Town gallery gets a £10,000 grant (From Penarth Times)

Town gallery gets a £10,000 grant

THREE-year funding package from the Vale of Glamorgan Council is helping a Penarth gallery boost its programme of activities.

Renowned for staging various exhibitions by a wide range of artists, sculptors and designers, the Washington Gallery/Cafe at Stanwell Road is also embarking on a third annual education and outreach programme.

Gallery Director Maggie Knight said: "We will finally have a bigger profile on the Vale council.

There was a stage last summer when we nearly went out of business.

But thanks to new chairman Kai Tan we have turned the gallery around.

We raised £11,000 from local interest which kept us open."

She added: "We were only allocated £2,000 a year by the Vale council which did not go far at all."

Presenting the gallery with a first year grant of £10,000, Council leader Cllr Jeffrey James said: "The workshops and residencies will provide access to arts activities for a broad range of people, especially where such access would normally be limited."

The Washington also receives major funding from the Arts Council for Wales which will helps them employ a full time fundraiser.

In addition to staging a series of exhibitions over the next few months, they will be holding a special fundraising concert on March 16, featuring the Athena String Quartet.

For further information ring 2071 2100.