DISCUSSIONS are underway between Penarth Town Council and Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales to potentially transform Penarth’s Turner House into a new multi-purpose cultural venue.

This follows the recent announcement by Ffotogallery, the centre for new developments in photography and lens-based media in Wales and beyond, that they will be moving from Turner House in Penarth to new premises in the centre of Cardiff, in July 2019.

As the trustee of Turner House, Amgueddfa Cymru has been keen to secure the future of the building and has been in discussion with Penarth Town Council, who wish to use the building to promote the culture and heritage of the area.

In 2016, there were plans to turn the gallery into a monthly food indoor food market, but this received a backlash from residents of the town. Many pointed out that the gallery was gifted to the people of Penarth by James Pyke Thompson in 1921, with its sole aim being to promote art in the town.

Councillor Rhiannon Birch, the leader of Penarth Town Council said: "Penarth Town Council is looking forward to working with Amgueddfa Cymru in the development of a Partnership Agreement for the ongoing management of Turner House that will ensure a sustainable future for the building as a key community asset for the town.”

The town council regards Turner House as having the potential to be part of its wider work to ensure that the facilities and services that they operate bring maximum benefit to local residents and contribute to the ongoing development of Penarth.

David Anderson, director general of Amgueddfa Cymru, said: “Amgueddfa Cymru wishes Ffotogallery all success in its new home after its long and exciting residency at Turner House since 2003. We are now looking forward to developing a similar long-term partnership with Penarth Town Council to use this historic building as a cultural venue for the community.”

David Drake, director of Ffotogallery added: “After 15 successful years of presenting exhibitions of Welsh and international photography at Turner House, Ffotogallery will be leaving Penarth in July 2019 and moving to a new Cardiff city-centre base.

"As the national photography agency for Wales, 2018 marks Ffotogallery's 40th anniversary and the organisation looks forward to the next phase of its development.”