Art gallery - 'worst over' (From Penarth Times)

Art gallery - 'worst over'

A PENARTH Gallery's appeal to raise £20,000 has met great success, reducing its debt by over half in just six weeks.

Following the appeal, launched in June to help save Penarth's Washington Gallery, on Stanwell Road, a board trustee said recently that he believed the crisis had subsided.

Dr Kai Tan, Chairman of Penarth Arts and Crafts Limited, which operates the Washington Gallery said there had been a remarkable response from the public, gallery, visitors and artists.

Two private charities have also pledged funds, bringing the total amount to almost £11,000.

He said: 'Provided that the promise of the Vale of Glamorgan Council is fulfilled, to offer funding in the autumn, we feel confident that the gallery has turned the corner.'

The gallery has also applied, under the Arts Council of Wales Capacity Building Scheme for fund-raising and marketing assistance, the outcome of which should be known next month.

He added: 'We are extremely grateful for the personal and financial support we have received. This means the reduction of the deficit we have been carrying gives us a much better opportunity to make strategic plans for the future of the Washington Gallery.'

During the fund-raising, gift-aided donations were received from all around the United Kingdom. Over 100 letters of support were also received.

The Washington Gallery puts on around 35 exhibitions each year. It was founded in 1996, and became a non-profit company in 1998, and gained charitable status in 2000.

Since 2000, the gallery has also run an innovative series of art and craft workshops and residencies, as part of its education and outreach programme, which is supported by an Arts Council for Wales 'Arts For All' grant.