Closure threat to Stirling Prize architect's Walsall art gallery

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’s £21m New Art Gallery in Walsall is one option the local council is considering as part of measures aimed at saving more than £80m over the next four years.

Caruso St John partner Peter St John said he feared the move could spell the gallery’s closure. “Taking away the gallery’s subsidy from the council would be a tragedy because it would obviously close it,” he said.

The gallery was built to house the borough’s priceless Garman Ryan Collection, which includes works by Van Gogh, Picasso, Matisse, Monet and Constable, and was a bequest from the widow of 20^th 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 Störmer’s Peckam Library.

Earlier this month Caruso St John won this year’s Stirling Prize for its Newport Street Gallery, 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 £900,000 a year.

Tonight, the council’s cabinet will decide whether to approve a consultation on proposed funding cuts, which identify the potential to save an annual £470,000 by incrementally reducing the gallery’s revenue subsidy over the next four years to give the venue “the opportunity to become self-sustaining”.

However a report to the meeting acknowledges that Arts Council England could follow the council’s move and slash its £881,000 annual funding and raises the possibility that the New Art Gallery could close. “If the New Art Gallery were to close, there is the potential for all residents in Walsall to be affected,” it says.

Peter St John said he sympathised with the council’s budget dilemma but added the building gave life to the Black Country town and would be a significant loss.

“It can’t be the right decision, when it’s a popular destination that makes Walsall somewhere interesting to visit,” he said.

Walsall council said in a statement it “fully appreciated” 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.

“This is why we will be consulting with our public on all the budget options for the gallery,” it said. “No 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.