Societies search for a new home (From Penarth Times)

Societies search for a new home

THE CLOSURE of a well known Penarth art gallery has left many local societies with nowhere else to show their work.

Turner House Gallery on Plymouth Road will shut down to these groups from next month because a photo gallery society is set to use the space.

South Wales Art Society exhibits at the venue and has done so for many years. But it will not have the option from the middle of April.

Vice president Geoff Lags said: "We exhibit each year but will now have to find another venue to use.

"But Penarth has very few other options to show paintings. It will be a difficult to find a permanent hall."

He added: "The society has more than 350 members and they will all exhibit so the area has to be quite large to show all the work.

"We have written to Kim Howells the secretary for Culture and AM Jenny Henderson."

A spokesman for the Museum for Wales, Mike Tooby said: "We are still in talks with Photo Gallery to become part of the Turner Gallery.

"They are an experimental group and have a grant from the Welsh Assembly to set up their workshops. People will be able to take part in various activities.

"At the moment they have no permanent home and need a place to be constantly for the original period of two years.

"The grant they are getting will help with the up keep of the building." He added: "The groups which exhibit in the Turner Gallery were aware months ago that they may have to find another venue."

But, vice president Geoff said: "A lot of members travel to exhibit and many are professional artists, which shows the importance of the group to Penarth and to South Wales."