Walsall council set to launch cuts consultation as architect Caruso St John fears building could be shut down
A West Midlands art gallery designed by Stirling Prize-winning architect Caruso St John faces losing a cash lifeline as part of local authority funding cuts.
Removing revenue subsidy to the practice鈥檚 拢21m New Art Gallery in Walsall is one option the local council is considering as part of measures aimed at saving more than 拢80m over the next four years.
Caruso St John partner Peter St John said he feared the move could spell the gallery鈥檚 closure. 鈥淭aking away the gallery鈥檚 subsidy from the council would be a tragedy because it would obviously close it,鈥� he said.
The gallery was built to house the borough鈥檚 priceless Garman Ryan Collection, which includes works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Monet and Constable, and was a bequest from the widow of 20th Century sculptor Jacob Epstein.
It opened in 2000 and was shortlisted for the Stirling Prize the same year but lost out to Will Alsop and Jan St枚rmer鈥檚 Peckam Library.
Earlier this month , designed for artist Damien Hirst.
Walsall council is one of two main providers of revenue with it and Arts Council England each pumping in around 拢900,000 a year.
Tonight, the council鈥檚 cabinet will decide whether to approve a consultation on proposed funding cuts, which identify the potential to save an annual 拢470,000 by incrementally reducing the gallery鈥檚 revenue subsidy over the next four years to give the venue 鈥渢he opportunity to become self-sustaining鈥�.
However a report to the meeting acknowledges that Arts Council England could follow the council鈥檚 move and slash its 拢881,000 annual funding and raises the possibility that the New Art Gallery could close. 鈥淚f the New Art Gallery were to close, there is the potential for all residents in Walsall to be affected,鈥� it says.
Peter St John said he sympathised with the council鈥檚 budget dilemma but added the building gave life to the Black Country town and would be a significant loss.
鈥淚t can鈥檛 be the right decision, when it鈥檚 a popular destination that makes Walsall somewhere interesting to visit,鈥� he said.
Walsall council said in a statement it 鈥渇ully appreciated鈥� that the New Art Gallery was much loved but could not ignore the need to make year-on year savings to meet its reduced funding allocations.
鈥淭his is why we will be consulting with our public on all the budget options for the gallery,鈥� it said. 鈥淣o final decision has been made, nor will be made until we have listened to our residents, service users and partners alike to find the best available option.
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