 2015 and 2018, which is unchanged from previous spending periods.
Emma Morris, the executive director of the Towner, will lead the organisation as an independent charitable trust.
She said: “This is a significant milestone for Towner, and being a trust should enable us to raise more money to do more great art for all.
“We know first-hand that art enriches the lives of the people we work with, from the very old to the very young, and inspires the next generation of leaders. Thousands flock to our gallery every month, generating income in Eastbourne and East Sussex.
“We know we can continue to achieve great things by working with our local partners and agencies.”
It will celebrate its move to trust status with a weekend of activities, including the opening of a room devoted to the work of the English painter Eric Ravilious.
