Towner Eastbourne facts for kids
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| Established | 1920 (bequest) |
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| Location | College Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex |
| Visitors | 110,000 (2012) |
Towner Eastbourne is a cool art gallery in Eastbourne, East Sussex, on the south coast of England. It used to be called Towner Art Gallery.
In 2019, a German artist named Lothar Götz created a huge, colourful artwork on the outside of the building. It's called Dance Diagonal and uses lots of geometric shapes.
Towner Eastbourne is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2023! It will also host the famous Turner Prize art award.
The gallery has one of the most important public art collections in the South of England. More than 100,000 people visit it every year. ITV News even called it "the region's biggest art gallery" in 2017.
The gallery started in 1920 thanks to John Chisholm Towner. He was a local leader who left money and paintings to create it. It first opened in 1923 in an old Manor House. In 2009, it moved to a new, special building next to the Congress Theatre.
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Discovering Towner's History
The Towner Gallery began in 1920. This was after Alderman John Chisholm Towner passed away. He left 22 paintings and £6,000 to start an art gallery.
He wanted the gallery to benefit the people of Eastbourne. A local group and the town council helped make his wish come true.
First Home: The Manor House (1923-2005)
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For 72 years, the gallery was in a Manor House. This old house was on High Street in the Old Town area. The Manor House was built in the 1700s.
In the 1920s, it became a public art gallery and local museum. This was all thanks to Mr. Towner's gift.
The Manor House is a well-known old building in Eastbourne. But it's much younger than its neighbours! The Lamb Inn nearby dates back to 1180 AD. St Mary's Church is from the same time. The Manor House was sold in 2005-2006.
A New Beginning: The Current Building (2009)
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After a few years without a gallery, Towner reopened in 2009. It moved into a brand-new building. This building is right next to the Congress Theatre.
Groups like the Heritage Lottery Fund helped pay for the new gallery. The new building cost £8.6 million. It was designed by Rick Mather Architects. It's mostly made of concrete.
The new design makes it easier for people to visit. It also keeps the 4,000 artworks safe. The building's look was inspired by the chalk cliffs of the Eastbourne Downs.
The new building has more space for a café and a shop. It also has bigger areas for art shows.
Changes and Challenges
In 2014, the gallery's management changed. Eastbourne Borough Council gave control to a new charity. This charity now runs the gallery.
David Dimbleby became the head of the charity. The council still owns the building and the art collection.
In 2017, there were worries about the gallery closing. The local council planned to cut its funding by half. This could have meant fewer services. It might also have meant charging people to see the art.
From 2021 to 2022, the gallery got a big makeover. The ground floor and cinema were updated. This was done to make visits better for everyone. It also helps the gallery earn more money.
The Amazing Towner Collection
The Towner Collection is one of the most important art collections. It's found in the South East of England.
It has over 5,000 pieces of art! These include works by famous artists from history, modern times, and today. Some artists are Pablo Picasso, Henry Moore, and Eric Ravilious.
When the gallery first started, it mostly had Victorian paintings. These often showed animals and children. Now, the collection has many different types of art. You can see oil paintings, watercolours, prints, sculptures, and even video art.
Over the years, many important artworks have been given to the gallery. These include pieces by Walter Sickert and Alfred Wallis.
In 1962, a newspaper called the Observer praised the gallery. It said Towner was "the most go-ahead municipal gallery of its size." This was because it bought many modern abstract artworks.
The gallery also has a special focus on art related to Sussex. This includes pictures of Sussex places. It also includes art made by artists from Sussex.
A very important part of the collection is the work of Eric Ravilious. He studied and taught at Eastbourne School of Art. In 1982, his family loaned many of his works to the gallery.
Towner has the largest collection of his paintings and designs in the world. He was a key British artist from the early 1900s.
In 2023, Towner Eastbourne is working with iniva. This project is called Future Collect. It aims to make art collections better show our diverse society.
Images for kids
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The colourful Dance Diagonal mural on the gallery's exterior.
