New Towner Trust Gives £217k to Towner

Eastbourne’s award-winning art gallery was presented with a huge cheque this week for £217,000 showing the significant contribution the New Towner Trust made towards the costs of the new building.

The New Towner Trust has been fundraising for the past six years to raise money from the wider community towards the building of Towner, which opened to the public last year. Working in partnership with Eastbourne Borough Council, the New Towner Trust wanted to support Towner to build a modern and contemporary new home for the previous Towner Art Gallery.

Securing private donations, grants from trusts and foundations and using fundraising initiatives including the sale of a print of Eric Ravilious’ Lombardy Poplars (1935), the New Towner Trust have been working hard since 2004 to contribute towards the iconic new gallery.

Leader of Eastbourne Borough Council, Councillor David Tutt said “I would like to offer special thanks to the New Towner Trust and the many people who contributed to this significant donation towards Towner. The New Towner Trust were a pioneering force in helping us to build and achieve the fantastic gallery we have here today and I hope we can continue to fulfil the Trust’s mission statement for a space where visitors can experience and explore the full range of the very best contemporary and historical visual art in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.”

With Towner about to welcome its seventh major exhibition, ARTIST ROOMS, featuring iconic photographs from 20^th century photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, Chairman of the New Towner Trust Julian Martyr handed over a cheque totalling £217,000 to the Leader of the Council, Councilllor David Tutt.

Since opening in April 2009, Towner has gone from strength to strength hosting top exhibitions and picking up a number of awards including the Public and Community Award in the Sussex Heritage Awards, and a RIBA Award for the building’s architectural achievement designed by Rick Mather Architects.

For more information on Towner visit the Towner pages or call 01323 434670.